HackerTube.dev

A real person, a lot like you

Derek Sivers · 467.2K views · 2011-07-07 · 3:21

Open on YouTube ↗

If playback is restricted in your region, try opening the original video. Use Mark watched to add it to your marked videos.

Overview

A three-minute video from Derek Sivers, based on his book Anything You Want, about remembering that the people you deal with online are real people. It contrasts how we treat people face to face with how we treat them online.

On Hacker News

Recommended in threads about online hostility as a short reminder to treat strangers as human beings.

Recommended by 3 HN people across 3 months · HN mentions 2011–2013

Topics

Productivity & self-improvementInternet culture & memes
Search by tags
derek siversempathyonline behaviorcustomer serviceshort video

What people said

luckymurari · 2012-06 · Strong recommendation

Feedback is awesome. But, I guess you could've reduced a bit of causticness in it. This is the video, I want everyone on internet to watch - "A real person, a lot like you" - [VIDEO] PS/Disclaimer: Not directly affiliated to them. Founders are my friends!

Read the original HN comment ↗
networked · 2013-03 · Recommendation

Derek Sivers makes a somewhat more extensive comment on the same point in "Anything You Want". There's a nice three-and-a-half-minute video based on it [1]. [1] [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗
patio11 · 2011-08 · Recommendation

Hiya Slowpoke. You seem to be new to HN. That's cool. We're very much unlike some other Internet communities which you've spent time on. In particular, we place a wee bit of emphasis on treating people like they are people, even when interacting with them over HTTP. My name is Patrick. Pleased to meet you. I run a business which helps teach little kids to read, and spend a lot of time on HN as my hobby. A lot of HNers know me, have spoken to me, or have shaken my hand in person, because I'm a fairly personable guy. Most do not say "Hello Patrick, pleased to meet you, I don't give half a fuck whether you starve to death." That would be a wee bit uncouth. We have guidelines here for the community's consensus on talking to each other: [LINK] I'd also like to leave you with a video from Derek Sivers, who also happens to be a HNer. I think the lesson is rather important. [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗

Sources

Video by Derek Sivers, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

HN summaries and labels may contain AI errors. HN dates refer to discussions, not video publication.

HN Library: HackerTube export (2026-10-31) and open-index/hacker-news. Upstream summaries and classifications may contain AI errors.

Views, duration and playback status refresh separately from the published catalog. When an update fails, existing data remains visible.

Selection checks
  • SaaS & AI candidates: Topic keywords do not match
  • Editor-approved picks: Editorial review is required

Rule matches identify candidates. They do not guarantee video quality or financial results.

About the library and its sources