I don't really put that much thought into it, TBH. I mean, yes, there are times when "educate people" is explicitly the answer, but not always. Sometimes it's just a reflection of some vague sense of desire to share and communicate with no particular purpose. That seems to be a sort of part of human nature for most of us, to some degree.
Just to be clear, I don't mean to say that I don't reply to anybody, ever. Far from it. I enjoy a good conversation - *so long as it's some combination of productive, interesting, polite, professional, etc.*. I was trying to say that I'm more willing now to not reply when it's a response that is clearly just trying to start an argument for the sake of starting an argument, or somebody who is rude / disrespectful / etc.
I reply to people all the time, especially on HN where the S/N ratio tends to be a bit higher.
Indeed. When the conversation goes for example in the direction of: 'i am right, you are wrong', it is best to categorize as noise not begging a reaction.
