I've started going back to reddit, the subreddits seem to do a pretty good job of staying on-topic these days. Other than that, http://allyourstartuparebelongto.us/ looks like it might be a promising alternative (although I hate the domain name with a passion). If you like the ISV space, The Business of Software forums are good: http://discuss.joelonsoftware.com/default.asp?biz I would like something close to HN from…
If you want the HN of 3 years ago, http://allyourstartuparebelongto.us/ is for you. I'm looking for a better domain name. Suggestions are welcome. I've been trying to get startup.co and techstartu.ps, but so far no luck. The submission/banning criteria is actionable startup advice for tech startup founders. Relevant tech is OK as long as it directly relates to or is obviously useful to startups. No news. And no polit…
Ask HN: HN Alternatives?
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Re: Ask HN: HN Alternatives?
#12http://www.reddit.com/r/somethingimade/
http://www.reddit.com/r/longtext/
http://www.reddit.com/r/programming/
http://www.reddit.com/r/PhilosophyofScience/
http://www.reddit.com/r/cogsci/
http://www.reddit.com/r/startups/
http://www.reddit.com/r/compsci/
http://www.reddit.com/r/SomebodyMakeThis/
http://www.reddit.com/r/browsers/
http://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/
http://www.reddit.com/r/shamelessplug/
http://www.reddit.com/r/Freethought/
Not all of these subreddits are busy but it doesn't matter. I have over 50 hand-selected subreddits and even though I removed all of the popular subreddits (reddit.com, politics, pics etc.), I always see very interesting articles. And the number of comments in each article is usually between 10-50, kinda like HN.
If any of the subreddit starts to get too popular and mainstream, usually 2-3 new subreddits popup that are more specific and interesting. Once a week I spend a few minutes looking for new interesting subreddits. http://www.reddit.com/r/newreddits/ helps with that too.
If you really want to start a web-community, just ask for mod permissions on a few subreddits that interest you. I'd much rather click once to join a subreddit and view its articles during my regular reddit browsing than go to whole another site. I wish HN was available as a subreddit. I would never have to go to another news site.
Re: Ask HN: HN Alternatives?
#13Re: Ask HN: HN Alternatives?
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you want the HN of 3 years ago, http://allyourstartuparebelongto.us/ is for you. I'm looking for a better domain name. Suggestions are welcome. I've been trying to get startup.co and techstartu.ps, but so far no luck. The submission/banning criteria is actionable startup advice for tech startup founders. Relevant tech is OK as long as it directly relates to or is obviously useful to startups. No news. And no polit…
These are all available: startuphacker.com hackerbusiness.com (or hackerbiz.com) businesshacker.net hackerventure.com foundernews.com foundermaker.com beafounder.com techstarting.com techmaker.com founderstart.com makerstart.com (As an aside, I'm always impressed at how quickly you respond to criticism, even minor nits like domain names)
Re: Ask HN: HN Alternatives?
#15After almost four years here, I've definitely felt recently that HN has jumped the shark. I'm also looking for alternatives. allyourstartuparebelongto.us looks promising.
And for those of you about to down-vote this comment: where are the articles pointing out the problems with HN, where are the articles showing the flaws in Lisp, where are the articles which denounce venture-capital-funded startups as the snake-oil of the modern age?
"But those positions are wrong!", the puppeteers cry. Really? Last time I checked, questioning conventional wisdom is what made the modern western world possible.
Re: Ask HN: HN Alternatives?
#16Re: Ask HN: HN Alternatives?
#17Re: Ask HN: HN Alternatives?
#18I love browsing through a tons of different subreddits that have now matured and grown very interesting. In decreasing order of interest to me: http://www.reddit.com/r/somethingimade/ http://www.reddit.com/r/longtext/ http://www.reddit.com/r/programming/ http://www.reddit.com/r/PhilosophyofScience/ http://www.reddit.com/r/cogsci/ http://www.reddit.com/r/startups/ http://www.reddit.com/r/math/ http://www.reddit.com/r/…
Bingo! I think this is the solution to the eternal September effect on communities.
You get a super nice place like reddit when it was new and shiny and over time it gets taken over by trolls. So you move on to startup news, then hacker news, but soon that is filled with generic crap and shallow discussions as well.
So you move on to an individually selected group of sub-reddits and then just keep moving, like a nomad always moving away form the trolls. (Or not even necessarily trolls, just too much popularity which brings shallowness if no actual trolling.)
I strongly encourage everyone to try this. Keep in mind the default reddit includes subreddits like pics and WTF which basically equals 4chan, so quickly edit your settings.
Re: Ask HN: HN Alternatives?
#19As a (almost)first-time, solo entrepreneur who is bootstrapping (yes I have almost everything going against me!), I would really value a community/forum like this. There are times when I'd like to discuss things, seek support, and learn from what others are doing in a more casual setting. HN is great for learning but as a community for informal discussion, it seems just a tad heavyweight.
It sounds like I should just go ahead and start this entrepreneur forum that I'm envisioning.