Especially those times when one single individual makes such a significant difference.
Think about Einstein, most of his life people had to face that there would be no suitable replacement once he was gone for any reason.
Christmas can mean many things to many people, of course even a miracle if you would like.
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ― Albert Einstein
“I must be willing to give up what I am in order to become what I will be.” - AEinstein
"I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” ― Albert Einstein
Frosty, Redbone w/ Dr. John:
2: how many people need to get hit by a bus to bring it down?
Yes, it is fragile and precarious and transient. Why would you delude yourself? I think your emotions are clouding your logical faculties. If Dan G got hit by a bus I know for a fact there is nobody who could replace him.
To serf
That’s a very elegant observation. When I imagine hacker news shutting down I can only think of the massive implications it would have for my life and I imagine feeling scared because it’s like a part of me is gone. It would be a massive thing and I’m not sure everyone like me realizes it. I’m working on a replacement now even if that’s insane and impossible.
2. I think there are two active moderators, that also work on the software side. I have no idea if they are the only people that can do this job or the best in a long list of candidates, so it's hard to answer that question.
> If Dan G got hit by a bus I know for a fact there is nobody who could replace him.
I think that too, and that makes his presence and contributions all the more valuable to me. In a way, the fact that you care deeply about this place shows how special it is. I think that as long as there are people like dang and you around, HN or its spirit will find a way.
This site is literally owned and operated by billionaires. Sam Altman could fund it with the change under his couch cushions.
>2: how many people need to get hit by a bus to bring it down?
Certainly more than one. Dang isn't even the only moderator.
>If Dan G got hit by a bus I know for a fact there is nobody who could replace him.
See point 2.
>When I imagine hacker news shutting down I can only think of the massive implications it would have for my life and I imagine feeling scared because it’s like a part of me is gone. It would be a massive thing and I’m not sure everyone like me realizes it.
This is just an internet forum. Most people are just here to waste time, and in the grand scheme of things, even within the tech industry, it isn't that important. The degree of emotional dependency and instability you're displaying here is unhealthy.
I've never thought of HN as one of those 'beautiful and fragile' things, especially after over a decade -- maybe I will once it's gone -- I simply want to point out that some of the world's most beautiful things are in-fact 'precarious and transient' , and that makes them no less spectacular.
Happy holidays, everyone.
This made me laugh out loud, thanks for that. I wonder what rules your posts were breaking for it to be flagged?
It's true, there isn't a rule to be jolly, and I think you raise good points about the bus factor. What would happen if dang went away? Is there any universe where we can solve this bus factor such that it's decentralized or its capability grows naturally to another person?
For what it's worth, my last question might as well be rhetorical because Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. still hasn't solved moderation at scale, despite the vast pool of resources.