> but at least half of the HN main page is normally not directly startup related
I agree with you, as HN is supposed to bring topics of interest for hackers, and there are many things other than startup world that we may be interested in. But for startup related items, the submissions are almost entirely devoted to software, computing and related services. There are very few (no?) posts related to startups in science or hardware (and we are living in times where very exciting things are happening in these areas). In my opinion, a hacker community will benefit from having a wide range of interests (I haven't seen Michael Neilsen posting here for a while).
>If you want to convince them to get rid of the TSA, the side asking for the change has to appear blameless.
Is this workable? People, and specially governments, can find blame in so many ways that you can't convince them of anything unless they are forced or they realise it themselves. (In my country, protestors against massive corruption are framed for minor things they did in past and both media and government repeatedly use those points to distract masses from main issues.)
It appears to me that the lady was trying to convince others of the unreasonableness of the process. That is one of ways of democracy. Do you think "jared" will have something to think about? Do you think "the old goat" will be somewhat careful next time? Will somebody in public or those reading her blog see her point? I do think so and that is a positive impact, however small it is.
You have suggested other channels. The most obvious is voting, other is organised protest. The lady is trying to tell people that it may not be good idea to subject oneself to such procedures, and in a way creating a mass for the organised protests or cohesive votings to happen.
And for her personal courage I am inspired: she knows that she is going to appear a fool to others, she sweats, she knows that it can lead her to physical, financial problems, but she is risking because it is a step ahead.
ps: personally I don't think politicians take note unless there is a mass protest against some existing law, so to ask an individual to use other channels is unreasonable.
I agree with you, as HN is supposed to bring topics of interest for hackers, and there are many things other than startup world that we may be interested in. But for startup related items, the submissions are almost entirely devoted to software, computing and related services. There are very few (no?) posts related to startups in science or hardware (and we are living in times where very exciting things are happening in these areas). In my opinion, a hacker community will benefit from having a wide range of interests (I haven't seen Michael Neilsen posting here for a while).