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A suggestion: Any chance that news stories could be throttled or more heavily edited/moderated just after a spike in new users? Just a thought, it could help to filter out those who are interested versus those just looking for another forum to do their usual thing on.
That principle doesn't work online. In general you can say stuff to people in person that's insulting and abusive, and then just give a wry smile and everybody laughs. You can't do that online. The guideline has it exactly wrong. The problem is that what you say online about someone is frozen forever, and takes on more significance than either the sender or the receiver actually meant. In person, I call you an asshol…
Some percentage of the nasty things people say on web forums are said half-jokingly and offend because half-jokingness is hard to convey in text, but I think the majority are genuinely nasty.
This is often credited for Facebook having more 'real' content than MySpace and Friendster.
So far, I've found the users of this site intellectual, technical and insightful in their comments and as a result, its been a joy to participate in this community and I hope the crowd which this site attract remain the same - smart and technical people.
A suggestion: Any chance that news stories could be throttled or more heavily edited/moderated just after a spike in new users? Just a thought, it could help to filter out those who are interested versus those just looking for another forum to do their usual thing on.
The best way to deal with nasty comments by new users may be just to ask them to stop. Several times lately I've noticed established users doing that, e.g.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Some percentage of the nasty things people say on web forums are said half-jokingly and offend because half-jokingness is hard to convey in text, but I think the majority are genuinely nasty.
Have you considered asking new users to enter their first and second names, and creating an available username from that? This is often credited for Facebook having more 'real' content than MySpace and Friendster.
Curiously PG posting this gets 50 karma and counting, someone else posted a similar thing earlier in the week and got flagged dead. I don't want to see this topic regularly but maybe the guidelines could be made more prominent for new users?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Have you considered asking new users to enter their first and second names, and creating an available username from that? This is often credited for Facebook having more 'real' content than MySpace and Friendster.
Enforcing specific types of usernames is rather lame. People would just enter fake names. Facebook depends on your real identity so people who have met you can locate you.
As you've touched on, allowing people to find you on hacker news would also be a benefit.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Enforcing specific types of usernames is rather lame. People would just enter fake names. Facebook depends on your real identity so people who have met you can locate you.
Some people may enter fake names, but asking for their first and last names at least sets expectations. As you've touched on, allowing people to find you on hacker news would also be a benefit.
What has caused the spike in new users?