This post is about the launch of a YC company and its product. It's reasonable that when a company launches a product, the discussion is focused on the product that it is launching. We moderate that way whether it's a YC company's Launch HN or anyone else posting a Show HN. Keeping discussion on-topic is one of the most important things we moderators do, and is the main reason HN is a place where people like to participate.
Criticisms of the company for past conduct are valid, and we're leaving the criticisms here for everyone to see as per our long-standing policy. But it should be viewed in context: a thread about that event already had 11 hours on the front page 12 days ago. They have been heavily criticized for what they did, are carrying reputational consequences, and they should have learned that the HN community and GitHub users and management are strongly disapproving of this kind of activity. They should be given the chance to learn and reform and be judged for what they do now and into the future.
The most on-topic thing to discuss in this thread is the company's product, and there seems to be some good discussion about that.
Criticisms of the company for past conduct are valid, and we're leaving the criticisms here for everyone to see as per our long-standing policy. But it should be viewed in context: a thread about that event already had 11 hours on the front page 12 days ago. They have been heavily criticized for what they did, are carrying reputational consequences, and they should have learned that the HN community and GitHub users and management are strongly disapproving of this kind of activity. They should be given the chance to learn and reform and be judged for what they do now and into the future.
The most on-topic thing to discuss in this thread is the company's product, and there seems to be some good discussion about that.