[devjab]

> It happens in dialogue.

I think it’s a fundamental flaw to assume that anything on SoMe is actual dialogue.

Take our exchange here as an example. You may never read my reply, you may never respond to it and if you do I may never read it. On top of that, we will probably never talk again and we certainly won’t remember each other.

So what is really happening isn’t really dialogue. It’s talking into the vast nothingness for a shot of dopamine or whatever our brains use to reward voicing our opinion. Maybe it started with dialogue long ago, when online communities were smaller and you’d actually talk with the same people every day. But in 2024 I might as well have written this reply on my notes app where no one would ever read it.

Twitter especially is the modern version of standing on a box in Hyde park, screaming nonsense at passers by. Some of them will tell their friends about the idiot on the box in a pub later, but nobody will remember it. Probably not even the person doing the screaming, because they’ll be on with a new topic the next day.

[rightbyte]

> So what is really happening isn’t really dialogue. It’s talking into the vast nothingness for a shot of dopamine or whatever our brains use to reward voicing our opinion.

I'd say this is a dialogue though. Twitter however, seems like one way com mostly and those who are not notable shout into the void for no good reason.

[prox]

I would like to think HN is dialogue, even though the format isn’t suited for lengthy discussions as things move on. Especially the core tenet of “curious conversation” is very helpful.

Other platforms or certain subs on reddit? Quality differs wildly.

[mcmoor]

I don't think HN is dialogue, for sole reason that I don't get notification whenever someone reply to me. I wouldn't even know that I'm involved in a dialogue!