Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Is HN Still Relevant? Why or Why Not?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–10 of 11 posts

Ask HN: Is HN Still Relevant? Why or Why Not?

#1

Post by rockyperezz »

Many people have told me to get on HN as they claim the visibility is great for up-and-coming projects.

However, I usually see the good stuff on here barely makes the top. I thought they would have put better safeguards in place to prevent manufactured upvotes/engagement.

To those who regularly use HN, do you still find it useful or relevant? And what's the best way to make use of this space?

Thanks

Re: Ask HN: Is HN Still Relevant? Why or Why Not?

#4

Post by gregjor »

HN can't have the qualities "relevant" or "useful." Those words describe individual and subjective judgments of the site's content. Since HN consists of an ever-growing pile of loosely-related articles and links, I don't think you can make meaningful judgments about the site as a whole.

I find enough content on HN that seems relevant or useful to me, so I continue scanning through it. Based on the frequency of posts and lively comment threads I think many other people also find the site relevant and useful, to them.

Re: Ask HN: Is HN Still Relevant? Why or Why Not?

#6

Post by codingdave »

I think you answered your own question - if you personally feel that the content here that gets voted to the top is not what you would have put there, then HN is not relevant to you. It is certainly relevant to those who agree with the content that makes it to the top.

But the question is completely subjective. If you personally find value in the content shared on HN, great. If not, that is fine too. But if your goal is to use HN to build visibility of your own product and content, that might be a flawed approach. HN is good for feedback and critique, not for marketing your work.

Re: Ask HN: Is HN Still Relevant? Why or Why Not?

#7

Post by rockyperezz »

codingdave wrote: post #6

I think you answered your own question - if you personally feel that the content here that gets voted to the top is not what you would have put there, then HN is not relevant to you. It is certainly relevant to those who agree with the content that makes it to the top. But the question is completely subjective. If you personally find value in the content shared on HN, great. If not, that is fine too. But if your goal…

thanks. that's a great way of putting it. Especially about it being a good place for feedback and critique (vs marketing as an intent).

Re: Ask HN: Is HN Still Relevant? Why or Why Not?

#8

Post by rockyperezz »

gregjor wrote: post #4

HN can't have the qualities "relevant" or "useful." Those words describe individual and subjective judgments of the site's content. Since HN consists of an ever-growing pile of loosely-related articles and links, I don't think you can make meaningful judgments about the site as a whole. I find enough content on HN that seems relevant or useful to me , so I continue scanning through it. Based on the frequency of posts…

true. I think that was what threw me off in the beginning - it being a potluck of random article, sites, info, and news that didn't have the organization/categorization present in other types of community-driven sites. I will explore it a bit more, as I have found useful and interesting topics to me, they just usually are further down the list (kinda like nuggets of gold imo). thanks for the insight!

Re: Ask HN: Is HN Still Relevant? Why or Why Not?

#9

Post by rockyperezz »

Malidir wrote: post #2

"And what's the best way to make use of this space?" Read it once a day whilst you are in a meeting that you have nothing/not much to contribute to or takeaway from ;)

ahahah. nice one! I mostly use it to fill voids of time instead of engaging in social media "doom scrolling".
Post reply on HN