I am not who you think I am

#1

Post by jgrahamc » Thu, Sep 23, 2010, 9:39 PM UTC

Today's psychoanalysis of patio11 was uncalled for and the member who wrote it should be banned. There's no demand for that sort of thing here. If a member wants help from this community they'll ask; interventions are offensive.

But, more importantly, patio11 is not who we think he is, and I am not who you think I am.

The jgrahamc you know through my blog and through my comments here is a persona. It is a facet of my life, and a window through which I have allowed you to see. Most of my life is hidden to this community, deliberately. You do not need to see it. I came to share a part of me that this community, and perhaps only this community, can truly understand. For me this is a sacred place where an important part of my personality and self is allowed to blossom.

Let's keep HN sacred.

We all need private spaces where we can be with others who are like us, and express things that others would not understand or appreciate. For me, HN is that type of space even though it's public. To keep it sacred means certain limits must be respected and today's article was beyond the pale.

Re: I am not who you think I am

#2

Post by swombat » Thu, Sep 23, 2010, 9:55 PM UTC

Whilst I agree with some of the sentiment of your post (we all have public personas), I don't think this calls for a banning at all - not even a light slap on the wrist.

If you have a public persona, then it's certainly fair game for others to criticise it.

Seriously, what do you think this is, kindergarten? This is the real world. If you don't want to receive undesired advice or criticism, don't be a public figure.

Re: I am not who you think I am

#3

Post by ErrantX » Thu, Sep 23, 2010, 9:56 PM UTC

Agreed. I don't think and article has made me feel so uncomfortable and wierded out for a while, if at all.

Critically assessing someone in such a personal way is more than rude it is totally obnoxious. It verged from religious idolatry to deep psychoanalysis. And all of it based on stuff Patrick has posted online and nothing more.

Sorry to rant, but I really disliked seeing that post voted up so much today and it is definitely material I'd like to see none of :)

Re: I am not who you think I am

#4

Post by kyro » Thu, Sep 23, 2010, 9:59 PM UTC

HN needs its own drama tv show. This is getting ridiculous.

Re: I am not who you think I am

#5

Post by Unseelie » Thu, Sep 23, 2010, 9:59 PM UTC

swombat wrote: post #2

Whilst I agree with some of the sentiment of your post (we all have public personas), I don't think this calls for a banning at all - not even a light slap on the wrist. If you have a public persona, then it's certainly fair game for others to criticise it. Seriously, what do you think this is, kindergarten? This is the real world. If you don't want to receive undesired advice or criticism, don't be a public figure.

Or one could espouse an ideal on real world behavior closer to that of kindergarten, wherein one claims things such as 'be nice to one another', and the world could...be nicer?

While your realism is realistic, its also chilling.

Re: I am not who you think I am

#6

Post by jacquesm » Thu, Sep 23, 2010, 10:00 PM UTC

I don't think an outright ban is what's called for, but it might be a good lesson to observe that if you intend to take on a person that has done no harm that it would be nice if you passed it by them before hitting the 'post' button, and that the only result from mudslinging of any kind is that you'll end up with dirty hands.

As for psycho-analysis I hope nobody takes the time to read the rest of that site ;)

Re: I am not who you think I am

#7

Post by rottencupcakes » Thu, Sep 23, 2010, 10:00 PM UTC

> There's no demand for that sort of thing here.

Don't shoot me for saying it (I wasn't one of them), but 197 upvotes say otherwise. How often does something get 197 upvotes? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1720244

Re: I am not who you think I am

#8

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Sep 23, 2010, 10:02 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: I am not who you think I am

#9

Post by jacquesm » Thu, Sep 23, 2010, 10:02 PM UTC

rottencupcakes wrote: post #7

> There's no demand for that sort of thing here. Don't shoot me for saying it (I wasn't one of them), but 197 upvotes say otherwise. How often does something get 197 upvotes? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1720244

Judging by the fact that in spite of receiving 197 upvotes it is currently not on the homepage it received a large number of flags as well.

Re: I am not who you think I am

#10

Post by swombat » Thu, Sep 23, 2010, 10:05 PM UTC

Unseelie wrote: post #5

swombat wrote: post #2

Whilst I agree with some of the sentiment of your post (we all have public personas), I don't think this calls for a banning at all - not even a light slap on the wrist. If you have a public persona, then it's certainly fair game for others to criticise it. Seriously, what do you think this is, kindergarten? This is the real world. If you don't want to receive undesired advice or criticism, don't be a public figure.

Or one could espouse an ideal on real world behavior closer to that of kindergarten, wherein one claims things such as 'be nice to one another', and the world could...be nicer? While your realism is realistic, its also chilling.

There's no use pretending this is anything other than the public world. Bits of HN comments regularly get quoted on blogs and news sites. I recall someone once upon a time getting blasted both on and off HN for a callous comment made on this site. Pretending that it's not public will only lead to sore disappointments when reality invariably proves that actually, yes, this is a public forum, and anything you say here may be held against you, and your persona here is public and liable to be criticised.

To be honest, if you can't take a bit of criticism (or some slightly freaky fans), the internet seems like an odd place to have a persona.