What's something that HN has been wrong about?

Question

The one example that most folks know about is Dropbox, where pretty much everyone hated on the original post that Drew submitted. And we all know where Dropbox is at now.What are some other examples of HN hating on an idea and then it turning out to be the next big thing?

arp242 · Accepted Answer

HN has been wrong about almost every single topic. It has also been correct about almost every single topic. That's because "HN" isn't a monolithic entity but lots of individuals who often disagree. People complaining about the "HN hivemind" are mostly just folks who have trouble comprehending that people with different opinions exist.
I'd also have to disagree with your "everyone hated on Dropbox"; you can read the original thread at [1], many people said "wow, great!" That's actually the majority of the comments, and BrandonM's comments (which is what people usually refer to) is a lot more friendly and nuanced than "hating on the idea". After Drew's response, BrandonM's response can essentially be summarized as "right, I see how this would be useful".
Like I said: HN is lots of different people who disagree on essentially everything.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8863

smoldesu · Answer

Where is Dropbox now? Last I checked their stock had slid 50% since IPO and they hadn't added major functionality to any of their clients. Most people I know switched to Google Drive, iCloud or selfhosted.Is there any reason, 10 years after release, why I should be using Dropbox instead of my own network attached storage? Or does their product really just boil down to "storage as-a-service, as a service"?

bjourne · Answer

I think lots of people were wrong about the F-35. It is a very good warplane even though it cost a ton of money to develop. (Military aviation nerds, feel free to contradict me)

neximo64 · Answer

Heres another one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3818055

qup · Answer

The Musk Twitter takeover discussion was full of predictions about how long the site would continue to function, most of which have already been exceeded.

NaOH · Answer

The iPad did not get a particularly warm welcome. In defense of 2010 HN commenters, not that many people commented, and what was written from announcement toward release (and afterward) trended toward a more welcoming mindset.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1081097
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1081397
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1081519

tedunangst · Answer

Intel has gone bankrupt at least a dozen times by now.

adastra22 · Answer

Bitcoin, and cryptocurrency in general. I mean think what you want about the industry, but it has definitely been a financial success. Yet HN has had a non-stop hate boner for it since 2010.

ashwagary · Answer

Bitcoin.The value of censorship resistant low fee fixed supply digital money seemed to fly over the heads of people that many would expect to see the potential.It still amazes me to this day but as they say, "you will buy bitcoin at the price you deserve".