Hacker News Reader

You asked him whether he ever reflected on database visualization and query tools (that's what Palantir is) and considered that he had brought a previously unimaginable capability for destruction into this world?

Non-answer seems about right -- how do you treat nonsensical questions?

View on HN

You're speaking of a company named after the device that Sauron used to control the Middle Earth equivalent of the Internet. A user with sufficient will power could decide what the palantirs would show (and hide) to other users. The "Database Torturer" would inspire more trust.

This is a bad critique for two reasons:

1. Linking the name of a company to people and places that don't exist doesn't demonstrate anything.

2. You don't even know enough to know that the Palantiri were originally created and used by the elves, not Sauron.

> 2. You don't even know enough to know that the Palantiri were originally created and used by the elves, not Sauron.

I take offense to that. I know the Palantiri were originally made by the elves, with good intentions. Sauron just took hold of one and poisoned the network.

Sorry to have assumed ignorance on your part, but you see then, it's totally possible that the company name refers to their original positive nature.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com