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Meta is Murder

codinghorror.com

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Re: Meta is Murder

#21

Post by akkartik »

GavinB wrote: post #15
mrtron wrote: post #7

I don't think this sort of topic qualifies as Hacker News.

A lot of people cite MetaTalk as a reason that MetaFilter works. If you talk to a regular from the site they'll tell you MetaTalk is key to the success of the site because it's a sort of release valve. The solution to the "not hacker news" problem isn't to shout people down. You need to give them that release valve. The comments are a symptom of a problem, and it needs to be addressed through the site architecture.

I tried out and stopped using the JoS discussion boards (way before the days of reddit) primarily because this release valve didn't exist. My submission would occasionally get magicked away and there was no recourse, no way to ask why that had happened.

Re: Meta is Murder

#23

Post by [deleted] »

GavinB wrote: post #15
mrtron wrote: post #7

I don't think this sort of topic qualifies as Hacker News.

A lot of people cite MetaTalk as a reason that MetaFilter works. If you talk to a regular from the site they'll tell you MetaTalk is key to the success of the site because it's a sort of release valve. The solution to the "not hacker news" problem isn't to shout people down. You need to give them that release valve. The comments are a symptom of a problem, and it needs to be addressed through the site architecture.

[deleted]

Re: Meta is Murder

#24

Post by brown9-2 »

biotech wrote: post #12

"Generally speaking, I am not a fan of the meta." Ironic that he should say this, considering that a considerable portion of his communications relate to meta-discussions.

This blog post is a discussion of a podcast discussion of where to host discussion of stackoverflow discussion.

Re: Meta is Murder

#26

Post by joe_the_user »

fogus wrote: post #2

Sometimes I just want to scream: Stop having 3-hour discussions about what to name the product and just build the product!

The name of a product is really, really important to the product's success. The reason that three-hour long discussions about it are frustrating that they aren't a good way to find a good name - all the names you've heard in the discussion blur together and it's not possible to "get" the quality of any uniquely good names.

A lot of design is like that - it is the art of just having a simple thing that "works". The simple thing seems easy but is really hard because you have to consider many factors but not do a simple compromise. It's also something that more less can't be done by a simple committee.

Re: Meta is Murder

#27

Post by joe_the_user »

The thing about meta-discussion is, to an extent, it is people talking to hear themselves or each other talk.

That sounds terrible but is it? Suppose instead of just talking, people sang? Singing to hear yourself sing is wonderful. So the question isn't just whether you are accomplishing anything with meta-comments. The question is whether you either accomplishing or whether you are just enjoying what you're doing in a somewhat rich, creative or satisfying way. This seems more likely when the meta-discussion is humorous and good spirited than when it is angry and mean-spirited. But perhaps some people enjoy trying to destroy other people's intellectual position on some level or other.

Re: Meta is Murder

#28

Post by o314 »

Actually this is so spot on!

I ADMIT! I have been living a meta-life for far too long now. A life where I ponder about HOW I want to/should live my life. In a sense it has given me much - a perceived knowledge and understanding about me, life and the world. All in theory. Lately in my meta-living I've come to the conclusion that that's just what it is. A meta-life. I need to stop meta and go out there, to actually get things done. Get practical.

Re: Meta is Murder

#29

Post by colinprince »

biotech wrote: post #12

"Generally speaking, I am not a fan of the meta." Ironic that he should say this, considering that a considerable portion of his communications relate to meta-discussions.

In this specific case, he wants to talk about talking.

In general against; in this case, for.

Re: Meta is Murder

#30

Post by o314 »

fogus wrote: post #2

Sometimes I just want to scream: Stop having 3-hour discussions about what to name the product and just build the product!

I do that with class/variable names when coding. Then I scream at myself.
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