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Please don't use hnreputation

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71–80 of 91 posts

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#71
post #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.

This was mentioned by someone here a few years ago, but I still think it would be cool to see the karma/posts ratio for people. Just for kicks, not for voting (:

To be perfectly honest I never even notice the names on comments.

OK, not totally true, I notice pg and one or two other people that I know personally. I remember when hacker news started and pg would automatically get pretty much every member upvoting him (hence him not being in the leaders section- no one even comes close I assume).

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whoa, what ?!

True, I guess, but it seems a bit extreme to say that anyone downloading a Greasemonkey script should be examining the javascript inside it to figure out what it does. That's all I meant by my 'Wait, what' comment. Should've elaborated, then.

Looking at the karma there, it seems your explanation is exactly adequate.

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#73
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I trust security advice from tptacek or cperciva more than from [name withheld until you vote]. Threads get really confusing when [name withheld until you vote] argues with himself all the time.

That's my point - some people got high karma by posting intelligent comments, but many others just got it by posting a lot and echoing popular views. So, karma score in itself is pretty useless, in my opinion.

This is probably getting a tad too complicated but having a number of different 'upvote' icons (ala Slashdot) would be interesting.

You could upvote someone for being funny, informative, insightful, and so on.

If someone has a high karma for being funny in topics related to computer security, you probably wouldn't trust their security advice so much.

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#74
post #32
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Intriguing idea. Maybe I'll do something like that.

That would remove some of the utility of the site for me. Some people consistently say smarter things than the mean, so it's more worth my time to read what they write than most of the content on the site. (I subscribe to some comment RSS feeds from searchyc.)

If all domain names were removed from the blogosphere it would enable a more fair distribution of readership, but it wouldn't make for a better reading experience. It would also mean the regulars would have to qualify things more often.

Basically I care more about utility than fairness and I think reputation is a concept with significant utility.

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#75
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.

Karma can be more courteous than having to tell someone he's got his head up his butt; just downvote him, if enough people agree he should get the hint.

or, you could man up and say something... isn't the one with his head up his ass precisely the one who needs more than "a hint"?

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#76
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I trust security advice from tptacek or cperciva more than from [name withheld until you vote]. Threads get really confusing when [name withheld until you vote] argues with himself all the time.

I don't trust security advice from tptacek. First because we had a discussion and we clearly do not agree as to who can be trusted, but second (and more generally), I don't trust anyone who has enough time to gather lots of karma on HN. Most people have better things to do.

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#77
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I trust security advice from tptacek or cperciva more than from [name withheld until you vote]. Threads get really confusing when [name withheld until you vote] argues with himself all the time.

How about withholding the name still, but offering a way to 'opt-out' from voting. You don't see the name until you either vote up or opt out. After you've withheld your voice, you can't go vote again on that submission/comment.

> you either vote up or opt out

How about voting down?

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#78
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.

>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.

Erm, I always upmod comments that I consider insightful. I think the picture is more complicated than you make it out to be.

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#79
post #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.

Imagine this with politicians: Not knowing whether a speech was made by Obama or Cheney would greatly improve trust in politicians ;-)

Re: Please don't use hnreputation

#80
post #32
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Intriguing idea. Maybe I'll do something like that.

just my $0.02, but personally I really, really like having my name attached to my comments. In fact, if I could get it to say "Luke S. Crawford" that would be even better. (but I know most people wouldn't like that)

So -1 anything that would obscure my name more than a handle with a link to my profile does.

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