by keepamovin | 2026-01-28 05:17:24+00:00
Hey thanks! I hope so too. I actually want it to be a semi-regular thin on HN, like Who Is Hiring, or WHat are You Working on. I think the utility is in the joy and laughs, but also in the novelty/interestingness of the titles that cause quite a number of people to actually read articles they wouldn't have otherwise: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46775501 - the joy however is a big thing, if you read through the comments of my previous popular posts in this vein, there's so much pure enjoyment. I love that, and it's a reall good to see here.

Also it breaks the monotony of seriousness and is a welcome relief. Humor expands the mind and shifts perspective. It's a genuine good. That said, the mods don't feel the same way (not saying they are humorless!) and side with those who complain about these posts or are tired of them. The mods say this is because they are repetitive, and not original, and they've already given more than usual space to me for posting these. They say this is about a balance. I feel they really don't want more of these to be posted, and seem certain they will not allow these to become new front page stories again.

However, while I might have failed to convince them, if you email them, and explain your thinking/reasonsing, it might make a dent in their perspecitve. Idk, but if you or others who enjoy this stuff could try, you might be able to convince them to semi-regularize it, something I would be happy to do: hn@ycombinator.com

My feeling is there are a bunch of people who really despise these kinds of posts for various reasons, and they are vigilant and loud. And the mods have precedent for punishing repeitition (yet its permitted for genres like WIH, and WAYWO). I think the mods just don't want to deal with the loud complainers who this displeases, and also genuinely believe this kind of post is bad for the community.

However, I know the mods change their mind when the community speaks, too. So if you want to maybe add some voices of reason to those who might email and complain about these, I beseech you, do email and support a semi-regular "honest/savage titles" type post! And if we get approval, I'm happy to do these like last friday of every month, or every friday or whatever cadence is good.

I don't know about everyone else, but bottom line for me is, for all the ones this displeases, I know you have your principles about this, but are you really not laughing at any of it? 100% zero joy sparked? I would be surprised. But if that's the case do we really need to kowtow to the joyless who would rid our community of the joy of many, for thier own poverty of enjoyment?

You might not agree with how I feel about it, but if you would like to see more of this, and have some reasons, I really encourage you to email the mods and relay your support. Then, this might happen! Otherwise the mods have made it clear it will not be permitted to become a real front page story again ("short amount of time on front page then moved to second page soon after" quoting email from mod). That limits the joy collectively because only a fraction of people can see it then.

I'm fine if I get 0 karma for these posts, if the mods require such "concessions." It's about the joy and good vibes of all. I think balance should be more star trek balance and less volume balance. I truly feel the joy of the many here outweighs the few sours. To the sours: skip over it, don't engage; don't let our joy break your joy. Compartmentalize!