[calcnerd256]

Perhaps a different topic is appropriate this time. I wasn't here when we did Erlang the first time, but I'm assuming that those who were are now tired of it. I think (though I may be wrong) that I'd be more interested in seeing some clever brainf and other esolang entries.

[potatolicious]

I personally just want to see a return to more technical topics and less human-interest pieces - if I wanted those I'd turn on the 6 o'clock news.

I love reading random stuff on languages/tools I don't even use - it expands my breadth and is always fun. I've never written Erlang, but now I may give it a shot.

This is what HN is great for, let's keep it that way.

[timr]

I do too, but right now a directory of Erlang-related articles is on the front page of HN, along with a niche-interest article about patching Erlang for a future version of OS X.

This was cute the first time, but now it's kind of inane.

[potatolicious]

This is a one-day thing (or so I would hope), but I hope the overall effect would be to drag HN back towards its roots - as an interesting place for technology discussion in all its forms.

[apotheon]

. . . or maybe the effect will be to make people whose level of interest in Erlang is somewhere on this side of sane stop coming to Hacker News, and go back to the programming subreddit.

[potatolicious]

But ah, I escaped from reddit, that's like checking back into the asylum if I go back...

[apotheon]

Look at the front page of Hacker News right now. Tell me that doesn't look at least as insane.

God, I hope this blows over by the time I get back from my RPG session tonight.

[ErrantX]

The first time was pg's idea to get rid of the traffic spike that was killing the server and the content.

This time... it doesnt seem quite as vindicated reasoning.

You know: this could be a meme.... beware ppl :D

[Xichekolas]

If we treat the Erlang blitz as a rarely used cultural hammer, then it represents a community-building/defining meme.

If, as you say, we start whipping out Erlang articles on a monthly basis, it just turns into noise.

[ynniv]

I kind of like the erlang marker - as soon as I see a front page full of erlang, I know that people are fed up with whatever used to be there. Once I know that, I can easily help the cause if I agree.