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Most definitely it does effect the HN users. Every site that uses the upvotes mechanism as a signal to the group about what they should think or focus on is pro
by obelix_ 8y ago
Most definitely it does effect the HN users. Every site that uses the upvotes mechanism as a signal to the group about what they should think or focus on is producing both positive and negative consequences. It's used not because the good outweighs the bad but because it's implemented by programmers who find it easy to implement. If you asked a social psycologist/socialogist/ecologist or an educator with experience in building learning environments a very different system would be in place. We need these kind of people influencing these feedback loop not just the well intentioned but misguided programmer.
I have bought this up multiple times before. There are a lot of impressionable minds around here being exposed to lot of half baked/frustrated/misguided thoughts. Many times the upvotes mechanism just amplifies and reinforces these thoughts.
- 2trill2spill 8y ago> I have bought this up multiple times before. There are a lot of impressionable minds around here being exposed to lot of half baked/frustrated/misguided thoughts. Many times the upvotes mechanism just amplifies and reinforces these thoughts. So people should only be able to see vetted information? Who decides whats not a "half baked/frustrated/misguided thoughts"? Seems like a slippery slope.
- obelix_ 8y agoThe programmers who implement these systems don't even know that their upvotes mechanisms can have a down side. Only after they acknowledge it as an incomplete and incorrect social signal and that they are out of their depth in controlling the unintended effects can the debate begin.