For me, HN gives a sort of window into the American SF techno views and mindset about the world. It's quite interesting to read their ideas and opinions. It's a bubble like other places but it doesn't mean you won't learn something.
Ask HN: What tangible benefits did you get from spending time on HN?
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Re: Ask HN: What tangible benefits did you get from spending time on HN?
#42HN helped publisher No Starch Press discover my online book Computer Graphics From Scratch [0], which led to its publication as a real book [1]. Shared more of the story in the most recent post about it [2].
[0] https://gabrielgambetta.com/computer-graphics-from-scratch
Re: Ask HN: What tangible benefits did you get from spending time on HN?
#43Yes, it's a waste of time, I would leave and not return. I haven't made any money or started any companies or met any wives on this site, it's a total joke.
Someone should start an app to disrupt the wives and companies market.
Re: Ask HN: What tangible benefits did you get from spending time on HN?
#44> Also intellectual debate, I get more information, I feel smart as benefits etc. don't count in this context.
They may not count for you, but it has allowed to see me how easy most things are and that very few things are actually hard. I used to be a lot more intimidated by many things, but HN always gives a cursory glance into a topic with the right approach to explaining it, which leads me to adapt the mindset that's needed much faster than I'd be able to do when self-learning it.
This even goes so far that whenever I need an opinion or need to learn something, I skip Google search and go straight to HN to see what their opinions are on the matter. Reddit doesn't come close to HN in this regard either.
In the traditional sense of your question: I got no job out of it or anything. I did get contacted a few times for various reasons, and meeting up with other people is always fun :)
Re: Ask HN: What tangible benefits did you get from spending time on HN?
#45I need something to scroll mindlessly and explore interesting stuff, after trying Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and Twitter I've found HN the most positive place on the Internet with the highest signal to noise ratio in posts and comments.
Re: Ask HN: What tangible benefits did you get from spending time on HN?
#46HN is an important way for me to keep up with new development technologies and methodologies, more so than any other single website i know. This has helped with my standing in the company i work at, since i usually know every technology people are talking about. I don't know of anyone in the company with a similiarily broad knowledge.
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Re: Ask HN: What tangible benefits did you get from spending time on HN?
#47One of my comments in HN came up in a business transaction, where the opposing party wanted to know how a specific technical optimization problem I described, was solved.
Generally, I appreciate reading the thoughts of other people who have views opposing my own, but with reasonable arguments, in a calm manner.
Re: Ask HN: What tangible benefits did you get from spending time on HN?
#48Hacker News is like a slot machine with positive expected value. Most days are interesting or sometimes a waste of time. Occasionally you see something like altering. I’ve gotten one big business idea that changed how I ran things and made me a lot of money. Like I mean permanently life altering my business worked instead of didn’t amount of money. But most days are not like that. You also get some information early.…
I'm happy OP asked the question, because this wasn't/wouldn't be in my answer. But now that I've read yours, I couldn't agree more.
Re: Ask HN: What tangible benefits did you get from spending time on HN?
#49Just my personal opinion, but if you’re looking for a place to advertise your startup, then I doubt HN is the right place. Personally I come to HN because it’s one of the few places you can have a discussion and read comments without having to dig through dozens of memes and low attempt jokes.
It may be relevant if your startup provides a product (tools or services) targeting HN demographics, let's say, technical users/tech companies/startups.
Re: Ask HN: What tangible benefits did you get from spending time on HN?
#501) Education. There's regularly links to important topics in eg Machine Learning or low level coding. I use the favourites feature as a bookmarks thing.
2) News digest. HN tends to be ahead of the curve on things that touch on tech, eg privacy.
3) Qualified contacts. I don't often write to people directly (email), but the times I have it's always been worthwhile.