The ugliness scares most people away, or at least it doesn't accidentally lure them in.
Some of us genuinely like the way it looks.
A lot of people claim that but I've never seen evidence of the existence of a vast number of people who would be using Hacker News if only it had more bells and whistles. Craigslist is "ugly" too, and plenty of people use it.
I think it's more likely that most people (even most tech-adjacent people) simply don't know this place exists, or don't care, since no one is sharing links to Hacker News on mainstream social media and nothing goes viral here outside of already established HN-adjacent circles.
I like Hackernews. I like the simplicity. I don't bother with better AI. I prefer it that way and I acknowledge that the look and feel of Hackernews does not suite everyone.
But I don't value the look and feel of Hackernews, because it drives people away -- as if these people are of lesser value. That is just elitist and gatekeeper mentality.
The people I don't want to drive away are younger cohorts who would be a great fit for the community but who may be put off by the ancient form factor.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with gatekeeping. There are people who you definitely want to keep away.
folks forget, or never figured out, that community-building is a thing that requires a degree of curation; you wouldn't want your sloppy alcoholic uncle showing up to your business brunch (or whatever the hep cats do these days...) but he may be a welcome addition to your new years eve party. That doesn't mean you are "gatekeeping"
> That is just elitist and gatekeeper mentality.
This sounds good in theory until you realize just who it is that is being "gatekept".
Peruse through any sufficiently large Discord server or the comments on a YouTube Shorts / Instagram Reels video to see what our fellow "valued internet compatriots" are up to.
I, for one, have had enough of dealing with neuron-fried dopamine addicts and literal children from those aforementioned circles to last me a lifetime, I'd prefer HN doesn't become (more) like that.
There's always Reddit for those who prefer a community with the front gates blasted wide open.