Don't post generated/AI-edited comments. HN is for conversation between humans.
news.ycombinator.com
March 11, 2026
3 min read
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91/100
Summary
Hacker News accepts submissions on a wide range of topics that interest hackers, including technology and startups. Submissions related to politics, crime, sports, or celebrities are generally considered off-topic unless they demonstrate a new phenomenon.
Key Takeaways
- Hacker News submissions should focus on topics that gratify intellectual curiosity, avoiding most stories about politics, crime, sports, or celebrities unless they reveal new phenomena.
- Users are discouraged from using attention-grabbing tactics in titles, such as uppercase letters or exclamation points, and should submit original sources.
- Comments should promote thoughtful and substantive discussion, avoiding negativity, snarkiness, and personal attacks.
- Generated or AI-edited comments are prohibited, as Hacker News is intended for human conversation.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- The community values thoughtful input from intelligent individuals, emphasizing the importance of authentic human perspectives over AI-generated content.
- There is a recognition that while AI tools can assist in writing, the essence of human thought and effort should not be replaced by reliance on LLMs.
- The discussion highlights the need for clarity in distinguishing between simple AI tools and fully-fledged LLMs, indicating a nuanced understanding of AI's role in communication.
Concerns
- There are concerns that the increasing use of AI in writing could lead to a decline in genuine human thought and effort, which is seen as detrimental to meaningful conversations.
- The ambiguity around what constitutes 'AI-edited' content raises significant issues about authenticity and the potential erosion of quality discourse in online communities.
- The fear of being mistaken for an AI due to high-quality writing reflects a growing anxiety about the indistinguishability of human and AI-generated content.