That's not what HN is optimized for. I can tell you that for sure because it's my job to (attempt to) optimize it and I've posted about this many times over many years:

https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sor...

https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=false&so...

Part of the marketing is that you don’t admit to the actual purpose, or at least that you’re not exposed to that reality.

It's terrible marketing not to admit to one's actual purpose. People can feel that. Also, it would be soul destroying to work at a job that required it. It's much better when your real purpose is aligned with what you say it is, and also with what you actually do. I find that's possible with HN, and it's one thing I like about the job.

It's totally ok if you don't believe me, but if you want to take the time to read the past explanations at https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=false&so..., I'd be super curious to hear what you think is wrong with them. For me the interesting thing about HN is that keeping the community happy—by gratifying curiosity—is the thing that produces value for YC.

Having read through, I think mostly the only clarification I'd offer is that I don't think it's bad or wrong for HN to provide value to YC by way of interest.

I was meaning to say almost exactly, "the way to maximize HN's value to YC is to maximize how interesting it is to the community"... so that when YC (and its companies) need interesting people to solve interesting problems, they're already here. It seems like you agree with that, though you do call it "cynical" and "hard-nosed business" reasoning.

"Marketing" is sometimes treated like a 4 letter word but that's not how I meant it.

"Interesting" however, seems like a very important word (it's mentioned 24 times in those 15 comments)!

You certainly misunderstand the purpose of HN and now it makes your earlier comments much more clear.

Please don't cross into personal attack.