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We're only being dishonest to get your attention. Join us!

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: We're only being dishonest to get your attention. Join us!

#31

Post by argumentum »

dylangs1030 wrote: post #25
argumentum wrote: post #15

It wouldn't have been that bad had they made one simple change .. from (20% of College Students) to (20% of ) or (20% of a major public university). It would have actually been more impressive if they weren't so vague .. now they are probably going to turn off a lot of good prospects. I say this as a YC alum whose 1st job post was fairly ill-advised (though not dishonest). Believe me, it is quite tempting to play aro…

Perhaps, but part of the reason for making a post like this is to bring attention to the format. We can cut them some slack, but being 17-22 doesn't require linkbait job posts. Plus, it's not like it requires so much experience to understand why linkbait is not in your favor on Hacker News. Some of the linkbaitiest titles are the ones I see consistently reposted - it doesn't work and it's somewhat annoying. A really…

I think that's a decent format (assuming the startup is launched), but it doesn't encapsulate the spirit of some jobs. For example, I actually like posts like the following (right now the 2nd post on the board):

Help us build the mobile app farmers really want https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6266489

It intrigues me a lot more than "FarmLogs (YC sXX) seeks iOS developer". If that was the title, I might think it was some stupid iphone game and ignore it.

But if you click on it, it's a really interesting startup that could help a lot of people not normally helped by technology.

Re: We're only being dishonest to get your attention. Join us!

#32

Post by amirmc »

[deleted] wrote: post #24
joeblau wrote: post #5

Thanks for addressing this, I was wondering what was going on with that other post. The content did seem intriguing, but also a little shady at the same time.

[deleted]

> "YC companies have totally lost focus they are now just broadcasting."

This is unfair. There are a lot of YC companies and many do write clear, informative ads.

Re: We're only being dishonest to get your attention. Join us!

#33

Post by balsam »

argumentum wrote: post #15

It wouldn't have been that bad had they made one simple change .. from (20% of College Students) to (20% of ) or (20% of a major public university). It would have actually been more impressive if they weren't so vague .. now they are probably going to turn off a lot of good prospects. I say this as a YC alum whose 1st job post was fairly ill-advised (though not dishonest). Believe me, it is quite tempting to play aro…

well what if it's 20% of the National University of Singapore? That's not exactly a big name school in the Bay Area. (By now I have an idea which company this is)

Re: We're only being dishonest to get your attention. Join us!

#34

Post by larrys »

aaronbrethorst wrote: post #23
icecreampain wrote: post #4

Unfortunately, dishonesty sells. How did all the large megacorporations get to where they are now? Not by being great programmers and free thinkers, but by being greedy businessmen and, later, buying tons of lobbyists. This piece of shit company is ... well... just being a normal company.

Unfortunately, dishonesty sells. How did all the large megacorporations get to where they are now? Not by being great programmers and free thinkers, but by being greedy businessmen and, later, buying tons of lobbyists. This piece of shit company is ... well... just being a normal company. Citation needed.

Although I am one to also ask from time to time for links or citations I think that in this case this is clearly one persons opinion as opposed to someone saying "it is well known that dishonesty sells and that all large mega corporations get to where they are by.." [1]

As far as "dishonesty" in business that is determined many times by when the consensus actions of a particular industry is. Behavior in one industry in many cases means you have to play the same game or perish. Each industry works differently.

[1] Add: In which case a citation would be appropriate.

Re: We're only being dishonest to get your attention. Join us!

#35

Post by corin_ »

minimaxir wrote: post #29
leetrout wrote: post #27

As a newer HN user I was surprised that there are no comments on job postings. I've also noticed some interesting posts and think there could be some constructive conversation around them. I can appreciate why there are no comments but also I think it would be interesting to allow direct feedback to job postings. Anyone else ever thought this, too?

Reddit allows users to comment on ads. 99% of the time it doesn't go well, especially if they are being dishonest.

HN is, at least in theory, a place where being polite when giving feedback is the norm. Reddit, on the other hand, is a place where humour and rudeness is not only expected, but wanted by the majority.

Re: We're only being dishonest to get your attention. Join us!

#36

Post by supergauntlet »

minimaxir wrote: post #29
leetrout wrote: post #27

As a newer HN user I was surprised that there are no comments on job postings. I've also noticed some interesting posts and think there could be some constructive conversation around them. I can appreciate why there are no comments but also I think it would be interesting to allow direct feedback to job postings. Anyone else ever thought this, too?

Reddit allows users to comment on ads. 99% of the time it doesn't go well, especially if they are being dishonest.

I think I've seen a reddit ad upvoted once, maybe twice. The vast majority of them (even when they seem like the hivemind would like them) are downvoted. It's strange.

Re: We're only being dishonest to get your attention. Join us!

#37

Post by jacquesm »

leetrout wrote: post #27

As a newer HN user I was surprised that there are no comments on job postings. I've also noticed some interesting posts and think there could be some constructive conversation around them. I can appreciate why there are no comments but also I think it would be interesting to allow direct feedback to job postings. Anyone else ever thought this, too?

Comments are off on job postings because they tend to become a running critique of the company or product doing the posting.

Re: We're only being dishonest to get your attention. Join us!

#38

Post by samstave »

minimaxir wrote: post #29
leetrout wrote: post #27

As a newer HN user I was surprised that there are no comments on job postings. I've also noticed some interesting posts and think there could be some constructive conversation around them. I can appreciate why there are no comments but also I think it would be interesting to allow direct feedback to job postings. Anyone else ever thought this, too?

Reddit allows users to comment on ads. 99% of the time it doesn't go well, especially if they are being dishonest.

God I love reddit. Nothing warms my heart as much as an angry anonymous mob full of inside jokes and puns attacking idiocy in advertising.

Re: We're only being dishonest to get your attention. Join us!

#39

Post by larrys »

jacquesm wrote: post #37
leetrout wrote: post #27

As a newer HN user I was surprised that there are no comments on job postings. I've also noticed some interesting posts and think there could be some constructive conversation around them. I can appreciate why there are no comments but also I think it would be interesting to allow direct feedback to job postings. Anyone else ever thought this, too?

Comments are off on job postings because they tend to become a running critique of the company or product doing the posting.

"because they tend to become a running critique of the company or product doing the posting"

Why do they feel that is bad? And have they ever been on on HN job postings (if so how long ago)?

Re: We're only being dishonest to get your attention. Join us!

#40

Post by aaronbrethorst »

larrys wrote: post #34
aaronbrethorst wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, dishonesty sells. How did all the large megacorporations get to where they are now? Not by being great programmers and free thinkers, but by being greedy businessmen and, later, buying tons of lobbyists. This piece of shit company is ... well... just being a normal company. Citation needed.

Although I am one to also ask from time to time for links or citations I think that in this case this is clearly one persons opinion as opposed to someone saying "it is well known that dishonesty sells and that all large mega corporations get to where they are by.." [1] As far as "dishonesty" in business that is determined many times by when the consensus actions of a particular industry is. Behavior in one industry…

    I think that in this case this is
    clearly one persons opinion
Agreed, but they should've phrased it as such as opposed to stating it as fact. I appreciate that your reply included "I think" :)
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