In conversations where optimizing the productivity of the discussion is a priority, I would not use sarcasm.

And you don't see HN as that kind of place?

This site has lots of good technical discussions, but it is not a place I'd go to pick up dating tips.

I think the question was about productivity of discussion.

Some discussions are serious and follow the core competency of the site (technical ones for example). For these discussions, it is best to avoid sarcasm and non-obvious forms of communication.

Some discussions are not serious, and are destined not to be really productive anyway. Dating advice falls into that category.

Is ignoring context like this your idea of being a "helpful contributor to discussions?" Because I don't see who's being helped by this.

>Some discussions are not serious, and are destined not to be really productive anyway. Dating advice falls into that category.

Then you could have said as much from the beginning.

>Is ignoring context like this your idea of being a "helpful contributor to discussions?" Because I don't see who's being helped by this.

You communicated poorly, in being (almost deliberately) unaware of what context others might lack. That error followed a pattern that others often make. I pointed out why it is an error so that you, and those others, can avoid it. And then, in doing so, I got you to reveal context your original comment needed.

Yes, I absolutely feel like I contributed here, and that you made the forum just a little bit worse with your original reply and contempt for discussion quality. Do you see why I might think that?

Interesting! While I disagree with you that I've made the forum worse, this conversation has cause me to reflect on the importance of using low-stakes sarcasm like this, which has refined my internal justification for doing so. So, I guess everyone benefited. Have a good one!

I didn’t benefit if you’re going to keep making comments like you did here that hurt the forum for reasons I explained and which make no difference to you.

Wow. Upvoted you twice in one subthread. I don't do that often :-)

That’s a fact about your poor judgment of HN contributions, not a fact about any helpful insight in bee_rider’s comments.

You forgot your /s.

bee_rider is smart enough to figure these things out.