I'm starting to wonder if comments posted on HN are examined by algorithms and automatically downvoted. Like an attempt to mute stupidity and block malice.
Has anyone noticed this with comments they've posted?
Ask HN: Are HN comments automatically downvoted by algorithms?
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Re: Ask HN: Are HN comments automatically downvoted by algorithms?
#2It's rather the upvoting of threads as well as their subthreads. Active threads move to the top.
Re: Ask HN: Are HN comments automatically downvoted by algorithms?
#3There seems to be an algorithm which demotes some posters (at least one) voicing opinions unfavorable to YC.
EDIT: just got downvoted without any comment. I wonder if I am on the kill list as well.
Re: Ask HN: Are HN comments automatically downvoted by algorithms?
#4Personally, I downvote destructive comments and flag harmful ones. My impression is that others do the same. I've never seen anything to suggest that there is algorithm beyond those that affect community members under shadow bans. My understanding is that people wind up in that state by hand, but I have no direct knowledge.
Re: Ask HN: Are HN comments automatically downvoted by algorithms?
#5There seems to be an algorithm which demotes some posters (at least one) voicing opinions unfavorable to YC. EDIT: just got downvoted without any comment. I wonder if I am on the kill list as well.
HN mods repeatedly say that they do not penalise people who post negative stuff about YC or YC companies.
But negative comments tend to get downvotes, (avoid gratuitous negativity) so people posting negative stuff should try to support it.
Re: Ask HN: Are HN comments automatically downvoted by algorithms?
#6There are a lot of people on HN, and a lot of people with downvote privilege, and there are a lot of people who just generally downvote because they disagree with something.
Even if your opinion is completely positive, if people disagree, and a lot of people see it, you will get downvoted just because they disagree (and no one will reply to your comment to disagree, it's a drive-by-downvote).
There's also verification of this by HN mods: Several comment threads exist where they keep increasing the downvote threshold (from 300, to 400, to 500, and beyond). But it still doesn't solve the problem.
Re: Ask HN: Are HN comments automatically downvoted by algorithms?
#7There seems to be an algorithm which demotes some posters (at least one) voicing opinions unfavorable to YC. EDIT: just got downvoted without any comment. I wonder if I am on the kill list as well.
HN mods repeatedly say that they do not penalise people who post negative stuff about YC or YC companies. But negative comments tend to get downvotes, (avoid gratuitous negativity) so people posting negative stuff should try to support it.
My own post was taken down before, so I'm pretty sure some form of censorship exists. I don't know if it's enforced by mods or implemented otherwise, but that's a minor point.
Re: Ask HN: Are HN comments automatically downvoted by algorithms?
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
HN mods repeatedly say that they do not penalise people who post negative stuff about YC or YC companies. But negative comments tend to get downvotes, (avoid gratuitous negativity) so people posting negative stuff should try to support it.
My own post was taken down before, so I'm pretty sure some form of censorship exists. I don't know if it's enforced by mods or implemented otherwise, but that's a minor point.
Posts can be flagged by users. If you were overtly offensive, I wouldn't be surprised.
Re: Ask HN: Are HN comments automatically downvoted by algorithms?
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
HN mods repeatedly say that they do not penalise people who post negative stuff about YC or YC companies. But negative comments tend to get downvotes, (avoid gratuitous negativity) so people posting negative stuff should try to support it.
My own post was taken down before, so I'm pretty sure some form of censorship exists. I don't know if it's enforced by mods or implemented otherwise, but that's a minor point.
Don't say mods censor anti-YC stories if it's users who are doing it.
Re: Ask HN: Are HN comments automatically downvoted by algorithms?
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
My own post was taken down before, so I'm pretty sure some form of censorship exists. I don't know if it's enforced by mods or implemented otherwise, but that's a minor point.
Posts can be flagged by users. If you were overtly offensive, I wouldn't be surprised.
there was a decidedly sexist article overnight (1AM-ish PST) which I (apparently among many others) flagged... and it was gone within a couple of minutes!