C[omp]ute

From: andrew cooke <andrew@...>

Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:31:01 -0300

I've complained about this before, but look here:

  http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3035082

where someone is claiming that generating and then distributing private keys
is "more secure".

Now either I've misunderstood, or that doesn't make much sense.

So I asked a question.  Which was downvoted pretty much immediately.  I edited
the question to question the downvote, which got it voted back up.  I removed
that comment and now it's downvoted again.

Why?  The most likely reason I can see is that I am questioning a recognised
"authority" (I'm not saying that the person I asked is an authority, only that
they are seen as representing the viewpoint of the kernel.org
"establishment").

And this isn't unusual.  If you look at my posting history, I often ask
questions.  It used to be that HN had smart people who enjoyed either
questionig or explaining technology.  But more and more that is being replaced
by people who donvote anything that throws their brand/identity/clan in a
"negative" light (and they see questions as negative...).

It's depressing.  Not only because this kind of dumb "group think" seems to be
the antithesis of what the site was.  But also, and worse, because the whole
idea that *asking* about something is now seen as something to be discouraged.

Andrew

PS yes, it is.