‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

Why is Hacker News like that?

363 points · 173 comments · caution

  1. freeli · · focus · HN ↗
    This doesn't mirror my experience, which is that most posts and comments criticizing the current administration and conservatives in general get significant positive engagement. There are few posts taking the opposite side, and those that try often get downvoted to oblivion.

    As a recent example, anti-progressive themes (being supportive of Israel, for example) are nowhere to be found. Pro-Palestinian views abound with little counter-engagement.

    In addition, just look at all the anti-US posts/comments. Other countries do not get the same treatment in the same volume. The US is a punching bag here. It's tiresome. HN used to be a respite from political insanity on both sides. Now some days it's no better than reddit.

    From my (politically neutral, believe it or not) perspective, this site is extremely hostile to conservatives. It's interesting that progressives feel the same way. Maybe we should put a pause on political discussions altogether.

    1. Juliate · · focus · HN ↗
      > Other countries do not get the same treatment in the same volume. The US is a punching bag here. It's tiresome.

      Maybe the volume is proportional to the impact each country has globally? (especially these years)

      1. freeli · · focus · HN ↗
        This might be true, but then you would expect to see some proportion of pro-US posts as well, right? I can't remember the last significant one.
        1. JeremyNT · · focus · HN ↗
          Have you considered that perhaps the US is really doing a poor job lately, and so pro-US posts would be less common?

          I really recall leading up to and shortly after the election the vibe here was decidedly pro-Trump. The tech right was ascendant, posts glazing Elon and other administration cronies were the rule, and criticisms were flagged/dead almost immediately.

          I agree with the GP post that some of Drew's observations seem off today, but I think it's a relatively recent development. It seems to me that only in the past 6 months has a permission structure arisen that criticism of this administration has become accepted here.

Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.