The Day I Kissed Comment Culture Goodbye
5 days ago
- #friendship
- #internet culture
- #social media
- The author reflects on their 16-year journey of active commenting across platforms like Hacker News, Reddit, Substack, and Twitter.
- Commenting became an addictive habit, offering a mix of intellectual stimulation, social interaction, and occasional dopamine hits from popular comments.
- Despite the benefits—sharpening writing, logic, and debate skills—commenting failed to foster real friendships, leading to a sense of social emptiness.
- The author critiques comment culture as a system that prioritizes engagement over genuine connection, creating an 'internet of strangers.'
- Real-life friendship requires significant time and effort (e.g., 200 hours per close friend), which comment culture doesn’t facilitate.
- Online platforms optimize for engagement (e.g., upvotes, replies) rather than lasting relationships, turning social energy into performative interactions.
- The author decides to quit commenting, seeking deeper connections offline or in smaller, intentional communities (e.g., Discord, private groups).
- The essay highlights a broader tension between market-driven online spaces and the human need for meaningful, enduring friendships.