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Re: undefined

#31

Post by tankenmate »

swombat wrote: post #4

There's a guideline that you're not supposed to editorialise titles. When an editorialised title is detected, it is usually corrected. I happen to disagree with this policy and I think it's a somewhat overly rigid application of the guidelines. However, this is why it's happening, and it makes some sense from at least one perspective. And, after all, this is entirely pg's call to make.

I agree with you in that this is pg's site and his to run as he pleases. I also agree with you that the guideline doesn't always produce desirable outcomes.

The issue as I see it is that the sum of parts is more than the whole; if less people of the calibre similar to yourself stop turning up then the site as whole starts to lose its value. Personally it's not enough to turn me away; maybe I have no taste :)

Having said that it is a subjective issue and opinions are like farts; everybody's stinks. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Re: undefined

#32

Post by smegel »

I really dislike this about HN. Titles are part of the submission, can carry humour and set the tone of discussion, and can be a lot more interesting and meaningful than the article title. And the way it is done in such an autocratic manner makes me want to go back to Reddit.

Re: undefined

#33

Post by wodow »

Perhaps the original title should still be shown when a mod has changed it?

e.g.

| Vulnerability in ICMPv6 could allow Denial of Service (Ping of Death Reloaded) (microsoft.com) 1 point by vog 9 minutes ago | discuss | edit | delete

Re: undefined

#34

Post by jellicle »

swombat wrote: post #4

There's a guideline that you're not supposed to editorialise titles. When an editorialised title is detected, it is usually corrected. I happen to disagree with this policy and I think it's a somewhat overly rigid application of the guidelines. However, this is why it's happening, and it makes some sense from at least one perspective. And, after all, this is entirely pg's call to make.

"Editorialize" is a very different word than, for example, "modify".

What the current guidelines actually say is: "Otherwise please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait."

What they SHOULD say is something like "Don't editorialize the titles".

Re: undefined

#35

Post by levosmetalo »

orenbarzilai wrote: post #11
levosmetalo wrote: post #3

This title manipulation is the reason I abandoned my real account on HN. I just don't want that someone else change what I wrote while keeping my name on it. I won't go as far as accusing HN for impersonation (if that's the name), but please, if you change original title, at least remove original submitter name.

But if you publish post using "fake" accounts I assume that these accounts have low karma and most of your posts won't make it to the main page thus no one will read them.

I don't care about karma, and didn't care about it even in my old account. I just don't want my real name next to what someone else wrote. And no, this account is not "fake".

If I have to hide my real identity here on HN because of such behaviour, this could be just a sign of more serious problem with this so called "moderation".

Re: undefined

#36

Post by Wilya »

swang wrote: post #21

I don't think pg and co. have ever responded to complaints about changed titles. Probably the policy of HN I like the least.

I'm surprised this post isn't dead yet, to be honest. That's the usual answer to any attempt to discuss moderation.

Re: undefined

#37

Post by amirmc »

orenbarzilai wrote: post #11
levosmetalo wrote: post #3

This title manipulation is the reason I abandoned my real account on HN. I just don't want that someone else change what I wrote while keeping my name on it. I won't go as far as accusing HN for impersonation (if that's the name), but please, if you change original title, at least remove original submitter name.

But if you publish post using "fake" accounts I assume that these accounts have low karma and most of your posts won't make it to the main page thus no one will read them.

Posting news stories on HN is independent of karma. Posts end up on the front page because people upvote them, not because the poster has high karma.

Re: undefined

#38

Post by DanBC »

derefr wrote: post #28
Drakim wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But that's not a road we want to walk down, imagine if every title was meaningless! The point of titles should be to give an informing mini-summary about the topic.

It wouldn't be that bad--being on the front page is itself a prequalification, and being on the front page despite having a meaningless title means it's on the front page for reasons other than being linkbait. Removing titles altogether might make things more meritocratic, actually (if a little more painful for the people who only click things if they're about a certain topic.)

So, no titles but a tag cloud about contents?

Re: undefined

#39

Post by gojomo »

Wilya wrote: post #36
swang wrote: post #21

I don't think pg and co. have ever responded to complaints about changed titles. Probably the policy of HN I like the least.

I'm surprised this post isn't dead yet, to be honest. That's the usual answer to any attempt to discuss moderation.

People must be on vacation.
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