Tell HN: Lately, things have been strange

7 points by MartianSquirrel 5 years ago · 2 comments · 2 min read

Dear HN,

Lately, things have been strange

It's been a long year. It has worn us out

I thought it ended and things would get better, but I'm not sure anymore

I used to like spending time with you... maybe a little bit too much time. But valuable nonetheless

You made me learn about selling onions[0], Cameras[1] and so much more useful stuff(mostly useful, sometimes not)

You told me my apps were not working before even my co-workers realised[2]

You were the first one to tell me great humans had passed away[3][4]

You've always put startups, science and knowledge first

You made me hopeful about the future we could create

You stood for the exchange of knowledge through civilised conversations, curiosity[5]

> Be kind. Don't be snarky. Have curious conversation; don't cross-examine. Please don't fulminate. Please don't sneer, including at the rest of the community.

> Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive.

Nowadays, when I'm with you, dear HN, I tend not to be as excited anymore

The arguments and sources we used to exchange have turned in rants and whataboutisms

The implied humor turned into cynicism

Facts turned into opinions

I feel like (anecdotally perhaps) every other comment makes a poorly disguised political argument[6], gets flagged or is irrelevant/toxic[7][8]

What are we, HN? Who are we? What de we stand for? What have we become?

Is there a way we can go back? To when all we wanted was to feed our curiosity?

Maybe we do not try to understand each other anymore

We read posts and comments to answer. Not to learn, not to understand

Maybe we can pay more attention to how we formulate what we say

I guess it would at least be a start

We should take a look at what we have become, take a step back, to understand ourselves

Maybe only then will we understand -and respect- each other

I love you HN. Please don't let me hate you