I think there is a 10 year "we can have nice things" expiry date on stuff like this. Think Google / Github / Facebook etc.
After 10 years, the thing dies, or grows so big it becomes a corporation, run by suits, hungry for new revenue. There are probably exceptions (HN is one, as it is more of a well kept and groomed "pet" than a business in itself. Meant in a nice way as I love pets).
Death is an interesting one. Reading that Prince's estate is trying to color troll [1], means that regardless of what Prince wanted (not sure what he wanted either way), some other heads with different ethics can take over and do something different from the ethos you thought you were buying into.
HN is maintained at least in part to promote YC startups and the reputation of YC itself. The monetization is indirect. (Maybe some posts are sponsored? I would be mildly surprised.)
This suggests the incentives for YC are more aligned to users’ goals than, say, Reddit.
After 10 years, the thing dies, or grows so big it becomes a corporation, run by suits, hungry for new revenue. There are probably exceptions (HN is one, as it is more of a well kept and groomed "pet" than a business in itself. Meant in a nice way as I love pets).
Death is an interesting one. Reading that Prince's estate is trying to color troll [1], means that regardless of what Prince wanted (not sure what he wanted either way), some other heads with different ethics can take over and do something different from the ethos you thought you were buying into.
[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31925423