Critiques have substance. Destructive criticism is just negativity for the sake of negativity. I do agree though, the bigger figures get their share of undeserved hate around here.
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The bigger figures become untouchable, above reproach, around here. There are some figures who are literally toxic, but because they've become a part of the core group they can get away with it. And if you doubt or question them, you must be a troll.
Meatball wiki calls this "vested contributor". It is a problem. I sometimes post unacceptable but not flag worthy comments. (I welcome downvotes if you see me doing this - it makes me edit the post or withhold replies. Or email me if you don't yet have downvote privs).
> It would be an interesting exercise to remove names from comments for a while and see how they do. I suspect the exercise would surprise some people.
This is an excellent idea. I would happily use a plugin that provides this functionality. It's make my HN life better and easier. I suspect I would upvote more often.
You think you're making a logical argument, but all I hear is bitterness and rhetoric. Bitterness is toxic and it drips from all of your posts in this thread. Why? You could make the same points with kinder language and get farther with this crowd than you are right now. Also, if you have logical points to make, surely you can back them up with specific examples? I'd be interested in reading what comments other people have made that you think would have been downvoted had it come from somebody else.
Now that I think about it, an HN alternative without karma where everyone is anonymous would be an interesting experiment.
This is exactly the sort of post that you find regarding quick fix solutions and Make Money Fast schemes. Don't believe in the magical cure-all nature of Trend Of The Week? So bitter and negative.
So we're supposed to be skeptical of everyone's intentions but your own? Why should we believe you over anybody else who posts here? The fact you haven't supplied any evidence but instead rely entirely on manipulating emotions flags you for what you are: a troll.
Even more flagging -- tptacek and friends are flagging off posts, leaving their ridiculous replies to things not actually said (the tactic of responding to things not actually stated, and then leaving their aghast reply. This is tptacek's thing). As mentioned they waited until this fell off the front page, when they could, 1984-esque, change the reality of the thread.
