[badminton1]

No, it is not unfair. It is valid, concise, actionable feedback, without personal attacks based on empirical evidence.

If you are not comfortable with constructive feedback then don't post an open invitation for feedback.

Then, it can be implemented in a way that scales. Since this is python + gpkit, maybe it could be executed on the client-side using emscripten. Then if the traffic is too high you can serve it from a CDN.

[joshuamorton]

No, that was valid, concise, actionable feedback. Your original post was flippant and was not actionable. Although since gpkit almost assuredly uses the cPython c abi, and there is no emscripten backend for cPython, even this (much less flippant and much more actionable and valid) feedback isn't actually actionable because you cannot execute python+some c module using emscripten.

[badminton1]

I took the time to try the thing, and it did not work for me due to timeouts. Others reported the same. Therefore it was showing signs of not scaling. And I pointed it out through a concise comment in a post which was about requesting for feedback (the objective of the Ask HN section). Could not provide more feedback since I could not use it.

"flippant" means "not showing a serious or respectful attitude". I do not know at which point noting that a system is not scaling as feedback in a request for feedback post suddenly is disrespectful.

But now read at your own post, with the ad hominem. Seems disrespectful, maybe even "flippant". What is the point of acting in the exact same way you so fiercely criticize?

Then, how sure are you about that exactly? you can run a functional Linux kernel through emscripten, there must be a way to get a Python extension to work.

[joshuamorton]

>>Therefore it was showing signs of not scaling.

Perhaps, although it seems as though it was less "not scaling" and more "someone exploited our system to spin the CPU" from my reading of the thread.

>"flippant" means "not showing a serious or respectful attitude"

And I hold to the claim that a 2 word response to an ask HN is absolutely flippant. Please explain to me what is actionable about "Doesn't scale"? That is a problem. Or, well, it could be a problem, it might not be a worry for them, but lets assume it is. "Doesn't scale" isn't actionable. Had your second post been the only post you made here, I don't think we'd be having this discussion, because while in this case it turns out to be not very helpful, it is at least actionable. They can look into emscripten and python, see that it probably won't work in this case, and move on. "Doesn't scale" doesn't do that.

Its the difference between feedback that is "you have a lisp" and "you have a lisp, try practicing speaking lyrically or rhythmically and it might disappear." It might help, it might not, but its actionable. "you have a lisp" isn't actionable.

I'll quote the Show HN Guidelines:

>Instead of "you're doing it wrong", suggest alternatives. When someone is learning, help them learn more.

As for what you think of my comment, I have a few objections to your statement:

1. I don't actually see an 'ad hominem' anywhere, I only commented on your original comment and how your feedback was unhelpful. No commentary on the user, only the content. Please specify where I did, because I would prefer to not go around attacking people on HN, even unintentionally. 2. I went so far as to complement your second post and say that it was an example of good feedback. 3. You didn't post a Show HN, there are no guidelines on my feedback to you ;)

That said, if your emscripten suggestion was made in good faith and not just a CYA "suggestion", I apologize, I misread your tone.

[badminton1]

When a system is not scaling you can increase capacity to mitigate the problem, to buy time while trying to root cause and fix the problem.

You can also take the site down and display an error page.

At no moment I said "you are doing it wrong". I pointed out "it doesn't scale". A factual statement similar to "it's 11:13 am" or "it's raining".

[joshuamorton]

And like I said "you have a lisp" isn't actionable feedback. It is a factual statement, but it suggests no action, and in fact, the person with the lisp likely already knows.

Because "it doesn't scale" doesn't imply that you need to increase capacity right now. "It doesn't scale" could mean that "this will be problematic when you have 2,000,000 users", or as you used it, it could mean "I can't get to your site right now". Personally I don't consider "it doesn't scale" to mean "I can't use your app right now".

Which comes back to my core point, once again, that your original post, "Doesn't scale", isn't actionable feedback, it didn't clearly convey any immediate problem nor did it provide a clear action to follow. The fact that you've had to clarify your post to multiple other users should be evidence of that.

[badminton1]

OK dude, I will concede you the 1st place in Monty Python Argument Clinic 2017. Because at this point I simply don't care. Have an excellent day.