HN Comment Etiquette

I wouldn't say it's a big issue, per se. Rather, I'm tired of seeing comments denigrating other comments. If you don't like what people have to say, better to ignore them silently than respond antagonistically.

You're not the pot calling the kettle black, but please don't respond in kind to people like that ... if you simply ignore him and those like him (I know, it's hard) then your engagement with reasonable people shouldn't be affected.https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

I understand your frustration. The desire to respond in a constructive way is necessary for us to go forward, especially now. For me, a part of that is to try my best to (a) give the people I'm talking to the benefit of the doubt that they're engaging in good faith; and (b) try not to use language that escalates any tensions. Online text discussion makes this especially fraught, given its low-bandwidth: we only get the text, without the benefit of other channels such as voice inflectio

Some people fall into the trap of becoming the 'angry guy behind the keyboard'. I think it's best to just move on when you encounter them. Continuing the debate isn't going to teach anyone anything, and it just gives them a place to exercise their anger-driven attacks. I understand the urge to try, but when I see that sort of tone online I now just move on. They can have the last word if they like.

Insisting on a last word, or antagonising the already antagonised, tends to go poorly.Even when meant well, how such responses are read is often far harsher than how they are written.Increasingly I'll restrain myself to a simple acknowledgement or thanks. Occasionally an apology if there seems to be offense.(Both on HN and other sites / platforms.)

On HN, please don't react by going into a rage when someone else says a terrible thing. It does no good and only pulls us further into a downward spiral.

If seeing a pretty innocuous comment triggers this kind of response, then you might need to take a breather from the comments. Or click the `[-]` button to hide the reply if you don't want to. But engaging like this is about as productive as having an argument with a brick wall, it's not doing you any good.

Dang, as much as I understand the point, what's happening is of the utmost gravity, and ignoring it or pretending that these people can be reasoned with is like giving them a free pass. Especially explicitly trolls account like the one attacking me first. I am certainly passionate about the topic maybe more than average, and I'm certainly more political than what this community might want to be. Nonetheless, my name is out there and I'm not really hiding or trolling, just expressi

Sorry, I have a hard time letting a comment I disagree with alone, and I will generally match the level of effort that the parent comment put in. I could work on my tone, but I find it tough when I hear others politely say horrible things. I guess I live my internet forum life by the standard of the comment I browse past is the comment I accept.No hard feelings if you ban me.

You're doing exactly what I asked you not to do, perpetuating this pointless dispute. It's taking up a ridiculous number of cycles. If this keeps up, we'll ban the topic completely from HN.My hypothesis is that if you guys stop responding defensively, the problem will simmer down and eventually go away. Stop focusing on criticism. Stop responding to it externally and stop reacting to it internally. Just ignore it. Work on your thing and keep your comments focused on what you&#x