I fully agree the wording isn't in line with the discouragement of ad homs, comes off condescending to a new user, and should be changed. We shouldn't stigmatize being new, though I do think a list of "stuff so stale you can drive nails with it" is pretty appropriate.

Please don't take my quote as my highlighting the noob bit, as it also made me cringe a little. It's an entirely reasonable opinion that you (and the person who vehemently took up your cause in the comment tree) want a more content-rich thread.

But you have to understand posting that opinion is at least 1:1 comment volume with the thing being complained about--so best case, 100% bloat--and it tends to start a N:1 tree under it, so N-hundred% bloat. What was one content-light joke that would've had a few light replies is now a big discussion and now the thread is very, very content-lean for on-topic discussion.

I think that's why that rule is there, not because your opinion is invalid. If it's really that much of a problem such that the downvotes won't do it, then we need to talk but most threads work fine. Further, complaining about the substance of a comment within the same thread is guaranteed to make the overall situation worse, no matter how valid the complaint, because of the above.

I realize I'm contributing to the content-leanness at this point too, by that definition. However, you do deserve a respectful explanation as to why I felt it was appropriate to reply, and the apology for quoting the poorly-worded rule without trying to somehow acknowledge that. I should have, and I am sorry about that.

I think you may be reading too much into it. I for one found the comment informative because it contained the price tag.

HN may be serious, but we're not entirely humorless.

From the HN guidelines:

Please don't post comments saying that HN is turning into Reddit. It's a semi-noob illusion, as old as the hills.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

My impression of the intended rules is that comments need to have "substance" as to constructively carry a conversation. Pointing relevant things out like the price, and making a comment in the form of a joke is perfectly normal in a conversation. You might not have a response but other's may, and indeed you can see a few people continuing the joke for fun.

It's the comments that have no substance, the "no you're wrong" kind that doesn't actually _say_ anything, or specifically baiting for heated responses in flame wars that are issues.

You might not like the jokes, but this type are definitely allowed.

I actually find quite interesting that there’s a limit on 2 robots per purchase.

My human, have you no empathy for the plight of downtrodden robots?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXrbqXPnHvE

Must you condemn them to menial lives of eternal servitude?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXsUetUzXlg

Your robophobic attitude puts you at grave risk of robot attack in the coming AI Revolution, so you should seriously consider Old Glory Robot Insurance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Gh_IcK8UM

Use the following discount code and you will receive your first month's robot insurance at half price: "NOROBO"

> A little humour here and there is fine

Exactly. The top comment is typically not a joke on most posts.

At the same time, what have we gained gained from this meta discussion about which comments belong on Reddit and which ones don’t?

Also, is reddit the only other site on the internet with a comment section? Why is Reddit specifically relevant here?

> It is a joke about robots taking over the world. $7.4M number was put in the comment deliberately to get attention and then proceeding to inquire whether it comes in Dalmatian spots painted over

Did you actually miss the 101 Dalmations reference the joke was actually making? I thought it was super clever and nuanced. Much superior to Reddit.

Maybe that's why the top comment is a joke. Humor is a valid signal, even here.