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Show HN: No more “idea websites” – here's a problem solving website

thinkero.us

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Re: Show HN: No more “idea websites” – here's a problem solving website

#11

Post by minimaxir »

chrisjleaf wrote: post #10
minimaxir wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That's why our algorithms rank ideas based on the importance of the issues they solve. What? Ranking by the number of likes/upvotes (which is the method I see when looking at the Hot view) is not "ranking ideas based on the importance of the issues they solve." I know CMU teaches actual algorithms for this type of ranking, because I went there. :P

Perhaps you're underestimating the complexity of the algorithm. The linking between ideas and issues is not superficial, the ranking of an idea is based directly upon the ranking of the issues it is linked to. Issues are a bit simpler in that they mostly are based on activity related to them. However doesn't it make sense that an issue that's popular would reflect the magnitude of it's importance?

> However doesn't it make sense that an issue that's popular would reflect the magnitude of it's importance?

Not exactly. You're confusing correlation with causation.

On sites with Reddit-like rankings, the number of votes which a submission receives is one of the primary causes for the subsequent number of comments/activity of those respective submissions. And "importance" is not necessarily causal to submission ranking (aggregators are weird).

Re: Show HN: No more “idea websites” – here's a problem solving website

#14

Post by AndrewKemendo »

sharing ideas that solve impactful issues

Except ideas don't solve impactful issues, groups of people applying time and resources to a problem solves impactful issues.

I think it would be more accurate to say that the service is for "sharing ideas for how to have an impact on complex issues."

I'm still not really sure what it is supposed to do.

Re: Show HN: No more “idea websites” – here's a problem solving website

#15

Post by AndrewKemendo »

chrisjleaf wrote: post #6
minimaxir wrote: post #5

The first comment in your previous submission is accurate: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6077395 Ideas are just ideas. Actually solving problems requires a different skillset that can't be accomplished with the "magic" of crowdsourcing. Calling this a "problem solving website" is incredibly misleading.

The entire point of the site is that solving issues comes first. That's why our algorithms rank ideas based on the importance of the issues they solve. This way the ideas that solve the most important problems will rise to the top of the list that is what makes Thinkerous different from other "idea list" websites: we target problems directly while idea lists don't.

It looks like the point is actually identifying problems first.

Nothing on the site seems to force people to implement solutions to the problems - which means it's an option not a requirement of the service and definitely doesn't "come first."

I think there is power in a "pain-point" ranking service, if that is what you guys are going for. Definitely needs to be redesigned to make that clear if that is the case.

Re: Show HN: No more “idea websites” – here's a problem solving website

#16

Post by aaronz8 »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #14

sharing ideas that solve impactful issues Except ideas don't solve impactful issues, groups of people applying time and resources to a problem solves impactful issues. I think it would be more accurate to say that the service is for "sharing ideas for how to have an impact on complex issues." I'm still not really sure what it is supposed to do.

Sorry, that is a bit unclear. Essentially, we want to make it easier for people to find issues that many people can identify with, and in the process, show people what some potential solutions are.

By filtering out some of the noise, the ideas that could solve widespread issues can get more resources put behind them and hopefully a greater chance of succeeding.

This might make more sense in the enterprise software realm, but we saw some interest in the startup community as well so we wanted to test it out.

Re: Show HN: No more “idea websites” – here's a problem solving website

#18

Post by aaronz8 »

minimaxir wrote: post #5

The first comment in your previous submission is accurate: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6077395 Ideas are just ideas. Actually solving problems requires a different skillset that can't be accomplished with the "magic" of crowdsourcing. Calling this a "problem solving website" is incredibly misleading.

> Actually solving problems requires a different skillset that can't be accomplished with the "magic" of crowdsourcing.

Maybe so, but the first step of problem solving is identifying the problem. And problems come from people.

(from that comment you referenced) > So maybe if this were to be adjusted so that it was more of a place to talk about problems you wish people would solve. > Why not structure it as a place for people to complain about inefficiencies.

This is what "Issues" on Thinkerous are. We'll make it more clear. Thanks!

Re: Show HN: No more “idea websites” – here's a problem solving website

#19

Post by onedev »

minimaxir wrote: post #11
chrisjleaf wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps you're underestimating the complexity of the algorithm. The linking between ideas and issues is not superficial, the ranking of an idea is based directly upon the ranking of the issues it is linked to. Issues are a bit simpler in that they mostly are based on activity related to them. However doesn't it make sense that an issue that's popular would reflect the magnitude of it's importance?

> However doesn't it make sense that an issue that's popular would reflect the magnitude of it's importance? Not exactly. You're confusing correlation with causation. On sites with Reddit-like rankings, the number of votes which a submission receives is one of the primary causes for the subsequent number of comments/activity of those respective submissions. And "importance" is not necessarily causal to submission ran…

Hey not sure if you're aware, but this isn't TechCrunch...heh.

Re: Show HN: No more “idea websites” – here's a problem solving website

#20

Post by minimaxir »

onedev wrote: post #19
minimaxir wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> However doesn't it make sense that an issue that's popular would reflect the magnitude of it's importance? Not exactly. You're confusing correlation with causation. On sites with Reddit-like rankings, the number of votes which a submission receives is one of the primary causes for the subsequent number of comments/activity of those respective submissions. And "importance" is not necessarily causal to submission ran…

Hey not sure if you're aware, but this isn't TechCrunch...heh.

Commenting is universal. :)
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