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Ask HN: How to not get sucked into online discussions?

5 pointswonderingyogi3y ago8 comments

I am trying to learn to not reply to comments in online discussions. Especially, comments which are clearly wrong (imagine 2 + 2 = 5). So far, I have only been able to comment and then delete after a few minutes. Once I delete them, I feel much better; realizing other people's viewpoints are not my problem. I find replying to comments as negative to my mental health regardless whether I agree or disagree. I want to get to the point I can control the urge.

8 comments

8 comments · 6 top-level

pelagic_sky3y ago· 1 in thread

I think you need to get to a point where you realize that your comments and the conversation in general has no value. For most cases these are strangers on the internet and little comments tend to have no lasting impact. If it helps, try typing out a comment, but delete it instead of posting it.

dpkirchner3y ago

And if this is a challenge, realize that whatever you're about to comment has probably been said before, and could probably be generated automatically using the tools of the day. It might not "need" to be said. Including my comment.

hnthrowaway03153y ago· 1 in thread

Ban yourself from all online communities such as HN. It's not actually useful. Read books and documents instead.

Hint: I'm too addicted to quit. I removed my twitter account but that's it. I only keep FB for marketplace.

MilnerRoute3y ago

I was going to make the same suggestion: just avoid the online discussions altogether. I've been trying to be very intentional about finding offline things to do. (Take a walk or a drive; chat with friends...)

jaclaz3y ago

I don't think that 2+2=5 is a matter of viewpoints or opinions, and I don't see how correcting a factual mistake (or ignoring it) can affect your mental health and very likely corrections will be well received.

If instead you are talking of viewpoints or opinions, generally speaking the HN members seem to me quite civil, though there are more than a few topics (usually politics and related, but not only) that for some reasons whenever brought up seem to create very hostile reactions or however an adversarial environment.

If you stay around some time you will surely learn to not touch or comment on them (or be ready to receive downvotes and/or nasty replies if you do).

But on most topics, unless you are (needlessly) snappy or dismissive you shouldn't have problems.

gus_massa3y ago

* Go to https://news.ycombinator.com/newest and reply only in technical discussions. (I do this.)

* Once a thread reach 100 comments, use the hide button and forget about it. The discussion has probably derailed. (I don't do this, but I try to avoid them.)

* Don't reply to the replies of your comments. (I don't do this. I got many good replies to my comments that fix my errors, but it's easier to just ignore them for a while.)

I could not stop wanted to share my views and debate. But it was a time sink.

So I decided that I would start creating content instead of just writing comments. It gives me the same unnecessary rush of dopamine but I am building an audience and making money at least.

it’s only worth arguing with people that you emotionally care about influencing. typically this is not strangers online. save that effort for something that matters. especially if it’s a bad experience.

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