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by gwern 309 days ago
The initial tweet, 2020-03-05: https://x.com/joeld/status/1235652084264886272

> "I have been working on a reimagining of the blog idea for a few years, and it includes an idea (“series”) that is quite similar to blogchains. See this section of the design docs https://thelocalyarn.com/code/uv/scribbled/Basic_Notions.htm... and partial screen shot. It’s almost ready!"

My original response, in full:

> "One thought on the docs: if there's always a well-defined 'next', why not overload Space/PgDwn to proceed to the next node, GNU Info-like? At the very least, there should be a 'next' link at the bottom, not solely hidden away at the top.

> (Also, no one likes those silly 'st' ligatures.)

> As far as the current theyarn design goes: I like the use of typographic ornaments as a theme, but the colors are confusing. (What does orange vs red vs green denote?) And the pilcrow? Sometimes it's at the beginning of articles (redundant with the hr), sometimes not?

> Hrs seem overused in general, like the (busy) footer. Appending notes chronologically is interesting but confusing, both date/where they begin/end. Are the caps deliberately not small caps? Full-width images would be useful for photos. Be interested to see the new one finished."

I consider these criticisms reasonable, accurate, and constructive, milquetoast even, and stand by them. I see no difference from the many other site critiques I have made over the years (eg https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Nq2BtFidsnhfLuNAx/announcing... ), which are usually received positively, and I think this is a 'you' problem, especially after reading your other comments. And I will point out that you made no reply to my many concrete points until you decided to write this HN comment 5 years later.

(I have taken the liberty of adding a link to your top-level comment to the end of the existing thread, for context/updating.)

> But responding as though this is an attack to be countered and defeated further illustrates why I had doubts about your suitability as a creative advisor.

This is a remarkable way to characterize this conversation.

1 comments

I’m still baffled that you thought (and still think) it was reasonable or desirable to swoop in and nitpick like this, in this exchange. Why would I have responded to this unsolicited criticism, in a context where I was simply sharing about a fun spare time project with someone else?

If you had butted in to a street conversation to tell me “by the way no one likes those silly glasses” I would have non-responded in the same way. But I would still be well within my rights to think you were kind of a jerk, and even to mention it to others.

What do you believe your role will be as an “advisor” at this residency?

The mountain gave birth to a mouse.