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I would say most people are just as opinionated about language, hardware and software choices as they are about politics. Though the participation threshold on

I would say most people are just as opinionated about language, hardware and software choices as they are about politics. Though the participation threshold on most political topics is probably lower as politics tends to have a wider appeal and more inclusive than say a more narrowly used programming language or software tool.

davidw 13y ago
> I would say most people are just as opinionated about language, hardware and software choices as they are about politics. Err... go into a bar, in, say, Iowa, and ask whether people prefer PHP to Python. Then ask what they think of Obama.
- icebraining 13y ago
  Yes, but yareally's post was made in the context of HN discussions, I don't think the point was to be taken as a statement about the whole humanity.
  - yareally 13y ago
    Yes, I was referring to HN discussions, not people in general. I wouldn't go up to random strangers on the street and ask them if they preferred php, python or ruby unless I wanted to perform some sort of sociological experiment :)
  - davidw 13y ago
    There are no barriers to entry to take part in HN.
    - yareally 13y ago
      No explicit barriers yes, but many tend to participate more in discussions where they have an interest/opinion in the subject matter than ones there they do not. Even your previous comment about walking into a bar in Iowa reflects that as people that are generally familiar with whatever topic are more interested in discussing it than those that do not. Since nearly everyone, regardless of background has some opinion and knowledge of politics, the barrier for entry into those discussion is much lower and likelihood for such articles being upvoted.
      - davidw 13y ago
        > Since nearly everyone, regardless of background has some opinion and knowledge of politics, the barrier for entry into those discussion is much lower and likelihood for such articles being upvoted. And thus more people who are otherwise marginally interested in the site can participate! This is a feedback loop.
        yareally 13y ago
        Yes, since looking at your other comments in the thread, we're in agreement. I just misinterpreted your original reply to me.

davidw 13y ago

> I would say most people are just as opinionated about language, hardware and software choices as they are about politics. Err... go into a bar, in, say, Iowa, and ask whether people prefer PHP to Python. Then ask what they think of Obama.

icebraining 13y ago
Yes, but yareally's post was made in the context of HN discussions, I don't think the point was to be taken as a statement about the whole humanity.
- yareally 13y ago
  Yes, I was referring to HN discussions, not people in general. I wouldn't go up to random strangers on the street and ask them if they preferred php, python or ruby unless I wanted to perform some sort of sociological experiment :)
- davidw 13y ago
  There are no barriers to entry to take part in HN.
  - yareally 13y ago
    No explicit barriers yes, but many tend to participate more in discussions where they have an interest/opinion in the subject matter than ones there they do not. Even your previous comment about walking into a bar in Iowa reflects that as people that are generally familiar with whatever topic are more interested in discussing it than those that do not. Since nearly everyone, regardless of background has some opinion and knowledge of politics, the barrier for entry into those discussion is much lower and likelihood for such articles being upvoted.
    - davidw 13y ago
      > Since nearly everyone, regardless of background has some opinion and knowledge of politics, the barrier for entry into those discussion is much lower and likelihood for such articles being upvoted. And thus more people who are otherwise marginally interested in the site can participate! This is a feedback loop.
      - yareally 13y ago
        Yes, since looking at your other comments in the thread, we're in agreement. I just misinterpreted your original reply to me.