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Comment by lukebitts | Hacker News Reader

> Are we seriously questioning why someone wants to share their opinions on a topic? Are we actually clueless as to what they get out of it?

Yes, feel free to explain why that’s insane. It seems absolutely normal to keep things to yourself

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There is no way this is a good faith question. As someone delivering their opinion on the internet - surely you can explain why someone would like to deliver their opinion on the internet.

I personally don’t get anything out of sharing my opinion on the internet, I do it out of reflex and I actually have been taking measures to stop doing it. So no, not asking in bad faith.

I wasted a decade+ on my life arguing online all day. I see what coldpie says. It is legitimately a pointless waste of time.

Obviously I am still on HN so I still do it, but I definitely feel it's futile and it's a guilty pleasure. But even here, I've lurked or posted for many years too and I can't recall anyone changing their opinion on anything.

I dont think mental jousting is completely devoid of value depending on the topic. The benefits are just difficult to measure.

Even if you haven't changed opinions, you may have helped take down strawmen or aid others in steelmaning.

The possibility to have a healthy debate on any topic is the root of progress!

Fair enough, though I would argue it’s impossible to have a healthy meaningful debate on “the internet” (by which I mean reddit or any social media)

Sadly true

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