Hacker News Reader

This is exactly how I use it. I never log in unless it's to reply to the occasional recruiter who E-mails me. Usually they don't reply back. It seems to be pretty useless but low-effort to use. Not sure if there's any value there as someone who is employed but passively keeping an eye out. Maybe if I was unemployed I'd be more obsessed with it.

Most of the value is when actively looking, but I feel there's some (limited) value in keeping your network "warm" by occasionally popping up there and reminding people you're here. It does semi-regularly result in people re-connecting after years and it turning into work even outside of actively chasing people down.

It used to be a directory; nowadays it seems to be becoming more of a social media platform.

It's a directory not a social media platform