> Slashdot had turned to garbage before the first XKCD was ever published.

Sure, and it was probably always garbage. The point of the observation was that as garbage became sewage and filth, I thought whatever value there ever had been was naught. But I realized something was lost in that process. Clearly you disagree with that…

> "Obligatory XKCD" comments read like low-effort karma grabs to me and presumably others.

The link above and many of the others I’ve seen haven’t engaged that way. But even if so, so what? The actual linked content is both relevant and engaging for those curious. I still find myself amused going back to them when I don’t fully remember their contents, and I very seldom find them unthoughtful.

But who cares? It’s not like karma is scarce. Why shouldn’t people who enjoy it as side banter have that joy? The world is hard enough as it is without punishing completely harmless fun.