Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have comment collapse, like Reddit?

#1

Post by azarias » Wed, Apr 06, 2016, 7:37 PM UTC

I feel like there has to be a good reason. Because scrolling through long threads to get to a different line of thought is not very friendly.

Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have comment collapse, like Reddit?

#2

Post by mtmail » Wed, Apr 06, 2016, 7:45 PM UTC

This request comes up regularly, the last time two weeks ago https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11355038

Summary: most users agree, some wrote browser plugin, some are willing to pay for a solution. It's up to the admins to find time to implement the feature.

Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have comment collapse, like Reddit?

#3

Post by gscott » Wed, Apr 06, 2016, 9:35 PM UTC

It will devalue the comments you write. Why bother if it no one will see it.

Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have comment collapse, like Reddit?

#4

Post by wes-k » Wed, Apr 06, 2016, 10:03 PM UTC

Oh man it pains me not having it! So many threads have a really long first comment chain about a tangent within the article or about a related project.

Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have comment collapse, like Reddit?

#5

Post by tedmiston » Thu, Apr 07, 2016, 1:56 AM UTC

Some third party clients already support comment collapse :)

I'm keeping a list of all HN clients here: https://pinboard.in/u:tedmiston/t:hacker-news/

You can bookmark it, filter by web vs. mobile vs. native, etc.

For comment collapse, I'd look at Premii's client in particular.