My problem is part style, and part content. Stratechery reads like it's written to be narrated - rather than exist first as writing. There's verbosity, pauses, long sentences, etc. And then you listen to the narration it makes sense.

But that complexity makes reading harder. Not saying everything needs to be 5th-grade-level, but complexity isn't required. Paste a Stratechery article into Hemingway Editor to visualize my point.

The stats below:

Readibility - Post-Graduate (aim for 9)

26 of 44 sentences very hard to read

8 of 88 sentences hard to read

31 weakeners

6 words with simpler alternatives

What a chore to cover, and that's without commenting on the ideas/concepts in the content.

I'm sure some folks like this writing style but I don't. And try hard to write my newsletter and other prose with far less complexity.

Where I think the argument that it's not social falls down is aligned with some of your comments. The feeds, upvotes, downvotes, etc. Let's not forget the spam.

Those mechanisms are pervasive across many social platforms, so why are they so different here? Don't think they are.

Think a better version is: HN is not an advertising-controlled social media website. That specific version makes most sense to me.

That happens, but the system is not balanced. Way more saving than practical use, similar to other platform like the socials where you save posts for ... what?

I'm also thinking that I could use AI to summarize all this AI stuff! How fitting.

Right now I feed everything to one shared Google account and then have AI do work on invites, reminders, etc.

That said, my view is now (not novel, or unique) that I am not the customer in so many cases. Any app or platform with the slightest hint of an advertising end-game restructures my usage as the product.

The customer is instead the sender (or advertiser). So, I can't expect ideal app behavior and usage based on my intentions because I'm sold (as the product) rather than the other way around.

Maybe a cynical view, and there are exceptions, but don't think I'm far off.

I think that scene is overrun with influencer types and various types of recreational substance use. Maybe I'm wrong.

Bookmarking for background while I do other things!

That train distance is ~20-25 mins walk.

So, I save some time driving - and use that time elsewhere.

Also, putting aside dense cities like Boston, NY, Chicago - I think most folks wouldn't describe many others in the U.S. as walkable.

LA? Atlanta? There are pockets of course.

I like the front. I like the interior. Controls and touches look great on video.

But rear is awful. So far anyways. Reminds me of this Chevy Impala model family:

https://www.rvinyl.com/products/chevrolet-impala-2000-2005-t...

I used to live in two of the streetcar suburbs: Newton Ma, and Brookline Ma. They are indeed more urban than suburban in many spots, but again, proximity matters. Those places feel more urban when you live near the MBTA Green Line (the streetcar) - let's say within 10 min walk.