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Please don't use hnreputation

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11–20 of 91 posts

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#11
post #7
post #4

It does one HTTP request for each comment in a thread, it looks like. Kind of irresponsible coding, I think.

Kind of? sounds almost like a DOS attack to me...

Well, that's why the IP is blocked -- it looks like a DoS attack to the server software as well. Are there different terms for intentional DoS attacks, as opposed to incidental ones like this? I have the impression that two separate terms might have made your meaning clearer. :)

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#13
post #4

It does one HTTP request for each comment in a thread, it looks like. Kind of irresponsible coding, I think.

Irresponsible usage as well. Those who used the script should really have at least eyeballed the source first.

[EDIT: This is HN. Surely I don't have to explain the pitfalls of downloading a Greasemonkey script and running it in your browser without checking what it does? It's even worse than uneducated users tricked into running malware since you're knowingly installing a script.]

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#15
post #13
post #4

It does one HTTP request for each comment in a thread, it looks like. Kind of irresponsible coding, I think.

Irresponsible usage as well. Those who used the script should really have at least eyeballed the source first. [EDIT: This is HN. Surely I don't have to explain the pitfalls of downloading a Greasemonkey script and running it in your browser without checking what it does? It's even worse than uneducated users tricked into running malware since you're knowingly installing a script.]

Whoa, what?!

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#16
The whole idea of "Karma" is silly. It encourages conforming to majority views and rewards people who are talkative rather than insightful - often mutually exclusive groups, since insight is gained by thinking & doing rather than posting comments.

I think HN would do well to drop karma scores altogether, making this script a non-issue to begin with.

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#17
post #16

The whole idea of "Karma" is silly. It encourages conforming to majority views and rewards people who are talkative rather than insightful - often mutually exclusive groups, since insight is gained by thinking & doing rather than posting comments. I think HN would do well to drop karma scores altogether, making this script a non-issue to begin with.

While we're on the topic of suggestions that aren't likely to be implemented ;)

I like to see the user name hidden on comments and submissions until after you vote and/or reply. Judge the content on the content alone, not on the author.

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#18
post #16

The whole idea of "Karma" is silly. It encourages conforming to majority views and rewards people who are talkative rather than insightful - often mutually exclusive groups, since insight is gained by thinking & doing rather than posting comments. I think HN would do well to drop karma scores altogether, making this script a non-issue to begin with.

I'm not sure I agree with you. Karma as a measure of personal worth is silly, but as a way of cutting down on trolls it works pretty well. That number at the top of the screen is something that I'd bet the Reddit and TechCrunch commentors would care deeply about, and as such, it keeps them from dumbing down the discussion here too much.

In any case, HN is by far the best self-moderated discussion forum I've ever seen, and I'd be leery of making any major change that might conceivably disrupt that.

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#19
post #18
post #16

The whole idea of "Karma" is silly. It encourages conforming to majority views and rewards people who are talkative rather than insightful - often mutually exclusive groups, since insight is gained by thinking & doing rather than posting comments. I think HN would do well to drop karma scores altogether, making this script a non-issue to begin with.

I'm not sure I agree with you. Karma as a measure of personal worth is silly, but as a way of cutting down on trolls it works pretty well. That number at the top of the screen is something that I'd bet the Reddit and TechCrunch commentors would care deeply about, and as such, it keeps them from dumbing down the discussion here too much. In any case, HN is by far the best self-moderated discussion forum I've ever seen…

I like Karma, because it means that established members don't have to worry too much about how any particular post will be received, and can present unpopular points of view without too much penalty.

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#20
I think you should read all comment without knowing the person's karama. You'll probably recognise some of our more illustrious users by username but really you should be evaluating each comment on it's merit, not the author's karma.
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