Unsubstantive HN Comments

This cluster revolves around criticisms of low-effort, dismissive, snarky, or unsubstantive comments on Hacker News, with users repeatedly calling for more thoughtful and in-depth discussions instead. Core comments directly plead against posting such remarks to maintain higher discourse quality.

📉 Falling 0.4x Other
7,785
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#3126
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
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2008
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2011
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2012
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2014
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Keywords

HN WRT CRISPR NOT chech.html meyerweb.com don post comments hacker news hn hacker news post maybe don comments hn article

Sample Comments

dang Feb 7, 2019 View on HN

Please don't post unsubstantive comments like this to Hacker News. Even if you have a good point, it damages the quality of the thread.

dang May 31, 2025 View on HN

Ok, but please don't post unsubstantive comments to Hacker News. It's enough to go read a good article instead.

ryanwaggoner Oct 15, 2009 View on HN

Come on, it's bad enough that we have articles like this on HN, but comments like this? Bad form.

dang Sep 7, 2023 View on HN

Maybe so, but please don't post unsubstantive comments to Hacker News. We're trying for something else here.

dang Jun 23, 2019 View on HN

Maybe so, but please don't post unsubstantive comments to HN. Especially not indignant unsubstantive ones.

dang Jun 26, 2018 View on HN

I'm sure you did, but could you please not post unsubstantive comments to HN? This kind of thing leads to low-quality discussion.

Dah00n Nov 1, 2022 View on HN

Could we please not do this on HN? If true (I have no idea) at least write a better comment that leaves the reader wiser after reading.

dang Nov 23, 2018 View on HN

Maybe no one, but please don't post unsubstantive comments to Hacker News.

dang Jul 26, 2019 View on HN

Maybe so, but please don't post unsubstantive comments to HN. There are other, presumably less idiocratic things to read here.

dang Jun 21, 2016 View on HN

This isn't a great comment to post to HN. In-depth content, and even effort on the part of the reader, are encouraged here.