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I wish I could explain further why your comment was hyperbolic, but your comment is now flagged. Too bad.


[flagged]


I meant I literally can't see your original comment to critique it because it's been deleted.

But now I think even if I could I wouldn't bother. You don't seem like the kind of person who can engage in a discussion. You just want to "win".


To read flagged comments, you have to turn on "showdead" in your HN profile (https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=nindalf). I assumed you knew that (you've been using the site for ten years, during which time that hasn't changed), but I see that I was wrong.

Your initial comment in this thread accused me of lying. If you want to engage in a discussion (which I take to mean something like "a worthwhile discussion"), that is not a good way to do it—particularly when the accusation is not just unproven but, because it's false, unprovable. Not only does it tend to antagonize the person you're calling a liar, it also tends to undermine the presumption of good faith people might otherwise extend you when you claim to value worthwhile discussion.

You claim to think I'm not "the kind of person who can engage in a discussion". But other people greatly value discussions with me on HN. Comments of mine in the last month that people have said were particularly good include https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42647719 ("probably the best comment I have ever seen on HN"), https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42659693 ("I really appreciate your replies, they are always insightful"), https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42664233 ("thanks for engaging in a civil manner, really appreciate that"), https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42665008 ("That’s an insightful comment"), https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42593913 ("thank you for writing this"), https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42519070 ("I know +1's are frowned upon here, but, err, +1?"), and https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42518940 ("Thank you for such a comprehensive response, Kragen! I appreciate it!").

As for "winning", for me, "winning" in a discussion is when I change my mind about something.

But of course anyone can say that. Actually doing it is harder. I do it publicly on HN about once every two days, and I specifically write an HN comment saying that I was wrong about something about every four or five days.

HN comments of mine in the last month where I learned something I didn't know from the person I was discussing with include https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42752181 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42732780 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42749375 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42724650 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42736141 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42664274 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42627234 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42626245 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42595851 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42598541 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42565696 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42545903 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42542671 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42538951 and https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42521867 and https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42510159.

HN comments of mine in the last month where I've specifically said I was wrong about something include https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42712897 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42635772 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42656139 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42598395 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42544575 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42523692 and https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42507140.

I've just read through the last month of your comments starting from https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=nindalf&next=4277862..., 28 comments in all, and have found zero instances of you admitting you were wrong about anything, zero instances of you saying you learned something from the people you were talking to, and zero instances of anyone thanking you for your comment.

So I think the ball is kind of in your court to show that you're "the kind of person who can engage in a discussion."


> Your initial comment in this thread accused me of lying

wat.

> have found zero instances of you admitting you were wrong about anything

I was wrong about you. Certainly you're a commenter extraordinaire. I didn't think that earlier. There's your one instance :)

I don't need to admit I'm wrong if I wasn't actually, you know, wrong.

I still wouldn't want to talk to you though.




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