[hn_throwaway_99]

> But every niche forum that's gotten popular has been ruined.

Really? I'm not sure I agree with this. I feel like if the topic itself is niche or requires some baseline level of competency to contribute, then it actually resists this "crapification" because your average troll just doesn't have enough content/info to work with. It's the broader, general interest topics, usually that have some intersection with politics, that always go to shit.

I mean, I see this on HN itself, where the broad-topic posts often end up in a shit show (though thanks to dang the shit-level is kept under control), while the posts about specific technologies are usually pretty on point.

[chirau]

Random question... is hn_throwaway_99 your main HN name or you still maintain a main account? I know a lot of folks use a throwaways for controversial stuff or for 'anonymity', but it seems yours is quite prominent.

[hn_throwaway_99]

Heh - short of it is I originally created this "throwaway" account years ago, I just forgot to throw it away. The initial impetus was yes, I was commenting on something controversial, but then I just forgot/was too lazy to switch back to my original account so I just left it.

[screye]

I kind of agree. If the topic is niche enough, then it will never get popular.

My commentary was on niche community that cover topics of general interest to people. (Think Anandtech, Some meme subreddit or hot-technical areas like r/machinelearning or r/cscareerquestions)