People aren't supposed to upvote or downvote posts for these kinds of reasons here. Most people are downvoting far too much on this website, and it leads to significant echo-chamber dynamics that are worse than even reddit. The pelican test continuing to be taken seriously is a great example of that kind of echo chamber.

"He doesn't have a tin can in your face shouting from a soapbox that makes it hard to ignore."

He metaphorically does because people upvote his pelicans to the top and the ensuing comment threads are massive/bloated. Huge amounts of the readership of this website are lurkers who don't even know how to hide these giant posts. Look at how bloated this very thread is right now!

Also, a lot of people unironically are whining about him because of sour grapes. Pay them what Simon is likely making, give them as much mindshare/attention as Simon gets, and they wouldn't be so mad.

Anti-incumbency bias and anti-elitist attitudes are good actually.

> People aren't supposed to upvote or downvote posts for these kinds of reasons here.

Agreed, but scrolling past or hitting - were apparently off the table for the complainers. So flagging was yet another tool in their toolbelt and I bet a powerful one at that. If simonw's pelican posts routinely went dead from flagging, he would not make them. You know that, I know that.

> The pelican test continuing to be taken seriously is a great example of that kind of echo chamber.

You can try and support that argument if you like. But I would implore you to realize that it has been had many times recently and the other side does in fact find value and do not see it that way.

> He metaphorically does because people upvote his pelicans to the top and the ensuing comment threads are massive/bloated.

Users upvote the pelicans because they find it interesting. they arent paid trolls or simonw fanatics.

> Huge amounts of the readership of this website are lurkers who don't even know how to hide these giant posts.

They can learn... it's called hackernews. For those interested, that is what the [-] link is for above the comment. Use it and move on.