We all are content consumers. It’s not a problem, just a fact.

You consumed my content (my comment) and are now creating your own.

What you spend your attention on is much more important now than even 10 years ago.

Actually I'd call your comment an opinion, not "content".

Unless, of course, you're commenting here in order to create "engagement" for monetary gain. But it does look to me like you're trying to have a conversation, which is an entirely different animal.

Those are not mutually exclusive.

We are both creating content which hacker news serves up to people who read comments. We’re not the only ones this conversation is seen by.

Hacker news is, among other things, a platform for YC to find talent and advertise its startups. People come here both for the posts and comments.

The content we create and post here have clear commercial purpose even though we as the creators don’t necessarily benefit or care.

Welcome to the internet.

You're talking about the goals of the platform hosting us for free.

I'm talking about our personal motivation, regardless of platform. And I'm trying to say that when the motivation is to 'create content' the result is worthless, and I think you're doing yourself a disservice accepting that.

Sure, but motivation and outcome don’t need to line up.

I may not be writing this comment to create content (I’m actually really enjoying this discussion.)

But that doesn’t change that I am creating content for the HN platform.