I really don't think that's true. I'd be happy to look at past data to check that, if you have any links that you recall giving you this impression, but in my memory, the Tailscale people did basically nothing to promote themselves on HN and the user reaction (including from whatever high-karma users) was completely organic.
I do think the pedigree of the founders helps them a lot, but that's a different issue and also counts as completely organic. It's just harder to pull off if you haven't put in 20 years of hard work beforehand.
It's so soul- and bone-crushingly difficult for most startups to get attention on HN that I understand why it seems like these 'darling' successes must be pulling strings or knobs or levers, but it's really not like that. It's actually the other way around: if anyone does try to pull strings or knobs or levers, but without doing work and writing content that the community is genuinely excited by, the result would be a community backlash.
The other side is that the 'darling status' phenomenon is interesting and contains lessons for people who do hope to get attention for their work on HN.
I do think the pedigree of the founders helps them a lot, but that's a different issue and also counts as completely organic. It's just harder to pull off if you haven't put in 20 years of hard work beforehand.
It's so soul- and bone-crushingly difficult for most startups to get attention on HN that I understand why it seems like these 'darling' successes must be pulling strings or knobs or levers, but it's really not like that. It's actually the other way around: if anyone does try to pull strings or knobs or levers, but without doing work and writing content that the community is genuinely excited by, the result would be a community backlash.
The other side is that the 'darling status' phenomenon is interesting and contains lessons for people who do hope to get attention for their work on HN.