Ask HN: Why are nasty comments more common on HN?
I find that there are more nasty comments here than on other similar websites. I'm not talking about trolling. These comments are thought out criticism combined with pure meanness. Stuff like "This article gave my cancer" or "This is the dumbest article I ever read". Criticism is more common online that in real life, but there is something very decisive, mean and emotional about the comments here.
17 comments
[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 43.6 ms ] threadPeople here are blunt about stupidity, sure, and maybe it has a more cutting effect because it's more likely they're actually pointing out stupid mistakes, rather than just name calling or something.
Here you're derided in a more accurate, skilled fashion.
I for one do not think it is a good thing or something to be proud of. Criticism and derision are different and being toxic or caustic just brings the level of communication down. It does not reflect well on our industry either.
I don't believe that it was trolling.
1. Internet disinhibition effect enhanced by pseudonymity - anyone can create an account called 'internettoughguy3' and start talking shit to people; blatant sockpuppetry/nastiness is punished by the mods, but one can get away with it on an occasional basis.
2. Common interest in hacking-type stuff brings together people whose views diverge on other things, like religion and especially politics; conflict ensues.
3. Persistence; sort of the opposite of #1, many of us have been here for years and know how to 'push each others' buttons,' so lingering dislike or disagreement between individuals will occasionally boil over into a cutting remark.
4. Geeks tend to be introverted and so less good at social modeling. http://xkcd.com/610/ sums this up, though I think the dig at Ayn Rand fans is a bit unfair because such thinking is equally prevalent on the left.
None of the above apply to me, of course. I am perfect.
Also, a lot of people with positive reaction just upvote an article. If you consider upvotes as positive comments, the ratio is way different.
Not just that, but we're also generally quite opinionated and thus argumentative on hacking-type stuff even though it's a common interest.
When people feel justified with their behaviour, they may do or say unnecessary things.
(obviously it's a joke)
There is also the belief of the 1%. People seem to think that there are these magical programmers who are better than anybody out there. This makes a lot of those who have drinked the SV kool-aid look down on others. In reality, all programmers are smart. Just in different areas/aspects. There is no 1%. Just a bunch of people trying to write code and innovate.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5744224
I think it's generally a cool place but negative and nasty comments definitely seem to get traction. Watch for newer accounts that I'm assuming are harvesting karma. They always seem to start out with some negative comment.