3 ms·

This industry has become too anxious. It's like the new standard is when ever someone makes an post like "10 books you should read" and the first comment here o

by Puts 12y ago

This industry has become too anxious. It's like the new standard is when ever someone makes an post like "10 books you should read" and the first comment here on HN is "Why the hell are you telling me what to read?". When I express my opinions I don't have to account for anyone. My opinions are my opinions and I'm going to be proud of them. And personally I want everybody else to feel the same. Be opinionated and be proud!

otterley 12y ago
It is a subtly different - and more persuasive - thing to say "Here are 10 books I liked, and here's why" than it is to say "Here's 10 books you should read." Imperative statements tend to evoke more visceral reactions than indicative ones.
- larrys 12y ago
  "Imperative statements tend to evoke more visceral reactions than indicative ones." Also as a general rule they will get more linkbaity attention.
- meric 12y ago
  When I use "you" in a sentence, people compare who they are to the "you" I've described, by trying to find differences. When I use "I" in a sentence, people compare who they are to me, by trying to find similarities. That's why the former is more persuasive.
  - meric 12y ago
    Latter.
tjradcliffe 12y ago
It's OK to be opinionated (I am) and it's OK to be proud of one's opinions (ditto) but the issue comes when we go into promotion mode, claiming everyone must share our opinions or be an idiot (I feel this way about some things, not others) and insisting that everyone needs to learn about the background for our opinions (likewise). In the particular situation when platforms are multiplying and the years behind us are littered with the corpses of failed initiatives that promised a world enough and time, the call to learn The One Best Technology becomes stale and annoying. It looks like an invitation to waste our time rather than becoming more expert with the technology we've already invested a lot of time in, and are just hoping we can make that time worthwhile before it becomes obsolete.

by Puts 12y ago

otterley 12y ago

It is a subtly different - and more persuasive - thing to say "Here are 10 books I liked, and here's why" than it is to say "Here's 10 books you should read." Imperative statements tend to evoke more visceral reactions than indicative ones.

larrys 12y ago
"Imperative statements tend to evoke more visceral reactions than indicative ones." Also as a general rule they will get more linkbaity attention.
meric 12y ago
When I use "you" in a sentence, people compare who they are to the "you" I've described, by trying to find differences. When I use "I" in a sentence, people compare who they are to me, by trying to find similarities. That's why the former is more persuasive.
- meric 12y ago
  Latter.

tjradcliffe 12y ago

It's OK to be opinionated (I am) and it's OK to be proud of one's opinions (ditto) but the issue comes when we go into promotion mode, claiming everyone must share our opinions or be an idiot (I feel this way about some things, not others) and insisting that everyone needs to learn about the background for our opinions (likewise). In the particular situation when platforms are multiplying and the years behind us are littered with the corpses of failed initiatives that promised a world enough and time, the call to learn The One Best Technology becomes stale and annoying. It looks like an invitation to waste our time rather than becoming more expert with the technology we've already invested a lot of time in, and are just hoping we can make that time worthwhile before it becomes obsolete.