Well, I am wondering what HN "is for". People talk about it. People say it's good to use but I couldn't see it myself. I would love to engage but in a way that is beneficial for the community and myself as I mentioned. I am playing a devil's advocate a little in order to learn.
It's not that I am criticizing. I am just trying to better understand.
Thanks!
HN's purpose is to find and discuss stories that gratify intellectual curiosity. So to decide whether HN is for you, simply browse the front page for a few days and see if any stories there interest you. If they do, then there's a good chance you share interests with other people here.
The text-based design is on purpose. It focuses on the content and doesn't try to appeal to everybody. It's true, though, that HN can seem cryptic to new visitors. One needs to hang around long enough to let one's eyes adjust. I hope you'll do that before reaching a final verdict.
If you'd like to read more about the thinking behind HN, try:
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
https://news.ycombinator.com/newswelcome.html
I don't give up on anything before I understand the concept. Only after I know how something works do I decide to use it or not.
Many things interest me so I think I'll stick around. Moreover, those conversations are great. I love exchanging opinions and HN seems to be the place where 'great minds discuss ideas'.
Thanks for the links!