Hacker News Reader

Comment by hellcow | Hacker News Reader

Perhaps I wasn't clear, but I couldn't care less what they use to message their dentist. I care that they use Signal to message me.

View on HN

The problem is when one friend demands Signal, another WhatsApp, another Matrix, another Telegram, another Threema. These are all closed platforms and having loads of different apps installed which perform similar functions，to satisfy various people's dogmatic views is annoying.

Matrix is not a closed platform, and in fact the only one of the projects you mentioned that even makes an attempt to work together with other chat protocols and networks. It is explicitly open, not locked in to any single service provider, and making an explicit effort to not limit you to chat with only other Matrix users (despite how much Signal or WhatsApp works towards the opposite).

You just made them install one more app. And you lost friends because they didn't install an app. What a dumb way to spite Facebook.

If a "friend" won't install an app (a 2 minute commitment?) to remain in contact, then I'm honestly fine without them contacting me. To each his own.

> (a 2 minute commitment?)

Installing an app is more than a 2 minute commitment. You also have to be OK with that app running on your device.

It's not even that.

An average person will have pages of apps installed, but that would actually use only what's on the first page. So they have a choice of bumping something off their precious FP to fit my special app or just keep it where it lands after installation, on the back pages. And if it ends up there, out of rotation, it won't see much voluntary use.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com