We've gained nothing from this comment. It is a joke about robots taking over the world. $7.4M number was put in the comment deliberately to get attention and then proceeding to inquire whether it comes in Dalmatian spots painted over. Will they deliver themselves? Perhaps I should respond with "haha"? What should I say?

If this isn't Reddit, may be I need to go there again, perhaps things have improved?

I come on HN to get away from jokes, especially of the type in the parent comment. Allow this and then the top comment in every thread on HN is some form a joke. The internet is filled to the brim with entertainment and jokes. It is nice to come here on HN and participate in intellectual, curious and informative discussion. A little humor here and there is fine.

I think you may be reading too much into it. I for one found the comment informative because it contained the price tag.

HN may be serious, but we're not entirely humorless.

I don't think I am reading too much, I've provided the explanation and my thoughts around erosion of quality on HN.

> HN may be serious, but we're not entirely humorless.

I can agree with that, a little sprinkle of tasteful humor doesn't hurt even thought it doesn't add anything meaningful to the discussion. Totally ok.

You cannot realistically expect that all commenters adjust to your particular likes or dislikes. Ironic, because that is exactly how many redditors think.

I hope, sincerely and without prejudice, that you are able to back that assertion with reliable - and dead-pan serious - data.

Speak for yourself

From the HN guidelines:

Please don't post comments saying that HN is turning into Reddit. It's a semi-noob illusion, as old as the hills.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

I question that as this place erodes into literally full of entertainment posts.

Guidelines are great and I usually abide by them, once in a while there is a reason to break them and I've substantiated those reasons.

Consider my take on this as a form of protest against the eroding quality of HN discussions.

My impression of the intended rules is that comments need to have "substance" as to constructively carry a conversation. Pointing relevant things out like the price, and making a comment in the form of a joke is perfectly normal in a conversation. You might not have a response but other's may, and indeed you can see a few people continuing the joke for fun.

It's the comments that have no substance, the "no you're wrong" kind that doesn't actually _say_ anything, or specifically baiting for heated responses in flame wars that are issues.

You might not like the jokes, but this type are definitely allowed.

I actually find quite interesting that there’s a limit on 2 robots per purchase.

My human, have you no empathy for the plight of downtrodden robots?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXrbqXPnHvE

Must you condemn them to menial lives of eternal servitude?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXsUetUzXlg

Your robophobic attitude puts you at grave risk of robot attack in the coming AI Revolution, so you should seriously consider Old Glory Robot Insurance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Gh_IcK8UM

Use the following discount code and you will receive your first month's robot insurance at half price: "NOROBO"

Your comment is pure genius

> A little humour here and there is fine

Exactly. The top comment is typically not a joke on most posts.

At the same time, what have we gained gained from this meta discussion about which comments belong on Reddit and which ones don’t?

Also, is reddit the only other site on the internet with a comment section? Why is Reddit specifically relevant here?

Please refrain from ad hominem attacks.

The poster gave a detailed explanation of their point of view. This sort of low effort insult is not appropriate.

> It is a joke about robots taking over the world. $7.4M number was put in the comment deliberately to get attention and then proceeding to inquire whether it comes in Dalmatian spots painted over

Did you actually miss the 101 Dalmations reference the joke was actually making? I thought it was super clever and nuanced. Much superior to Reddit.

I think these things have no use case.

I'm sad to see the top comment is a joke and no one is really seriously talking about what they could do. Which I think currently is little.

They'll probably cost $100,000 a year to manage and I'm not sure outside of meta entertainment what they can do.

They have no finger dexterity, no intelligence.

People seem to think they have everything a dog or even a human has. They don't.

Maybe that's why the top comment is a joke. Humor is a valid signal, even here.