What We Cherish: Deeply Held Values from Open Source to Human Connection

An open-ended question on Hacker News, "Ask HN: What is something you deeply care about?", invited a diverse and thoughtful outpouring of personal and societal concerns. The responses reveal a community passionate about improving both the digital and physical worlds, grounded in strong ethical principles and a desire for deeper human connection.

The Digital Future: Openness, Control, and Experience

A significant theme was the future of technology and its governance. ManuelKiessling made a compelling case for Open Source, Free/Libre software as the foundation for government digital infrastructure, arguing that as society's "digital operating system," it must be publicly auditable and free from Big Tech control. This sentiment was echoed by chairmansteve, who highlighted the national security implications for non-US countries. 0xCE0 emphasized the importance of "freedom of computing/information," viewing Linux as a crucial bastion. The desire for openness extended to communication, with RadiozRadioz advocating for interoperable instant messaging platforms like XMPP or Matrix, decrying walled gardens like WhatsApp and Messenger, and criticizing RCS's dependencies.

User experience and product design also featured prominently. THENATHE championed quality and durability in core functionalities, suggesting that essential components (like a car's driver seat adjustment) should be manual and robust, while non-essential luxuries (like heated seats) can be complex. This philosophy prioritizes resilience and repairability, a point illustrated by a preference for manual transmissions. Andrei_says_ added nuance, noting that context (like heavy city traffic) can influence the practicality of such choices. Bitbasher listed core web development principles like progressive enhancement, usability, and minimalism as personal commitments, while philonoist expressed a deep love for coding as an art, lamenting its frequent compromise for profit.

Societal Concerns: Communication, Civility, and Justice

Many users expressed concern over the state of human interaction and societal health. Ofalkaed lamented that much communication has become one-way and self-serving, a point pillefitz connected to Robert Kegan's stages of adult development. Andrei_says_ linked this to late-stage capitalism's tendency to transactionalize all interactions.

Civil discourse was another key area, with 7402 vehemently against "screaming" in political debates, regardless of which side it comes from, deeming it dangerous and counterproductive. Irongirl1 spoke out against censorship, particularly in tech, arguing it's often politically motivated.

Broader societal issues included add-sub-mul-div's observation that many problems stem from fear of difference, while perilunar pointed to the implicit acceptance of violence or the threat of force (e.g., through laws) as a fundamental problem. Ofalkaed added that prejudices are often "hard earned" and that even extremist views can contain "bits of truth."

Core Human Values: Beauty, Kindness, and Connection

The discussion was rich with reflections on fundamental human values. Omosubi declared a deep care for Beauty, pained by surrounding ugliness. This was resonated by andrei_says_ who shared an anecdote about finding beauty even in dire moments, and TheAlchemist who quoted Jim Simons on the aesthetic of "doing it right." Vismit2000 shared a poem on the subject.

Kindness and Empathy were frequently cited. Stonecharioteer advocated for kindness in all relationships, believing it translates into user-friendly products. Loa_in_ refined this, suggesting that practicing kindness in all aspects, including towards users, is key. Andrei_says_, austin-cheney (who specified empathy over sympathy), welcome_dragon, and spiderfarmer also highlighted these values.

Personal accountability (SemioticStandrd), ethics, honesty (austin-cheney), and the importance of deep knowledge, consent, respect, and care beyond the transactional (andrei_says_) were also prominent.

Many users like relyks, BirAdam, and mradek emphasized the importance of personal relationships—family, friends, and loved ones—and personal growth.

Protecting Our World

Environmental concerns were voiced, with Tepix poignantly describing the critical state of coral reefs—vital, beautiful, and rapidly disappearing. Igor47 also listed protecting the natural world as a core concern, alongside freedom and community. Oulipo expressed care for climate and democracies, viewing AI as a potential threat to both.

A Community of Substance

Finally, tailspin2019 offered a meta-commentary, praising Hacker News itself as a rare online space where such a question could elicit a "flood of thoughtful, earnest and substantive responses." The thread stands as a testament to the diverse, deeply held values within this community, underscoring a shared desire for a more open, equitable, beautiful, and kind world.