16 Years of Commenting: A Zero-ROI Social Investment?

After 16 years of active commenting on platforms like Hacker News, Reddit, and Substack, a seasoned internet commenter is calling it quits. He's realized that his years of investment in online commenting yielded zero real-world friendships, a zero ROI on his social energy. He argues that comment culture is inherently transactional, consisting of one-off interactions with strangers. Platforms prioritize engagement over genuine connection, subtly diverting users' social energy towards boosting ad impressions. He's seeking more authentic human interaction, prioritizing the creation and maintenance of lasting friendships.