[PowerElectronix]

It does, but as you really can't get money out of it in a reliable way by exploiting the user addictive behaviors, it doesn't have that effect on society.

It's just a cool place to visit now an then an check cool stuff out.

[Aurornis]

Kind of interesting how many people don’t realize that the purpose of Hacker News was to be an advertisement for Y Combinator and their portfolio companies.

You don’t see it as much these days, but YC portfolio companies can post privileged threads on this site for job listings, which in practice double as ads for the company. You’re not allowed to comment on them.

I haven’t seen one for a while because I suspect every company is already inundated with 1000 applications for every job in this market, but this is what Hacker News was for.

[regexorcist]

> people don’t realize

Y Combinator is right there in the URL. People know and don't care because it's a well run forum with interesting discussions, the privileged posts don't change that.

[scubbo]

> Y Combinator is right there in the URL

Most people aren't so slavishly devoted to capital that they have memorized the names of firms.

[frakt0x90]

I think most people know this and are fine with it. YC owns the site and advertises their stuff on it sometimes. The site itself is not trying to milk you for every penny or trying to exploit you.

[PaulDavisThe1st]

Whatever the purpose was, that's not really the reality of HN as most of us experience it.

[j_w]

Just live on /active and that stuff doesn't show up.

[FrustratedMonky]

And, HN doesn't show your ranking, at least obviously, so it doesn't get the same gamification to try and maximize points.

But, it is social media. Just that they make a point to try and tone it down and keep it focused.

[overgard]

Man, I wish. It used to be that, but I suspect now that there's a lot of astroturfing and probably bots.

[nyantaro1]

I also notice that. I don't really know where else to go now