Comment by RiderOfGiraffes | Hacker News Reader

Comment by RiderOfGiraffes | Hacker News Reader

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RiderOfGiraffes

Replying out of courtesy, so you know the thoughts of at least one participant.

Yes, there are more people saying "it's all going to hell in a handbasket". The biggest problem - as I see it, personal opinion only - is items that people are interested in and believe everyone would be interested in, but which are not really limited in any way to hackers.

Items about stimulants are interesting, but not just, or even primarily, to hackers. Items about injustices, the TSA, virtual strip-searching, and even break-throughs in cancer vaccines are interesting, but not just, or even primarily, to hackers.

The net result is that this one place where I used to come to get news that was specifically of interest to me as a hacker, is flooded with other stuff that I get in other places.

It's no longer special - it's becoming ordinary.

And the major sign of that is the meta-items, talking about the direction HN is going, and how it's all going to hell in a handbasket.

And that's why, with all due respect, I've flagged this item. I just thought I owed you an explanation as well.

I can see where you're coming from and at least partly agree, but I feel the need to call you out on this one. A few of your own submissions from the past month or so:

Current alert: Airport security remains relevant (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1849017)

Mike Rowe celebrates dirty jobs (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1756098)

Richard Wiseman's favorite optical illusions (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1729036)

Overall, your own submissions don't look all that much different from the current /newest page as hacker relevancy goes.

Yes, I agree (and I've upvoted you) that my posts have started to decline in the same way as others have. Or at least, had started to decline. It was recognising that decline that made me write what I did, and I've started to change the things I submit.

I do note that you've gone back over four weeks to get some of those specific examples. I think the balance still shows a strong preponderance of technical items.

And it's for that same reason that, apart from addressing the two immediate questions here, I won't contribute to this thread any further.

With all due respect also, I feel the way you do but if by "flagged", you mean you felt my post should be deleted, I don't understand anymore. Don't you think that topic should be discussed if the problem is to be resolved by, say creating other HNs with dedicated topics such as "hackers-only" HN...?

"Slippery Slope". I think that everything not biased specifically towards hackers (or entrepreneurs) should be flagged. Probably I'm more aggressive and militant about that than most people, but that's OK too - I'm not unaccustomed to being an outlier, and if mine is the only voice then it won't make any difference.

I think that simply raising the issue does nothing. It's creating a discussion - it's not, of itself, adding information. Some people can't see the difference or distinction, but I believe there is one. This item is closer to simply having a moan than it is to making a technical contribution.

If you think things are getting worse then make measurements, do some homework, create a case, and actually make a proposal, don't simply "raise the issue".

I realise my views are regarded as extreme in this matter, but my feeling is that more people with views closer to mine would mean that there wouldn't be the perceived decline, because all the non-hacker-oriented items would die quickly.

And in keeping with this point of view, I will also not contribute further to this discussion unless I think it adds significantly to the discussion. I doubt it will - my opinions aren't that worthy.

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