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I do agree that the r/science moderator was wrong in attempting to game the frontpage algorithm (by removing popular r/science posts, temporarily, so that AMAs

by danso 8y ago

I do agree that the r/science moderator was wrong in attempting to game the frontpage algorithm (by removing popular r/science posts, temporarily, so that AMAs could float to the top). But I don't get why these AMAs, which ostensibly drew large audiences, wouldn't already be at the top of r/science at their peak?

LeoPanthera 8y ago
I think the obvious answer is that they simply aren't as popular as the mods claim.
- ferongr 8y ago
  I don't know why this reply is downvoted, it's essentially correct. Many science AMAs feature obscure subjects that not many would be interested in interacting with.
  - crankylinuxuser 8y ago
    Or better yet you regularly see the following [Comment removed] [Comment Removed] [Comment Removed] [Comment Removed] And when I have access to cache on rare occasions, it really is innovative or interesting content being discussed. But because someone didn't understand, or someone didn't care, or $insert_reason , the whole discussion chain was deleted. That kind of stuff made me unsub r/science . It was turning into a cesspool of narrowminded busybodies. Kind of reminds me how StackOverflow is.
FrojoS 8y ago
They are on top of the subreddit but not anymore on the main landing page of reddit.
- danso 8y ago
  If they are at the top of r/science, then why did the r/science mods have to remove other popular r/science posts so that the AMAs could be at the top of r/science? > Additionally, Reddit stopped allowing what Huffman calls “post manipulation” to highlight certain content. Moderators at r/science and other popular subreddits have been accused of deleting highly ranking posts to push individual items to the top of their page. From there, they would gain visibility and receive upvotes to be featured on the main page.
  - cma 8y ago
    I think it is that as a default sub, the faster a post rose to the top of the sub, the more likely it was to be featured on the front page. Or it was that a fixed portion of a sub's posts would make it to the front page over time and by starving others of votes temporarily it meant the AMA was more likely to be chosen, which might not have been the case even if the AMA eventually reached #1.
dghughes 8y ago
There are many things I don't agree with on reddit such as locking of posts but r/science has to be one of the best moderated sites on reddit. I'm not sure about removing posts I've never noticed that on r/science. But just because I have not witnessed it doesn't mean it isn't true. I do have to say in post comments all the jokes, anecdotal stories (I'm guilty!) or bickering are quickly removed and that seems appropriate for the science. Let actual verified scientists answer genuine questions or make comments in a post's comments section. This seems like both sides have good points but one side is the overall owner. The majority of subreddits have abysmal moderation quickly locking what the mods can't be bothered to moderate. Locking posts stifles debate it's just pure moderator laziness.
- programbreeding 8y ago
  >I'm not sure about removing posts I've never noticed that on r/science. But just because I have not witnessed it doesn't mean it isn't true. Just FYI, there's no question if it's true. The mod admitted it in the article: "Allen admitted to the Daily Dot that he deleted popular r/science posts so AMAs would be more prominently featured. But he argues the controversial action was required for his posts to gain widespread visibility. “[deleting posts] is a consequence of the nature of the user base’s interest in science,” Allen told the Daily Dot. “Meaning, if science is put in front of them, they [Reddit users] like it. But they don’t go seek it out. That’s for stupid cat pictures and other relaxing things. Science isn’t.”"

by danso 8y ago

LeoPanthera 8y ago

I think the obvious answer is that they simply aren't as popular as the mods claim.

ferongr 8y ago
I don't know why this reply is downvoted, it's essentially correct. Many science AMAs feature obscure subjects that not many would be interested in interacting with.
- crankylinuxuser 8y ago
  Or better yet you regularly see the following [Comment removed] [Comment Removed] [Comment Removed] [Comment Removed] And when I have access to cache on rare occasions, it really is innovative or interesting content being discussed. But because someone didn't understand, or someone didn't care, or $insert_reason , the whole discussion chain was deleted. That kind of stuff made me unsub r/science . It was turning into a cesspool of narrowminded busybodies. Kind of reminds me how StackOverflow is.

FrojoS 8y ago

They are on top of the subreddit but not anymore on the main landing page of reddit.

danso 8y ago
If they are at the top of r/science, then why did the r/science mods have to remove other popular r/science posts so that the AMAs could be at the top of r/science? > Additionally, Reddit stopped allowing what Huffman calls “post manipulation” to highlight certain content. Moderators at r/science and other popular subreddits have been accused of deleting highly ranking posts to push individual items to the top of their page. From there, they would gain visibility and receive upvotes to be featured on the main page.
- cma 8y ago
  I think it is that as a default sub, the faster a post rose to the top of the sub, the more likely it was to be featured on the front page. Or it was that a fixed portion of a sub's posts would make it to the front page over time and by starving others of votes temporarily it meant the AMA was more likely to be chosen, which might not have been the case even if the AMA eventually reached #1.

dghughes 8y ago

There are many things I don't agree with on reddit such as locking of posts but r/science has to be one of the best moderated sites on reddit. I'm not sure about removing posts I've never noticed that on r/science. But just because I have not witnessed it doesn't mean it isn't true. I do have to say in post comments all the jokes, anecdotal stories (I'm guilty!) or bickering are quickly removed and that seems appropriate for the science. Let actual verified scientists answer genuine questions or make comments in a post's comments section. This seems like both sides have good points but one side is the overall owner. The majority of subreddits have abysmal moderation quickly locking what the mods can't be bothered to moderate. Locking posts stifles debate it's just pure moderator laziness.

programbreeding 8y ago
>I'm not sure about removing posts I've never noticed that on r/science. But just because I have not witnessed it doesn't mean it isn't true. Just FYI, there's no question if it's true. The mod admitted it in the article: "Allen admitted to the Daily Dot that he deleted popular r/science posts so AMAs would be more prominently featured. But he argues the controversial action was required for his posts to gain widespread visibility. “[deleting posts] is a consequence of the nature of the user base’s interest in science,” Allen told the Daily Dot. “Meaning, if science is put in front of them, they [Reddit users] like it. But they don’t go seek it out. That’s for stupid cat pictures and other relaxing things. Science isn’t.”"