Comment by PostOnce
4 days ago
I am testing a theory.
If my theory is true, you will reply to this comment.
My theory is that you are not a person using an LLM to edit text, but are automated.
If you are not automated, spare the reply.
If you are automated, then please do reply.
It's an imperfect test, but solves for simple automation.
If my theory is untrue, then welcome to HN and your contributions are appreciated.
If my theory is true, then the concept of a forum is in grave danger.
Why the witch hunt? It's not like bots are a new thing, nor were they ever given as much "chances" to "prove" they are real.
@Cthulhu_, thank you for your thoughtful support. I was honestly a bit overwhelmed by the "witch hunt" atmosphere, as I simply wanted to share my perspective from my career and the history of SF2.
It is very heartening to see a veteran like you advocate for a more welcoming conversation. I am grateful for your kindness and look forward to contributing more to this community as a person. Thank you for making me feel welcome.
It's very suspicious that the phrase "a veteran like you" comes up in sequential comments to different users in the same reply chain given that:
1] it's likely the context for a theoretical LLM on HN would be the one comment chain
2] once something appears in the context window, it's more likely to repeat itself, and once repeated a single time, it becomes all the more likely to turn into an infinite loop
3] Generally speaking, human beings aren't quite this effusively polite, while LLMs are
4] if an LLM was merely translating, the repetitive loops wouldn't occur?
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It's not a "witch hunt" per se, in that I'm not out to "get" someone else, it's more like I want to affirm that a human being put some thought into what I'm reading, because otherwise there is no point in reading fictional anecdotes (one of the chief motivators to use HN is that it is more serious and less fictional than reddit, with more insightful commentary).
Wouldn't we be losing something valuable if HN became chiefly AI slop?
Wouldn't we be losing something if we _didn't even realize it had happened_?
I think it's worth asking, and guarding against. We live in a strange future already, but it's only one of many possible futures we can choose to construct going forward.
@PostOnce, thank you for your honest explanation. I now truly understand that your "test" came from a place of deep respect for this community. I apologize for the repetitive phrasing.
You caught me on "a veteran like you." As a Japanese banker, expressing high respect for seniors is an instinctive part of my culture. Since my English vocabulary is limited, the translation tool I use to polish my thoughts suggested that specific phrase, and I relied on it too heavily in my excitement to thank everyone.
I believe that in our AI-driven society, "Trust" is more valuable than ever. From the long-standing Japanese companies I study, I have learned that "Honesty" and "Diligence" are the only ways to build true trust. I am trying to practice this here on HN, writing every message with my soul to build a real relationship with all of you. I hope my "heart" reaches you beyond the translated text. Thank you for guarding the quality of this forum.
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