This is distorting my words in such tiny, pedantic, strawmanful ways I don't see a point in replying properly. I'm clearly not going to be the person to break through your illusion.
Honestly it's probably just best to flag a comment like this without replying and move on.
Walter isn't some quarter wit user who doesn't know that he's doing here.
He's posting trash and getting away with it because of his reputation.
It's dismaying.
Re:All it takes is for one to work out
by venturecruelty on Wednesday December 03, 2025 @05:42PM
(#46141281)
Thank you for calling this out. I'm shocked it doesn't happen more often. It really ought to.
Re:All it takes is for one to work out
by Teever on Wednesday December 03, 2025 @07:47PM
(#46142414)
It should but it won't because people on here have developed a parasocial relationship with Walter and he's become a sort of minor celebrity on HN.
I mentioned this to Dang recently[0] and he's ambivalent about it.
In that discussion you seemed to agree that there's not much we can or should do about it; you seemed to be indicating that you were just contemplating the phenomenon, rather than complaining or arguing that something needed to be done.
For what it's worth: the “celebrity” effect works both ways. Sure, some members of the community may be more willing to give them a pass. But other users will be more motivated to downvote and/or flag, even if the comment is relatively benign.
The usual arc is the first generation makes it, the second spends it, and the third is back in the middle class.
Clearly? He's probably drunk some alcohol. Does that mean alcohol is clearly the path to success?