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When I discovered Hacker News, I loved it because it seemed to be 100% about technology and internet startups. It doesn't feel like that to me any more. I've

by andyl 14y ago

When I discovered Hacker News, I loved it because it seemed to be 100% about technology and internet startups. It doesn't feel like that to me any more. I've been involved with other sites where the political discussions overwhelmed the core topic, and the audience just collapsed in a tailspin of high emotions. I hope Hacker News doesn't go that route.

ryankey721 14y ago
I kind of like the mixed bag that Hacker News seems to be. I'm pretty new here, but I enjoy reading about the future of programming languages alongside posts about Marcus Aurelius' writings. It just seems that it's mostly content about being the best you that you can be and having a broad range of knowledge.
- rdegges 14y ago
  Agreed, I love the diversity which is why I continue reading HN. I like a good balance of topics, keeps things interesting (and more importantly, continues to get me interested in other subjects / topics).
  - bratsche 14y ago
    I feel like the role of diversity is better served by a place like reddit.
- eric-hu 14y ago
  Do you think the recent "Inappropriate comments at Pycon 2013 called out" thread contributed to that mixed bag in a good way? I worded that carefully. I don't want to draw out sides on that thread topic, just whether it contributed to an educational atmosphere and meaningful discussion on HN.
  - duaneb 14y ago
    I think it's a discussion that needs to take place. I am not sure HN is the place to do it, but where else?
  - ruswick 14y ago
    It's a necessary discussion insofar as it was major news and will have a non-trivial effect on how gender-identity is interpreted and argued within the community.
jsankey 14y ago
You can help by flagging submissions on (mostly US) politics that are off-topic. I rarely flag, but do in such cases as those threads suck a lot of oxygen out of this place.
- andyl 14y ago
  The politics on HN is gender/diversity politics, and IMHO HN has been somewhat riven by it. Witness the heated discussion on this very thread. To me all politics is off-topic - I'm interested in the technology discussions.
- duaneb 14y ago
  I do as well. This place is definitely changing recently (past two years), but it's not all bad. The political stuff is the worst of it.

by andyl 14y ago

ryankey721 14y ago

I kind of like the mixed bag that Hacker News seems to be. I'm pretty new here, but I enjoy reading about the future of programming languages alongside posts about Marcus Aurelius' writings. It just seems that it's mostly content about being the best you that you can be and having a broad range of knowledge.

rdegges 14y ago
Agreed, I love the diversity which is why I continue reading HN. I like a good balance of topics, keeps things interesting (and more importantly, continues to get me interested in other subjects / topics).
- bratsche 14y ago
  I feel like the role of diversity is better served by a place like reddit.
eric-hu 14y ago
Do you think the recent "Inappropriate comments at Pycon 2013 called out" thread contributed to that mixed bag in a good way? I worded that carefully. I don't want to draw out sides on that thread topic, just whether it contributed to an educational atmosphere and meaningful discussion on HN.
- duaneb 14y ago
  I think it's a discussion that needs to take place. I am not sure HN is the place to do it, but where else?
- ruswick 14y ago
  It's a necessary discussion insofar as it was major news and will have a non-trivial effect on how gender-identity is interpreted and argued within the community.

jsankey 14y ago

You can help by flagging submissions on (mostly US) politics that are off-topic. I rarely flag, but do in such cases as those threads suck a lot of oxygen out of this place.

andyl 14y ago
The politics on HN is gender/diversity politics, and IMHO HN has been somewhat riven by it. Witness the heated discussion on this very thread. To me all politics is off-topic - I'm interested in the technology discussions.
duaneb 14y ago
I do as well. This place is definitely changing recently (past two years), but it's not all bad. The political stuff is the worst of it.