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One way around this could be through badges (a la Stack Overflow). You could automatically get badges based on average comment karma and so on, instead of tying

by bvi 16y ago

One way around this could be through badges (a la Stack Overflow). You could automatically get badges based on average comment karma and so on, instead of tying your contributions to the HN community to a mere number. That way, you're rewarded when you contribute meaningful, valuable comments, plus from a reader's point of view, your comment will still have 10+ votes.

mixmax 16y ago
That's actually a great idea!
noahc 16y ago
I like this idea as well and I think it supports how a digital community actually works. For example, some people are great at finding awesome, relevant, high quality articles to submit. They should be encouraged to do so by earning a particular badge. Others are better at commenting, and maybe there are even different classifications of commenting or different badges. You would be able to incentivize behavior (commenting) and then narrow it down to a particular type of commenting. One interesting badge might be the efficiency badge, and that would be generating the most points or badges per minute on the site.
pg 16y ago
I tried badges based on average comment score (the infamous orange dot experiment) and everyone hated it, including me, because it divided the community into haves and have-nots.
- mixmax 16y ago
  If the badges are only shown on a users profile page I think you'll see a very different reaction.
  - pg 16y ago
    Hmm, maybe you're right.
  - bvi 16y ago
    Exactly what I had in mind as well. I'd prefer if the current UI stays as it is, but if I click on a user's profile (or hover over his username), it would be neat to see the type of badges earned.
- alanfalcon 16y ago
  That's when you start selling orange dots. And then orange dot removers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3yJomUhs0g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3yJomUhs0g
- bootload 16y ago
  "... because it divided the community into haves and have-nots. ..." Isn't this is a logical inconsistency? There seems to be no problem dividing the community into haves and have-nots when it comes to post quality.
- jdavid 16y ago
  i know many of us Use HN Plugins for chrome. For posters that I like, I follow them and their comments are displayed in a different color. It's not quite badges, and it is a bit twitteresque but i really feel like it ads value to the site for me. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mkdhfabjcebcgnpgnhefebefiabhmbfn https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mkdhfabjcebcgnpgnh...
- jdavid 16y ago
  i know many of us Use HN Plugins for chrome. For posters that I like, I follow them and their comments are displayed in a different color. It's not quite badges, and it is a bit twitteresque but i really feel like it ads value to the site for me. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mkdhfabjcebcgnpgnhefebefiabhmbfn https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mkdhfabjcebcgnpgnh...

by bvi 16y ago

mixmax 16y ago

That's actually a great idea!

noahc 16y ago

I like this idea as well and I think it supports how a digital community actually works. For example, some people are great at finding awesome, relevant, high quality articles to submit. They should be encouraged to do so by earning a particular badge. Others are better at commenting, and maybe there are even different classifications of commenting or different badges. You would be able to incentivize behavior (commenting) and then narrow it down to a particular type of commenting. One interesting badge might be the efficiency badge, and that would be generating the most points or badges per minute on the site.

pg 16y ago

I tried badges based on average comment score (the infamous orange dot experiment) and everyone hated it, including me, because it divided the community into haves and have-nots.

mixmax 16y ago
If the badges are only shown on a users profile page I think you'll see a very different reaction.
- pg 16y ago
  Hmm, maybe you're right.
- bvi 16y ago
  Exactly what I had in mind as well. I'd prefer if the current UI stays as it is, but if I click on a user's profile (or hover over his username), it would be neat to see the type of badges earned.
alanfalcon 16y ago
That's when you start selling orange dots. And then orange dot removers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3yJomUhs0g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3yJomUhs0g
bootload 16y ago
"... because it divided the community into haves and have-nots. ..." Isn't this is a logical inconsistency? There seems to be no problem dividing the community into haves and have-nots when it comes to post quality.
jdavid 16y ago
i know many of us Use HN Plugins for chrome. For posters that I like, I follow them and their comments are displayed in a different color. It's not quite badges, and it is a bit twitteresque but i really feel like it ads value to the site for me. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mkdhfabjcebcgnpgnhefebefiabhmbfn https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mkdhfabjcebcgnpgnh...
jdavid 16y ago
i know many of us Use HN Plugins for chrome. For posters that I like, I follow them and their comments are displayed in a different color. It's not quite badges, and it is a bit twitteresque but i really feel like it ads value to the site for me. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mkdhfabjcebcgnpgnhefebefiabhmbfn https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mkdhfabjcebcgnpgnh...