[bpatrianakos]

As much as we all know HN has lost enough of its luster that it's worth mentioning, I really do think at this point, unfortunately, the damage is done and there is no going back. HN is old enough an large enough now that for a while it'll still be awesome and beloved by many but soon enough it'll go one of two ways: it'll either die, become lame, and it's only inhabitants will be those it sought to keep away for so long or it'll continue to be high quality but become more like StackOverflow or certain subreddits - having great discussions and people but with everyone who knew HN it's prime knowing that it doesn't hold a candle to what it once was.

That's the thing about subcultures which I think HN most definitely is in that it is supposed to attract the most intelligent, entrepreneurial, techiest people. When it's new it's great because it makes you feel like you're part of not just a club but an elite club. Inevitably others who find out about your club want to join because they feel they deserve to be part of the elite club. Oh yes, they have all the makings of a genius and need to be part of it. This kind of self selection sucks and what's happening to HN happens to everything on the web that can be considered cool. RIP HN. We can bury its remains in the same plot as MySpace, Digg, and soon enough Facebook.

Although I would've hated it when I created my original account, I wonder if having an invite process would've helped like Dribbble and Forrst have.