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A List of Hacker News's Undocumented Features and Behaviors

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Re: A List of Hacker News's Undocumented Features and Behaviors

#191

Post by Noumenon72 »

dang wrote: post #124
Noumenon72 wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have almost a conditioned reflex for upvoting grey posts at this point. The people who downvote are a weird crew that don't seem to judge by Reddit's "contributes to the discussion" standard.

HN doesn't have that standard. Not being Reddit doesn't make you weird. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16131314

Weird is better than Reddit, which tends to downvote for political and groupthink reasons, but it's still weird. I usually can't tell why the downvoters are downvoting. Their downvoting doesn't match the comments, so I just see them as weird and apart from the general users.

Re: A List of Hacker News's Undocumented Features and Behaviors

#192

Post by tabtab »

tptacek wrote: post #106
tabtab wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While we are on the subject of downvotes, I'd love to have it require a comment (reason) to downvote. Not knowing why something gets downvoted is super frustrating. The comment doesn't have to be visible in the default listing; it perhaps can be a side option/listing or pop-up.

It's not going to happen; it's part of the ethos of the site to downvote in lieu of writing insubstantial criticisms, a policy Paul Graham actually wrote out once long ago. It's the right policy, I think. The last thing we need are dozens more one-line "why this sucks" comments on each thread.

Re: The last thing we need are dozens more one-line "why this sucks" comments on each thread.

The reasons can be semi-hidden. They don't have be part of the default visible thread. A small hyperlink or icon could be clicked on to view them. One doesn't see them unless they want to.

Re: A List of Hacker News's Undocumented Features and Behaviors

#193

Post by tabtab »

pvg wrote: post #172
afiori wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

still a simple checkbox with a few well chosen reasons would be valuable. At the very least it would make you actually think of why you choose to downvote that specific comment. There are many nuances of disagreement, some deserving a downvote some not.

It's not going to be valuable. Would a simple checkbox with a few well-chosen reasons be valuable for upvotes? The difference isn't nuance or opportunity for self-improvement, it's just that getting downvoted feels bad and getting upvoted doesn't.

Whether it's "logical" in a universal sense is debatable, but removing a common known frustration of users is usually a good thing regardless. If purple walls anger your customers, then repaint them rather than argue that purple is logically better.

Re: A List of Hacker News's Undocumented Features and Behaviors

#194

Post by tabtab »

tptacek wrote: post #112
jdavis703 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some posts clearly deserve downvoting, for example trolling or spamming. I have however either made some controversial or unintentionally ignorant comments that have been downvoted. In those cases it would’ve been helpful to know why people thought an opinion or fact was wrong.

That happens anyways. When people have things to say on HN, they tend to say them. It's not an either/or thing.

Not often enough, in my opinion and observation.

Re: A List of Hacker News's Undocumented Features and Behaviors

#195

Post by dang »

jedberg wrote: post #65
minimaxir wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait, what? When did this change? Added it to the doc!

Very recently. Not a great change in my opinion. The google search always had the article in position one. The ddg so far has failed me every time. :(

I've had the same experience, unfortunately, so I think we're going to change it back.

Re: A List of Hacker News's Undocumented Features and Behaviors

#196

Post by pvg »

tabtab wrote: post #193
pvg wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not going to be valuable. Would a simple checkbox with a few well-chosen reasons be valuable for upvotes? The difference isn't nuance or opportunity for self-improvement, it's just that getting downvoted feels bad and getting upvoted doesn't.

Whether it's "logical" in a universal sense is debatable, but removing a common known frustration of users is usually a good thing regardless. If purple walls anger your customers, then repaint them rather than argue that purple is logically better.

I didn't say it was 'logical' nor did I say dealing reducing user frustration is bad. Trying to address user frustration in this specific way is ill-considered and bad.
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