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This submission has 14 points in under an hour, and yet is not on the front page. Obviously this is because it's being flagged, and the reason is clear - it's b

This submission has 14 points in under an hour, and yet is not on the front page. Obviously this is because it's being flagged, and the reason is clear - it's because people are crying "Link Bait! Link Bait!" Well, I followed the HN guidelines and used the title (more-or-less) as given. Should I defy the HN guidelines and change the title to one that isn't link bait? Help me HN - what should I do?

dalke 10y ago
DanBC suggests that BBC's News Beat service use of link-baity headlines is because they target a youth audience. Perhaps the alternative is to look for a version meant for stodgy and jaded adults? :) http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-37309443 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-37309443 is another article on the same topic, titled "Student's vaccine cooler wins UK James Dyson Award". It also gives more details about how the cooler works.
- CarolineW 10y ago
  Now submitted as a separate item. Thanks.
brudgers 10y ago
Maybe it's hacking rather than defiance.
sctb 10y ago
The guidelines say: > Otherwise please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait. Although they don't offer guidance in the case of linkbait, they do offer permission to use a title other than the original. A representative phrase or subtitle from the article is usually best.
Mz 10y ago
You might find the first part of this useful: http://micheleincalifornia.blogspot.com/2014/08/but-can-you-tell-me-what-this-is-and.html http://micheleincalifornia.blogspot.com/2014/08/but-can-you-... Also, in the future, with bad titles, look to the subtitle or first paragraph for an alternstive. Here is a copy-paste of a portion of the first text after the photo that woukd have been less terrible: student has invented a mobile fridge that could save millions of lives across the world It takes a bit of practice and luck. I submitted an article yesterday about giraffe DNA. It was totally ignored. Today, some other article on the topic is on the front page. (Shrug)

dalke 10y ago

DanBC suggests that BBC's News Beat service use of link-baity headlines is because they target a youth audience. Perhaps the alternative is to look for a version meant for stodgy and jaded adults? :) http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-37309443 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-37309443 is another article on the same topic, titled "Student's vaccine cooler wins UK James Dyson Award". It also gives more details about how the cooler works.

CarolineW 10y ago
Now submitted as a separate item. Thanks.

brudgers 10y ago

Maybe it's hacking rather than defiance.

sctb 10y ago

The guidelines say: > Otherwise please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait. Although they don't offer guidance in the case of linkbait, they do offer permission to use a title other than the original. A representative phrase or subtitle from the article is usually best.

Mz 10y ago

You might find the first part of this useful: http://micheleincalifornia.blogspot.com/2014/08/but-can-you-tell-me-what-this-is-and.html http://micheleincalifornia.blogspot.com/2014/08/but-can-you-... Also, in the future, with bad titles, look to the subtitle or first paragraph for an alternstive. Here is a copy-paste of a portion of the first text after the photo that woukd have been less terrible: student has invented a mobile fridge that could save millions of lives across the world It takes a bit of practice and luck. I submitted an article yesterday about giraffe DNA. It was totally ignored. Today, some other article on the topic is on the front page. (Shrug)