Comment by Daviey
2 years ago
I seem to remember the early days of twitter @username also didn't notify the user or even highlight, same as hashtags. Here is an example: https://twirpz.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/2008_07_26-twitte...
Same with Outlook, now when you @-someone it highlights them and even adds their address "To".
Just because HN doesn't currently support this syntax, doesn't mean we must not use it. As with the other examples, if enough people do it, I wouldn't be surprised if support is added later.
Thankfully, my username is pretty unique (like yours), and I can easily search for references to me, but if my name was a common word it would be really frustrating trying to weed out references to me, compared to where people are actually referencing me.
I don’t expect support to ever be added by HN actual. Some third-party may code it into search, but HN isn’t designed to be used as a “send a notification” platform in any regard. Expanding to support @username pings would be a serious undertaking and contradict the site’s minimalism and simplicity.
People have been reinventing this syntax here for a long time. It has remained useless here for a long time. There is no groundswell of rebellion opportunity. You’ll just have to send an email.
I bet you see this response, which demonstrates that it is a sort of engagement platform.
Same as in you profile you can view your own comments (and others) , scanning the message for an @ symbol and checking for a valid username I wouldn't consider to be a major undertaking.
As I said in my comment, searching for @username vs username is much easier already.
But yes, a third party could do it. Perhaps @dangrossman (yes, I did that) may be interested.