Hacker News Reader

I agree with you, but suggesting Astroturf is apparently against the rules here. I like it because it needs less water for football fields.

View on HN

Unfortunately it emits methane and a lot of other toxic chemicals, as well as not providing a permeable surface for rainfall.

Whether you meant the attitude product or were jocularly using it a relevant metaphor for AI decanters both your comment and mine apply!

Mainly because it's not very helpful for a useful discussion. If it's true, the discussion is already dead, if it's false, all it does is annoy the accused.

It’s useful to raise awareness. The rules were made during a different period, where motivated state actors astroturfing were not that prevalent.

I think it's only useful as awareness that it's a thing that could happen. evidence for specific instances tends to be tenuous.

For a specific post it’s always a guess. When it’s as recurring and consistent as it is here across all posts, it has crossed the point of preponderance of evidence.

And highlighting when it happens is exactly what helps people realize it’s not a one off.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com