zlacker

> it's not clear that you have entered into the Fire Swamp until you're well and truly mired in it

Yes, exactly!

> As for moderation, if you do see egregious misconduct, EMAIL THE MODS. They really do read mail, and they do engage.

Well, I'd rather not become an unpaid moderator myself. This is why I said that there's not enough moderation to go around.

Another problem with emailing the mods, related to your first quote, is that once you're well and truly mired in the Fire Swamp, your own hands are not clean anymore, and you've probably violated the HN guidelines yourself to some extent. Condescending repliers often bring you down to their level.

>>lapcat+(OP)
I very rarely email mods concerning my own interactions with others, largely on the basis of what you've said here.

But I will do it where I see egregious misconduct in others' threads.

As for unpaid moderation ... I've various reasons for misgivings about HN (as I do about virtually all of the Internet these days), but the site's given me value, seems to spill out positive externalities all over the place, and, well, is reasonably well moderated, all told. It's certainly not turned to shit as so much else has, even if it does frequently disappoint in other regards.

But when it's good, it is in fact pretty darned good.