Comment by malfist

9 hours ago

You still haven't answered why I should care that you, a stranger on the internet, believes some unsubstantiated hearsay?

14 comments

malfist

Reply
wtallis  8 hours ago

Take a look at https://news.ycombinator.com/leaders

The user you're suspicious of is pretty well-known in this community.

  • godelski  7 hours ago

    Someone's credibility cannot be determined by their point counts. Holy fuck is that not a way to evaluate someone in the slightest. Points don't matter.

    Instead look at their profile...

    Points != creds. Creds == creds.

    Don't be fucking lazy and rely on points, especially when they link their identity.

    • wtallis  7 hours ago

      I wasn't at all saying that points = credibility. I was saying that points = not unknown. Enough people around here know who he is, and if he didn't have credibility on this topic he'd be getting down voted instead of voted to the top.

      3 replies →

  • delusional  8 hours ago

    How is this whole comment chain not a textbook case of "argument from authority"? I claim A, a guys says. Why would I trust you somebody else responds. Well he's pretty well known on the internet forum we're all on, the third guy says, adding nothing to the conversation.

    • fc417fc802  9 minutes ago

      It is an argument of authority but that's not always a bad thing. I think it's a bit out of keeping with the supposed point of this site (ie intellectual inquiry) but when it comes to rapidly evolving technologies like this one it can still add value on the whole.

    • hiccup_socks  7 hours ago

      it is literally just "authority said so".

      and its ridiculous that someone's comment got flagged for not worshiping at the alter of tptacek. they weren't even particularly rude about it.

      i guarantee if i said what tptacek said, and someone replied with exactly what malfist said, they would not have been flagged. i probably would have been downvoted.

      why appeal to authority is totally cool as long as tptacek is the authority is way fucking beyond me. one of those HN quirks. HN people fucking love tptacek and take his word as gospel.

      3 replies →