5 ms·
I've always considered "bumping" to be the perfect scaling algorithm for content sorting. If a comment is added to a thread, it will show up at the top of the p
by vortico 11y ago
I've always considered "bumping" to be the perfect scaling algorithm for content sorting. If a comment is added to a thread, it will show up at the top of the page until a comment is added to another thread. Thus the probability of seeing a thread on the front page is proportional to the responses it gathers. New threads will be seen immediately and will generate responses if interesting. Unpopular threads will still get a small chance at reaching someone rather than never being seen by anyone. Finally, two threads that would otherwise generate equal number of upvotes or stars would be scaled by how deep and worthwhile their content is, since a simple like is less meaningful than a like and a long comment.
- babuskov 11y agoI have seen many forums where this is exploited by users who like to keep their threads on top. They do not submit the whole story and then keep adding new pieces into comments, bumping the thread whenever it gets off the front page. So, I wouldn't call it perfect.
- jkldotio 11y agoYou have to account for trolls though. There is also often a naysaying or nitpicking thread on HN which explodes in reply count as people quibble back and forth over definitions.
- DanBC 11y agoZombie bumping can be a problem. find some controversial thread from a year ago, bump it, watch people not reading the year date stamp and replying to it as if it's a new thread. And rewarding bumps usually means rewarding bickering flamewars.