[ChrisMarshallNY]

Hmm... the reactions to this post are rather revealing about the HN community.

One quite positive, and sharing an excellent link (thanks).

One neutral, and sharing the xkcd link I referenced (thanks).

A couple of anonymous downvotes. I assume because it says something positive about someone, and we'll have none of that, here, thank you very much.

[akerl_]

The concept of not feigning surprise may be related to the linked xkcd comic, but I don’t see any indication that it’s the “original”, and I downvoted several comments that seemed keen to steal thunder from the post by trying to frame it as just a rehash of a popular comic.

[ChrisMarshallNY]

I sincerely wasn't trying to "steal her thunder," as my preface to the comment makes clear. Lots of people reference xkcd, myself, included[0]. It doesn't cheapen her post, one, tiny bit. I did change it, so it doesn't say "original." Good point.

It's entirely possible that people can be decent to each other. I know, I know, that's crazy talk, but I'm kind of relentlessly positive. I have had plenty of negative fuel, but I guess I'm just a Pollyanna.

[0] https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qQDAuhGvBvBlZVH2zn_V...

[akerl_]

> It's entirely possible that people can be decent to each other. I know, I know, that's crazy talk

This is nearly comical phrasing given the topic of the page.

I provided enough context about the specific kind of comment I found to be in bad faith that I don’t understand why you felt concerned that I took offense to any mentions of xkcd.

[ChrisMarshallNY]

It was meant to be comical, and, judging from some of the comment threads in the posting, I think a lot of folks are really, really uncomfortable, being positive, or seeing other folks trying to be positive.

I tend to hang with a fairly ... unkempt ... crowd, IRL. Many of them have been through serious personal trauma, and have great difficulty seeing anything good in life, or in others.

They are a minority, in society, in general, but some communities tend to gather them in greater numbers (like the one in which I participate, which is about people trying to heal from trauma, amongst other things).

It's not unusual to encounter folks that sincerely believe that expressing optimism, open-mindedness, or kindness is an expression of weakness, to be treated with contempt. They sincerely believe that these expressions of positive energy are fake -often for good reason, as they have seen plenty of fake good faith.

I have learned not to allow myself to be drawn into their world, which often means that I am treated with contempt.

I shrug it off, and continue to be positive, anyway. I enjoy Julia Evans, because she remains relentlessly positive, in a community that is often ... unreceptive ... to that kind of energy.

[akerl_]

With respect, I think you're seeing what you're looking for.