HACKER Q&A
📣 dennis_jeeves1

Why don't you have contact information on your profile


Some of the most politically incorrect, insightful, unpopular yet interesting comments that I see are made by individuals who have no contact information on their profile.

What would your motivation be, to put an unpopular opinion if there are no means for similar minded people to get in touch with you?

I fully understand that one cannot reveal your real name, or other contact information that is normally used for everyday life, because there can be a backlash that can have a negative impact your life.

  👤 soueuls Accepted Answer ✓
I think you are missing the point. What you consider to be a controversial/non PC answer is considered to be a pretty normal answer to them.

They are not trying to get in touch with like minded people, they are just posting comment on HN to share their thoughts and react to a news, pretty much exactly like you are doing.

I will take myself as an example :

1. I think diversity is a completely useless metric. 2. I am in favor legalizing discriminations. 3. I believe we should not help people who want to commit suicide.

I don't consider any of these opinions to be controversial.

👤 superchroma
I want to make friends on my own terms, rather than letting them initiate, I guess? Maybe this is evidence of narcissistic traits.

Also, I don't really want to talk to like minded people. I already think like myself, and I don't really want a hugbox of people who think like me so we can spend time telling each other things we agree with. I'm interested in challenging my ideas a bit, and encountering new perspectives.

All that said, I use this username on other social networks so if people are determined they can find me that way.

👤 uberman
Did you just answer your own question?
👤 akerl_
There are plenty of reasons to post an opinion other than to get in touch with likeminded people.
👤 aaaaaasss
The lack of private messaging on HN is interesting, but you could always just reply to their latest comment.... that's what I do with dang, but he doesn't like it.