Embrace, extend, extinguish.
So, what are you actually making better here?
HN! Look at it this way: if everyone who likes to use phrases like that, even when not really suitable, sees they get downvoted into oblivion maybe they'll start to realize there's a reason for it. And next time they'll want to post they'll hesitate, start reasoning, and don't post any nonsense. Sounds good to me. And a bit far fetched maybe :P
"Embrace, extend and extinguish" was a widely employed anticompetitive strategy used by Microsoft for a long time as some court documents show. Not just some conspiracy theory. What makes you think Microsoft is trustworthy today? Just because they have a new CEO? Everything they "embraced" in the past turned into shit fast (The last victim was Nokia).
What am I making better here? I'm reminding everybody that a company whose whole success is rooted in exploiting a monopoly should not be trusted.
While I think Microsoft has been moving in a good direction since Nadella took over (I am sorry if I misspelled his name), it is worth keeping in mind the nasty - and at times downright criminal - business practices Microsoft used to get where it is today.
Just to be clear, I am hopeful that Microsoft's leadership has come to understand that in world with more iPhones and Android devices than PCs, their old tactics won't work any longer. But they still have a long way to go before I trust them.
You, sir, are a winner.
In case everyone couldn't tell I think that the incessant posting of "embrace, extend, extinguish" are really childish so I replied childishly. Do we need a sarcasm tag?
EDIT: One day I will too be able to down-vote and then woe to you all. woe to you all. OH WHAT DOWN VOTES I WILL BRING!!!
EDIT EDIT: That's great advice friendly friend but I don't have enough karma to down-vote. Way to rub it in though...
If you think a post is childish, downvote it and move on. If you respond in kind, expect to be downvoted. It doesn't make sense to decrease the signal-to-noise ratio in response to a post whose main problem is that it is decreasing the signal-to-noise ratio.
This particular comment got flagged, which is great. That being said, I can't count the number of times I've had someone reply to me with "Switch to Linux"...and I can't downvote that. Signal to noise?
The rules are unevenly applied. For instance, a couple of weeks ago one of those "Isn't RMS Awesome!" posts came up. I expressed a sentiment that was counter to the glowing praise people where heaping on the guy's article. I wasn't rude, but I do disagree with the guys positions on somethings and expressed that. It started being downvoted immediately...I was close to 200 at that point so I actually wrote a BS set of pablum replies and they were upvoted so I regained the karma.
Its frustrating.
FWIW I don't think people are allowed to downvote replies to their posts. At least I can't, maybe I could after getting even more karma?