This post will probably sound defeatist. Its not all happiness, hugging, changing the world, kicking it or other such mantra but I feel the following.<p>Long ago, before this account was even created, I commented and posted on HN. It was great, having karma but like all great things, if you use it daily, eventually you burn out, the fun wears off and I abandoned that account.<p>Eventually, I came back. I stopped lurking, opened this account and started again. First I avoided commenting, just submitting but the new submissions of HN flow so fast that most of what is submitted never gets looked at.<p>So if your thinking of launching just on HN, I wouldn't bother. The front page changes so fast. Some great sites and articles fall through like grains of sand through a sieve. True there is lots of crap. This site is kinda hammered by the social media types trying to plug their blogs, sites and apps that.<p>It used to be pretty quiet. A submission would lurk a few hours. The front page would be constant with posts falling from that page over the day. Now its minutes.<p>So if you want to launch on HN and use it as a springboard, unless your well known, your submission will just blend in with the rest of stuff that gets submitted.<p>Another thing is, sometimes commenting on HN isn't worth the hassle. Sure you can try build a name for yourself, being the one that makes great points, who is helpful but in reality, the audience of HN has a heavy dose of cynicism. It has evolved now to a point where you can be berated over the littlest of things. Great points languish and just simple point scoring comments rise to the top, get debated and well the "circle jerk" goes on for pointless karma.<p>There really isn't any point commenting or submitting to HN now. It really isn't worth the psychological baggage. Its just now another social media site with a high school mentality. Sad but true but its good days are behind it.