How susceptible is HN to ideological meddling, eg by governments or “Big xyz”? If susceptible, what would be the signs, how could it be managed, would the HN API aid such meddling, and does it even matter?
Ask HN: Are there paid commenters on HN?
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Re: Ask HN: Are there paid commenters on HN?
#2Unlike chronological internet forums where all opinions must be heard, it's very difficult to successfully astroturf an internet forum that self-polices with upvotes and downvotes.
EDIT: In the case where someone says something against common perception, downvotes in particular deemphasize it (turning the comment gray on HN, collapsing it on Reddit) as this comment unintentionally demonstrates, thus why astroturfing in such forums successfully can be hard to do nowadays. The real astroturfers do Facebook/Twitter instead where content can't be downvoted.
Re: Ask HN: Are there paid commenters on HN?
#3Unlike chronological internet forums where all opinions must be heard, it's very difficult to successfully astroturf an internet forum that self-polices with upvotes and downvotes. EDIT: In the case where someone says something against common perception, downvotes in particular deemphasize it (turning the comment gray on HN, collapsing it on Reddit) as this comment unintentionally demonstrates, thus why astroturfing…
Is the voting system not susceptible to meddling?
Re: Ask HN: Are there paid commenters on HN?
#4Unlike chronological internet forums where all opinions must be heard, it's very difficult to successfully astroturf an internet forum that self-polices with upvotes and downvotes. EDIT: In the case where someone says something against common perception, downvotes in particular deemphasize it (turning the comment gray on HN, collapsing it on Reddit) as this comment unintentionally demonstrates, thus why astroturfing…
I don't know, Reddit has a lot of artrosurf. You can buy up votes and down votes very easily and you regularly see suspicious votes on some content.
Re: Ask HN: Are there paid commenters on HN?
#5Unlike chronological internet forums where all opinions must be heard, it's very difficult to successfully astroturf an internet forum that self-polices with upvotes and downvotes. EDIT: In the case where someone says something against common perception, downvotes in particular deemphasize it (turning the comment gray on HN, collapsing it on Reddit) as this comment unintentionally demonstrates, thus why astroturfing…
Why do you think this is so?
Re: Ask HN: Are there paid commenters on HN?
#6Unlike chronological internet forums where all opinions must be heard, it's very difficult to successfully astroturf an internet forum that self-polices with upvotes and downvotes. EDIT: In the case where someone says something against common perception, downvotes in particular deemphasize it (turning the comment gray on HN, collapsing it on Reddit) as this comment unintentionally demonstrates, thus why astroturfing…
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Re: Ask HN: Are there paid commenters on HN?
#7There has been an obvious influx of paid accounts in my opinion. The quality of discourse has dropped.
I often check an account and notice it was not active for a substantial period of time before a sudden change in tone is noticed.
Seeing the same anti-vax talking points (for instance) spread from Reddit to here has been upsetting. The main difference I have noticed is the responses here are more sound technically, typically, call out the flaws more quickly, and are obviously not being influenced by the astro turfing. It's still tiresome, but here we are.
Re: Ask HN: Are there paid commenters on HN?
#8Unlike chronological internet forums where all opinions must be heard, it's very difficult to successfully astroturf an internet forum that self-polices with upvotes and downvotes. EDIT: In the case where someone says something against common perception, downvotes in particular deemphasize it (turning the comment gray on HN, collapsing it on Reddit) as this comment unintentionally demonstrates, thus why astroturfing…
Strong disagree. Look at Reddit.
Re: Ask HN: Are there paid commenters on HN?
#9Any anonymous forum is subject to astroturfing. Given the outsize tech audience on this forum, it would be worth money for some companies to pay someone to suppress unfavourable posts.
Re: Ask HN: Are there paid commenters on HN?
#10I get downvotes for stuff that seems odd from an intellectual person trying to have a discussion. I don't know if it's a bot searching for keywords, or just someone with a grudge with several accounts or legit downvotes. I don't let it silence me though. I mean numbers (karma) are just 1s and 0s. Ideas and honest discussion are much more than that.
Whatever happens speak your mind, you've earned it by existing. Don't get discouraged by downvotes. The future depends on it.