Comment by theprotocol | Hacker News Reader

Comment by theprotocol | Hacker News Reader

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Controversial post incoming.

For me it isn't the negative content that I find depressing; it's the total lack of levity in the comments around here which causes anxiety.

You practically can't comment on anything unless you're a complete expert, lest an expert get offended by your less-than-perfect understanding of something and engage in a "gotcha" eye-rolling grouchy-faced passive aggressive attack in response, instead of just explaining politely why you're wrong. Most people are happy to be corrected by experts, and I'd rather they weren't afraid to post their ideas.

We people take ourselves too seriously, methinks. In my circles, I see a lot of impotent nerd-rage boiling underneath the surface (of which I too have been guilty) and it comes out whenever someone is even just a centimeter off when trying to talk about something complicated.

edit: This popular comic describes it well: https://xkcd.com/386/ There's a bit too much of this.

I see something similar, although I may look at it slightly differently. I don't necessarily case so much about "levity" per-se, but what I would like to see is for people to:

1. quit acting as though every discussion here was a formal debate

2. assume good faith on the behalf of others

3. try avoid being dicks to each other

4. shy away from needless pedantry

Note that (3) does not imply never offering criticism, or never saying anything negative. It just means doing so in a constructive and respectful way.

OTOH, the lack of Reddit/Slashdot style memes and jokes and what-not is a Good Thing about HN, IMO.

"Best way to learn everything about a topic is to explain it wrong on HN" ;)

I agree. There's a relentless hostility toward any ordinary discussion of ideas and hypotheses. Everything has to be backed by citations, and if there aren't solid published studies on a topic, then merely bringing it up can't be tolerated. The extent to which people try to shut down conversations and "win" debates this way is exhausting.

It's because of this that I sometimes notice myself second-guessing then opting not to participate when I otherwise would feel compelled to. I hadn't been able to see it in myself, or quantify it until just now when I read your comment here. I still learn alot & mostly associate HN with positive energy. It would be nice though if this behavior you mention weren't so prevalent.

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