Interesting points.. but I'm unsure if your use of a question mark in this HN post is a ironic or a coincidence?
(to me it's pretty obviously ironic)
Is it time to stop writing headlines that end in question marks?
11–20 of 39 posts
Re: Is it time to stop writing headlines that end in question marks?
#12No, if you are copywritng.
A question headline attracts the reader to read the sub-headline. And that is the purpose of headlines (and copy). To get people to read smoothly until they take out the CC and buy.
Problem is that if you overuse it in a blog (for example), then your writing style will end up souding like an infomercial. Mind you, if you see yourself using linkbait to gain eyeballs, then your blog is just not worth reading (or advertising in).
Re: Is it time to stop writing headlines that end in question marks?
#13I thought you meant HN headlines :D
Re: Is it time to stop writing headlines that end in question marks?
#14First time I've seen one of these headlines that is answered with a yes :)
Re: Is it time to stop writing headlines that end in question marks?
#15I liked Jon Stewart's take on this question in his segment on the question mark. http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-september-13-2006/the-...
Cartman also uses the just asking questions tactic to antagonize Wendy in a South Park episode where he takes the job of school announcer. http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s13e13-dances-...
Re: Is it time to stop writing headlines that end in question marks?
#16If the primary motive for question-mark headlines is link-bait, surely this can be more easily solved by getting your headlines from a better source of news?
Don't feed the trolls, and all that.
Re: Is it time to stop writing headlines that end in question marks?
#17Is it a coincidence that someone posted a comment here on HN about Betteridge’s Law of Headlines, just last week, which got quite many upvotes, and now this is posted...(can't remember in which thread, something about "is x dead?")
Seems like circlejerking and/or blogspam to me. Sure, it's a quite interesting theory but just post to wikipedia or the comment instead.
Re: Is it time to stop writing headlines that end in question marks?
#18If you over-use it, it's not effective but for copywriting purposes, you'll get more clicks. Same with email: even if the subject is not a question, put a ? in it, and you'll get more clicks (it's been A/B tested by a few folks)
Re: Is it time to stop writing headlines that end in question marks?
#19I liked Jon Stewart's take on this question in his segment on the question mark. http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-september-13-2006/the-... Cartman also uses the just asking questions tactic to antagonize Wendy in a South Park episode where he takes the job of school announcer. http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s13e13-dances-...
There was a bit of a brouhaha about this a few years ago with TV pundit Glenn Beck as well. Beck has a certain style of saying he's "just investigating" questions, where he'll posit some extreme allegation, and wonder out loud why the target of the allegation won't go on record denying it and provide evidence. He'll insist he doesn't even necessarily think the allegation is true, but just wants the questions to be aired and discussed openly, and says refusal to do so is suspicious evasion.
In response, someone started a website wondering aloud why Glenn Beck won't deny allegations that he raped and killed a girl in 1990--- the website author, of course, claims he doesn't believe the allegations, but is just wondering why Beck won't address them publicly, and provide evidence of his whereabouts at the time of the alleged incident. Beck, of course, sued for libel in response...
http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/10/beck_tries_to_kil...
Re: Is it time to stop writing headlines that end in question marks?
#20Are all rhetorical questions bad?
Is this a rhetorical question?