Re:Liquid water 'lake' revealed on Mars
by keketi on Wednesday July 25, 2018 @11:11AM
(#17609859)
NASA scientist: I built this space mission up from nothing. When I started, all I had was a martian lake! Other scientists said I was daft to send a rover into a lake, but I sent it all the same, just to show 'em! It sank into the lake, so I built a second one. That sank into the lake. I built a third one. It got stuck, fell over, and then it sank into the lake. But the fourth one floated! And that's what you're going to get, lad--the strongest rover on Mars!
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I understand it's a Monty Python reference, but I'd like to point out that it sounds distinctively Kerbal.
Re:Liquid water 'lake' revealed on Mars
by joshstrange on Wednesday July 25, 2018 @11:38AM
(#17610085)
Love a good Monty Python reference even if most humor-only posts are discouraged on HN.
My experience has been that Monty Python and Douglas Adams references are the clear exceptions to the no humor rules on HN, though I don't suppose you'll find that written down anywhere.
From what I've seen, a bit of reasonably mature humor seems acceptable, it's just multiple posts devoted to jokes derailing the conversation where it's frowned upon. I quite like this system, as it prevents Reddit-esque threads with the same tired memes being repeated back and forth ad nauseum, but still allows for a bit of levity to lighten the conversation and provide some mental refreshment.
And yes, I realize I just called a Monty Python and the Holy Grail reference mature.
So long as you define 'mature' to mean 'in line with the average HN reader's ego and self-image', you're pretty much on point.
That may be the case, but I appreciate it nonetheless - most posters are pretty good at avoiding jokes at the OP's expense, for example, which contributes to HN's relatively good community.