Hacker News Reader

Comment by overcast | Hacker News Reader

Is it really necessary to hijack others "Show HN"? These types of posts should be banned.

I think the opposite - until an hour ago I wasn't aware this category of software even existed. As soon as I learned of it, first thing I wanted to know is what else is out there that solves the same problem and how they compare.

Some projects help you with this by featuring a quick rundown of similar software on their website/repository readme along with links to the repositories. I always appreciate that.

Then create a separate Show HN for it? There's no reason to mention your competing product in someones thread, other than to advertise for it.

But then they are two unrelated posts with two separate discussions. The whole point is that they are related and in the same discussion. It's more simple this way.

I mean if they are unrelated, shouldn't they have separate discussions?

It's on the same topic. You can do a comparison and the creators could even discuss challenges and different approaches. And users get the best overview. I thought that was the point of this site.

I have no problem with piggybacking either. I come to this site for discussion and debate, not product advertising. I'm all for people showing of their ideas and projects, but it should be in the spirit of learning or discussion, not just product shilling.

I specifacally read ShowHN for EXACTLY these comments. HN community is always fantastic at providing alternate approaches.

This is where people working on similar ideas can get together and chat, right ?

Let's cut through the nonsense here, you're advertising your product in someone else's post, and successfully became the top comment in doing so. Thus diverting any other discussion on the authors work, to only yours. I'm all for good discussions, that's why HN is my only forum I participate in, but doing this, in my opinion, sucks.

Yeah, now all the top top-level comments are plugs. This is ridiculous.

Someone else's Show HN should not be an avenue for marketing your project, plain and simple. Maybe people will start organically talking/comparing to a competitor, but even that is different from the ol "hey everyone, here's my alternative!" which is just sheepish.

Time to leave the theater so other people can enjoy the show.

My main annoyance about this is that we're now discussing about the mentioning of another product instead of the other product itself.

I think you are in wrong website. This is where people build and share with eachother. I shared links of two open source projects that can help this product, too. Obviously you are not an active contributor to the community, so you take see it differently.

Yeah, I think it's pretty annoying. For example, this is now the top comment and hijacks actual discussion on the OP's work. Feels inappropriate for a Show HN.

Let's say there's a dominant contender in this space that always blows any Show HN out of the water. So what? That should be a different post. If we're going to see ourselves as a group of hackers, then we should be able to talk about each other's standalone work. It's just become super corny when these threads are used as marketing for other projects.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com