How to Participate in Hacker News • Hacker News Board

Re: How to Participate in Hacker News

#31

Post by jeswin » Wed, Jan 04, 2012, 12:54 AM UTC

zackzackzack wrote: post #27

Joakal wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Security of user accounts is no joking matter. It may be hijacked for spam bots. Someone may pose as you telling stories.

Spam bots are a legitimate concern to me. I'll probably start rotating passwords if I sense that something like that is happening. I don't want to hurt hacker news. And somebody could already pose as me, or you, or anybody else on here who isn't way famous (nobody could pose as pg). Anybody can be anybody else on the internet.

As much as you got downvoted for your earlier comment, I see the point you are making. Anyone can be anyone, and if you don't care about your account the password doesn't matter. (Although it does help spammers get around the green-username badge.)

In this case I can see why some people downvoted you. But otherwise, downvoting should be reserved for spam/malice and not for a differing opinion, not even for one that you totally disagree with.

Re: How to Participate in Hacker News

#32

Post by pork » Wed, Jan 04, 2012, 12:58 AM UTC

What a well-timed post, particularly since reading a bizarre takeover of another thread by a single person who comes off as a bit paranoid:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3420845

Re: How to Participate in Hacker News

#33

Post by rubidium » Wed, Jan 04, 2012, 1:03 AM UTC

" Best article: I'm nothing until the Hacker News community comments on me."

Well, sometimes the article is better than the discussion. Sometimes the discussion is better than the article. In my experience, the trivial articles sometimes have the best discussions, and the best articles seem to often have trivial discussions.

It'd be fun to get a list of best HN discussions (highest karma average per comment perhaps) ... anyone know how to do that?

Re: How to Participate in Hacker News

#34

Post by Tsagadai » Wed, Jan 04, 2012, 1:10 AM UTC

I've been a long time lurker here. I lurked for several months before creating an account and then I lurked quite a bit longer before participating. Groups of intelligent people are intimidating at first but please don't hold back if you have something to add to a discussion. New voices are incredibly important for preventing groups from merely becoming echochambers for established members.

I especially agree with the original article's point about talking about your work. If you are doing something interesting, please share it. I'm always keen to read about amazing hacks and unique projects and I'm sure many others are too. I'm very slow at writing up my own projects, so I probably should spend more time doing that.

If you are working on something that feels like reinventing a wheel for a company that has a core philosophy of Not Invented Here, share that too. I'm sure many of us have been there once and could give you some advice on ways to improve your situation (even reinventing wheels can be done to a high standard and be great practice coding), empathetic support or perhaps a way out into another job.

I implore you, dear lurking readers, participate.

Edit: fixed some pre-coffee writing.

Re: How to Participate in Hacker News

#35

Post by DanielBMarkham » Wed, Jan 04, 2012, 1:12 AM UTC

Here's another suggestion: flag sparingly.

A lot of long-time HN'ers are frustrated at the "flag patrols" -- people of one group who don't like such-and-such author and flag them and their submissions. I've heard several people complain to me about having normal articles flagged and I've done my share of complaining. Don't be the guy who takes out your personal grudges in the form of flagging. Let the votes work.

The system will not work with punitive flagging. My policy is that I flag only when I'm convinced an article is going to take the board off the rails. That's a tough call anymore. With a large enough audience, people get emotional just about anything.

But remember that HackerNews is defined the most by what the people don't do. They don't comment if they don't have something interesting to say, they don't flag unless absolutely necessary, they don't criticize unless it's in the spirit of discovery, they don't vote down unless it's really a trivial comment. Do less and you'll enjoy it more. With the crowd as large as it is, I'm starting to see good comment X which has ten sub-comments, nine of which either didn't understand the main comment or don't understand the issue yet want to score karma points by making somewhat snarky remarks. We all need to fight that tendency. We do that by doing less.

Re: How to Participate in Hacker News

#36

Post by gridspy » Wed, Jan 04, 2012, 1:16 AM UTC

Stormbringer wrote: post #25

Joakal wrote: post #19

I think a good point is to avoid jokes, especially weak ones. They're easy and distract from the original topic(s).

You're full of shit.

Interesting perspective. What data led you to that conclusion?

Re: How to Participate in Hacker News

#37

Post by shasta » Wed, Jan 04, 2012, 1:18 AM UTC

Am I the only one who gets tired of the first sentence of so many replies being along the lines of "I understand where you're coming from and I respect you as a person, but..."?

Be respectful, but if you disagree, just disagree. Don't patronize.

Re: How to Participate in Hacker News

#38

Post by polymatter » Wed, Jan 04, 2012, 1:19 AM UTC

matthiasb wrote: post #21

"I see no need for "personas"" If you work for a company X and you are posting with your real name, you will somehow represent the company X. Whatever you say on YC is public. Be careful to not damage your company image.

This stung me really bad in my first job as a trainee developer. I made a comment on a site (slashdot I think) and foolishly put down my real name and company name.

Some journalist on CNet took my comment as the official company line and included it in an article. It was picked up by investors (during what was in retrospect due diligence before the company was sold) and I got a severe reprimand from my manager for it. He let me know under no uncertain terms that were it not for my excellent work up till then he'd have fired me for that. I was never really forgiven, made to feel uncomfortable and left 6 months later when the company was sold.

Now I don't exactly hide my real name, but its not easily visible. And I certainly don't disclose the company I work for. I advise any non-C level employee to do the same.

Re: How to Participate in Hacker News

#39

Post by gbog » Wed, Jan 04, 2012, 1:20 AM UTC

tokenadult wrote: post #7

I particularly like this example, which the author acknowledges is extreme: "3. Be positive. "This can really be hard when smart people debate, but try it anyway. Notice the difference between: "Person A: Water is dry. "Person B: No it's not. You're full of shit. "and "Person C: Water is dry. "Person D: Not in my experience. What data have you encountered to cause you to arrive at that conclusion?" I really like thos…

Form is important too:

11. Watch your style, capitalize, proofread.

12. Avoid inside jokes, mannerisms, memes. Write for everyone, your readers may include people with very different background.

Re: How to Participate in Hacker News

#40

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Jan 04, 2012, 1:22 AM UTC

tokenadult wrote: post #7

I particularly like this example, which the author acknowledges is extreme: "3. Be positive. "This can really be hard when smart people debate, but try it anyway. Notice the difference between: "Person A: Water is dry. "Person B: No it's not. You're full of shit. "and "Person C: Water is dry. "Person D: Not in my experience. What data have you encountered to cause you to arrive at that conclusion?" I really like thos…

[deleted]