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Maybe the reason it feels impossible to stem the tide of link rot is that it's takes tremendous energy to constantly increase the entropy of a system. And that energy has opportunity cost that no one really wants to talk about.

The article has the unstated assumption that eternal preservation of all writing ever is a net benefit. I think it's worth having a discussion on that point.

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I disagree that the unstated assumption is eternal preservation of all writing. IMO the author is clearly focusing on official or semi-official published information, not necessarily what you and I write on places like HN.

And there's the irony that's pointed out in the article as well - official documentation on government websites may not last past an elected official's term, yet blithe comments on a social media site that are later regretted may last forever.

> Maybe the reason it feels impossible to stem the tide of link rot is that it's takes tremendous energy to constantly increase the entropy of a system.

I suppose you meant "decrease"

Yes, thanks. Somehow that's always been backwards in my brain. Maybe I'll remember it this time.

No, they mean increase. Decreased entropy would be cheaper to store and maintain.

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