Re:Why is text of sumissions in low-contrast grey on HN?
by pieter_mj on Wednesday October 18, 2023 @10:18AM
(#37929060)
In that same logic, ask and show HN in PG's mind is to be discouraged because they always contain body text.
But the opposite should be true, ask and show (and others) should just be plain text and not greyed out.
Re:Why is text of sumissions in low-contrast grey on HN?
by ezekg on Wednesday October 18, 2023 @11:07AM
(#37929768)
Most regulars post with no body and then add a comment with more info.
Re:Why is text of sumissions in low-contrast grey on HN?
by kzrdude on Wednesday October 18, 2023 @12:26PM
(#37931007)
I'm reminded of the cognitive ease part of Thinking, Fast and Slow.
The theory is supposedly we pay more attention to what we are reading if it's a bit hard to read. Was there any such idea behind lowering the contrast for these?
At that time reddit was rising. PG didn't want to turn this forum one into another Reddit. To discourage posts with body he grayed out the body text. And then within the next few weeks he grayed out the texts gradually even more. Until it reached the point that you see now.
Encouragement was to post interesting links and blogs. But not turn this one into a general discussion forum.
That was may be in the late 2000s. As far as I can recall.