I didn't pick Mongo, I was just the engineer called to clean that mess.
My only experience with MongoDB is being "the engineer called to clean the mess". I'm sure you can effectively use MongoDB in production if you're knowledgable and careful, but most people aren't and they shouldn't have to know the detailed inner working to not create a mess.
In this case, the parent commenter probably meant that "newbie web developers" are likely to choose MongoDB. Of course, web developers have a range of experience, some new, some seasoned.
Caveat: this is a meta-comment about voting, not a complaint about how people upvoted or downvoted the parent comment. (My motivations are explained at the very bottom).
Based on seeing how comments like this may get interpreted, as well as broader thinking about online communication, I think HN should consider a more nuanced system of comment feedback mechanisms.
I don't have a particular plan finalized, but I would like to see HN provide feedback on different aspects of the comment. Below are some important aspects:
To what degree does the reader / voter... *
1. agree/disagee with the comment?
2. find the comment relevant / irrelevant to the topic as a whole?
3. find the comment is situated in the correct / incorrect location in the thread? (e.g. responding to the parent comment or not)
4. find the comment interesting / uninteresting?
5. think the comment adds to a diversity of perspectives?
* When I write '/' above, I intend it to be a continuum; e.g. hot/cold means "in the continuum between hot and cold).
Additionally, being able to give feedback in a more granular fashion could be of use. For example, in my comment above, I would not be surprised if a significant number of people were bothered/offended by my commentary that people seem to be taking offense more easily. Some would call this ironic -- I wouldn't -- I think it gives more data to prove the point.
Motivations: my goal here is not to gain or lose karma -- I care very little about karma here, precisely because it is so muddled and varied from person to person -- as long as I have enough to participate fully. My goal is to learn and play a small part in fostering awareness and community, while hopefully to motivating others to reflect on their impact on the community here.
My only experience with MongoDB is being "the engineer called to clean the mess". I'm sure you can effectively use MongoDB in production if you're knowledgable and careful, but most people aren't and they shouldn't have to know the detailed inner working to not create a mess.