Show HN: RTFA, a Chrome extension to hide HN comments until you read the article

#1

Post by lmartel » Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 4:52 PM UTC

Show HN: RTFA, a Chrome extension to hide HN comments until you read the article
chrome.google.com

Re: Show HN: RTFA, a Chrome extension to hide HN comments until you read the article

#2

Post by JoshTriplett » Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 5:05 PM UTC

Hiding the Reply links might make sense if you can't stop yourself from commenting before reading, but hiding the comments themselves doesn't make sense. I find that HN (along with LWN) is one of the few sites with high-value comments, and I often want to read the first few to get context for the article.

Re: Show HN: RTFA, a Chrome extension to hide HN comments until you read the article

#3

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 5:09 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Show HN: RTFA, a Chrome extension to hide HN comments until you read the article

#4

Post by haar » Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 5:13 PM UTC

I prefer using the comments/discussion themselves as an indicator to whether I'll find the article a worthwhile read in the first place - how often do users actually comment/discuss an article without reading it beforehand? What's the point in that?

Re: Show HN: RTFA, a Chrome extension to hide HN comments until you read the article

#5

Post by martindale » Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 5:17 PM UTC

I prefer the inverse. Reading the comments from an educated audience first, then diving into the article with a more firm understanding of the landscape.

Re: Show HN: RTFA, a Chrome extension to hide HN comments until you read the article

#6

Post by madsushi » Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 5:18 PM UTC

martindale wrote: post #5

I prefer the inverse. Reading the comments from an educated audience first, then diving into the article with a more firm understanding of the landscape.

I agree. The order I use: read the comments, read the article, and THEN post a comment if I have something to add.

Re: Show HN: RTFA, a Chrome extension to hide HN comments until you read the article

#7

Post by kruipen » Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 5:24 PM UTC

martindale wrote: post #5

I prefer the inverse. Reading the comments from an educated audience first, then diving into the article with a more firm understanding of the landscape.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hacker-news-discus...

Re: Show HN: RTFA, a Chrome extension to hide HN comments until you read the article

#8

Post by daigoba66 » Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 5:28 PM UTC

Usually the title of an article is a poor indication of the article's content, structure and tone. By skimming the comments I can usually get some idea of these attributes and then decide if it's an article that interests me.

Also, the HN comments often load much faster than the page itself (full of crazy JavaScript, CSS, ads, useless graphics, etc).

Re: Show HN: RTFA, a Chrome extension to hide HN comments until you read the article

#9

Post by prototrout » Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 5:30 PM UTC

madsushi wrote: post #6

martindale wrote: post #5

I prefer the inverse. Reading the comments from an educated audience first, then diving into the article with a more firm understanding of the landscape.

I agree. The order I use: read the comments, read the article, and THEN post a comment if I have something to add.

Perhaps it should just prevent you from writing a comment before reading the article.

Re: Show HN: RTFA, a Chrome extension to hide HN comments until you read the article

#10

Post by windsurfer » Mon, Feb 17, 2014, 5:36 PM UTC

martindale wrote: post #5

I prefer the inverse. Reading the comments from an educated audience first, then diving into the article with a more firm understanding of the landscape.

Jokes on you! I have no idea about what I'm talking about ;)