[n9com]

Seriously, give the kid a break.

Let's be honest here. If he didn't write in the title that he was 14, this post would not have made front page. The kid was smart enough to include it in the title, probably knowing that a few HN users here will moan about it, but it was worth the risk and got the post some attention. Kudos.

Keep developing apps and good luck!

[neilk]

He might, or he might also have been saying to go easier on him since he's just starting out. I dunno, are we so used to everybody hyping and hustling we see it everywhere now?

[ruswick]

I loathe when people lead with their ages because

1) It mitigates potentially valuable criticism, replacing it with a chorus of "good jobs," etc., when the app (like all apps) is going to have flaws.

2) It seems manipulatory and superfluous.

In the case of the former, it just doesn't make sense to resort to such condescension because of his age. If he is capable of developing and now marketing an app, is is capable of getting honest feedback for said app. This homogenous array of kudos is doing him a disservice.

In the case of the latter, most will say that his age is significant because it is inordinately low. Because of this, he should be lauded for any effort he puts forth. But there is no logical basis for this. 14-year-olds face similar constraints as 18-year-olds, who probably face a similarly-difficult learning curve as 30-year-olds. Just because a number is low does not mean it has meaning. He has not overcome any substancial barriers that anyone else of any other age does not face while learning the trade. Yet, people give his age meaning. If he had not listed his age, he would have probably gotten serious critiques, or not have made it to the front page at all. In development, age is more-or-less arbitrary. Just because he happened to begin learning earlier does not mean he disserves more praise than someone who began in college.

He obviously recognizes this and has used it to his advantage. I can't blame him, but I can be irked by it and by people's response to it.

I've always been of the belief that a product should be evaluated independent of it's creator. The specific position of the individual doesn't change the quality of the product. Knowledge of the creator of a product can only muddy one's opinion of said product. This is why I don't give take into account when developers decry that I ought to "support" them because they are "independent." I don't care about their employment situation. The only thing that is of importance to me is the quality of their app. If it is good and the price seems fair, I will buy it. If it does not meet those criterion, I won't. The same thing holds true for the developer in the OP. If the app is good, it ought to be recognized as such. The issue is that I don't believe that it is, and that its quality has been subjected to artificial inflation because of unrelated fact about the developer.

I'm not saying the app is not good. I just think people need to be more honest and less subject to "age bias."

(For the record, I am of a similar age and always refrain from giving my age. As a result, my work is rarely lauded, likely because my things, much the same as the OP's, aren't that great. I'm just aware of that fact and don't really care about lowering the bar.)

[rohanpai]

For the record, why would you post http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4807691 titled "Show HN: I'm 16, and I made a thing" if you are so irked by people using their age on hacker news?

You were either being a troll or you are a hypocrite. Have you actually seen this app? It's impressive regardless of age. It's gameplay and graphics are comparable, if not better, to fruit ninja. Being 14 is just a plus, it doesn't make the app any better or worse. If anything, it's inspiring (as I said elsewhere in the comments) for people of all ages to make and ship.

Quite frankly, it sounds like you are bitter because someone around the same age of you is receiving recognition and praise for their work.

>>But there is no logical basis for this. 14-year-olds face similar constraints as 18-year-olds, who probably face a similarly-difficult learning curve as 30-year-olds.

I disagree. People 18+, in college, adults, usually have either more experience (whether than be programming or learning how to learn) or perhaps some type of formal computer science background.

>> If it is good and the price seems fair, I will buy it.

If you actually clicked the link or tried the game, you would notice that it's free.

If you really believed in what you are writing, you would have no problem commenting constructive criticism about the app itself rather than ranting about posting an age in the title.

For the record, I'm 16 and I'm not making a big deal about the age in the post or being irked that someone younger than me is receive praise for his work. I think the game that NShen made is awesome.

[ruswick]

1) It's referred to as "satire." It's fairly conspicuous considering that I left out a description of the actual product, placing emphasis only on the age. It was an attempt to demonstrate the absurdity of this practice.

2)The app is a fine app. I don't believe that it is comparable to Fruit Ninja, but still a fine app. Why does this make me either a hypocrite or a troll? How is the quality of his app pertinent to my actions at all?

3) This is an entirely unfounded ad hominem attack. If you really believe this, then I give up. I can't argue against people who dismiss me because they think I'm envious. I think my points are of merit and pertinent to the conversation. This is supported by the healthy number of up-votes it has. If you want to dismiss it as "bitterness," I can't stop you and I don't really care.

4) I'm not comparing ages, I'm comparing stages of learning programming. Whether he's 14 or 40, he has only recently begun programming. A beginner at 40 will face similar challenges. Learning a new skill is difficult for anyone of any age. Your logic is either a) circular and incoherent inasmuch as it is predicated on having prior knowledge about programming when one is first learning programming, or b) not applicable because it deals with a factor that, as I've already said in my above post, is irrelevant.

5) The pricing comment did not pertain in any way to his app. It was directed at the "support independent developers" argument to which I drew parallels from his practice. I am aware that the app is free. If you actually read my comment and considered it, you would notice that it's not directed at the kid.

5) What dictates that I can only provide criticism about the app itself? It is totally within the realm of reason that I critique his marketing practices, etc. Why does the fact that I criticized his use of the age belie my "belief in what I'm writing?" Why is this a rant? It was a pretty well-structured argument touching on what is considered a contentious practice.

6) No, you are making an (unwarranted and incoherent) big deal about the fact that I did. I think his app is fine. I wouldn't use it, though.

[blader]

With such a long response, one would expect there would be something said about the damning part of his post:

"For the record, why would you post http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4807691 titled "Show HN: I'm 16, and I made a thing" if you are so irked by people using their age on hacker news?"

vs

"For the record, I am of a similar age and always refrain from giving my age."

[intended]

> If he is capable of developing and now marketing an app, is is capable of getting honest feedback for said app.

Kids may be good at a few things, and then childishly naive in others.