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Comment by michaelochurch | Hacker News Reader

This thread has made me think less of Hacker News. All of it. The hate posts were pretty petty, but the fawning is pretty gross as well.

We wonder why there's so much ageism. It's because age obsessions stem from this "cool list" narcissistic nonsense. But this is a prejudice all of us will face, because we're all (well, almost all, and with luck) going to be old some day.

The sign of maturity is to see something like this, neither be impressed nor upset/resentful, and just move on. Some magazine made a list somewhere. There were names on it. Don't remember most of 'em. Not news, not interesting, #toobusygettingshitdone, et cetera.

I didn't even read the list and have no idea who's on it, so I have no opinion of the selection, but the fact that people care is appalling.

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Oh, I think they make lists of "young people who did impressive shit" in part because most lists of "people who did impressive shit" are pretty well dominated by older people. It's a little like making lists of "women who are important for some fucking reason or other", which is lefthanded admission that general lists of "people who are important for some fucking reason or other" are extremely male dominated.

-- Observation by a 47yo female

"Some magazine made a list somewhere"

Lists like this for magazines and are obviously a well thought out strategy to build circulation. This year the Forbes list has even been expanded into more categories so more people can have a feather in their cap. Press releases will be issued and every small town newspaper in america repeats the info about how some person made the list in Forbes. And here on Hacker News (note pg comment on this thread with congratulations confirming the authority and importance of all of this) as well as blogs and other news site that need some fresh material.

The one question that isn't answered anywhere, that I can find, is who are the "panel of expert judges" that helped the Forbes people with the choices? That's certainly relevant.

The sign of maturity is to see something like this, neither be impressed nor upset/resentful, and just move on.

If that's what you think, why didn't you?

Do you consider these lists interesting? Are you happy when you see YC names in this article?

Sure. I learned a bunch of things I didn't know. I had no idea Spotify's valuation was so high, for example, and I didn't know people were using location in cryptography.

And sure, I'm happy to see YC alumni in the list. It's nice for them to get some recognition.

From OP's comment: I didn't even read the list and have no idea who's on it

He might not be interested in Forbes' list, but care about the reaction from the HN community. I see no contradiction.

From OP's comment: It's because age obsessions stem from this "cool list" narcissistic nonsense.

There are a lot of successful people under 30. Especially when you include things like Writer, Actor, Athletes, and people who have taken seed funding, but are not yet profitable.

What I thought was interesting was how much overlap there was with the category's. (Art & Style, Education, Energy, Finance, Food & Wine, Games & Apps, Hollywood, Law & Policy, Marketing & Advertising, Media, Music, Science & Healthcare, Social Entrepreneurs, Sports, Tech) It was like they created did some research for interesting people and then created new category's after the fact. But, that may also relate to who was willing to be on there list.

the fawning? it's the end of the year and forbes came out with a list recognizing people of their accomplishments. it seems like many people in this thread know some of these people and wanted to congratulate them. what's wrong with that?

For the most part, it's a list of some pretty impressive young people doing some pretty impressive things. You don't have to shit all over it in this thread because you're butthurt.

Not "butthurt". (People still use that phrase?) Not even in a startup, so out of contention anyway.

My point is that we should be excited about those impressive things, not some list that was compiled.

List shows us those impressive thing?

I don't understand.

The merits of hating / supporting a magazine is one thing. However achieving something of note before thirty is hardly an easy thing and not really something I'd criticize just to criticize. If you don't take support from your peers, or admire their success I don't really see what you yourself are working towards.

Also, by commentating on the general state of HN instead of reading the article, you are not in fact improving the quality of conversation found here.

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