4 ms·

Ask HN: Why HN lacks a reply alert feature?

9 points by bluu00 6y ago

I don't know if meta posts are allowed or not. I am quite new to the community. Trying to learn from mistakes here. Why don't we have a "reply" feature, that alerts on every reply to a comment on any thread? Its very difficult to check manually by navigating through own comments, especially if there are comments on more than 2 threads in a day. I don't want to compare, but lobste.rs have implemented such a feauture and I find it very useful.

27182818284 6y ago
There used to be one actually at one point in time--I think? It was long enough that I can't remember its name anymore, so I'll have to let others help out with this thread. Personally, I'm glad it doesn't exist. I don't expect HN to be like every other forum out there.
- bluu00 6y ago
  >I don't expect HN to be like every other forum out there. HN is different and we all love the way it is. Permanence of posts and accounts, spam filtering/blocking etc. However, how do you keep track of "replies" ? Or should I ignor...
codegeek 6y ago
This one [0]. Know of this for many years but not sure if still running. EDIT: Yes, it still works. [0] http://hnreplies.com/ http://hnreplies.com/
- davchana 6y ago
  Yes, its working. I get emails when my comment gets a reply.
- bluu00 6y ago
  thanks a lot. >Your e-mail address has been verified. You'll be notified of any new replies to your comments. however, would still love native feature , YC!
  - m-p-3 6y ago
    Push notifications would be nice.
LatteLazy 6y ago
I believe its a design choice to discourage flame wars like you get on reddit. Making you go look prevents that (or at least discourages it). There is also a timer expressly preventing you from replying too quickly to each other.
Pick-A-Hill2019 6y ago
Questions like yours that get asked time and time again on HN make me sigh with frustrated rage, especially when posted by someone with a 20 day old nick with 100+ karma. But, to quote one of your own submissions [1] There are many quotes on questions, like “better to ask and be thought a fool for five minutes than to remain a fool forever” and the likes, but to me, there is something deeper than that. Asking questions often reveals a lot more information than just the answer to the question, almost regardless of the situation. However, it is always worth doing a search before asking questions rather than receiving a spoon-fed answer (or a Dang "discussed Previously At:) comment but - here ya go ... follow the Rabbit Hole of Links to Truly Understand the 'Why'. Search is your friend when it comes to things like 'why doesn't HN do x or y?'. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21788013 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21788013 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23741350 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23741350 Edit to add forgotten [1] link https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24366538 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24366538
- bluu00 6y ago
  [1] : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24366538 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24366538 >There are many quotes on questions, like “better to ask and be thought a fool for five minutes than to remain a fool forever” and the likes, but to me, there is something deeper than that. Asking questions often reveals a lot more information than just the answer to the question, almost regardless of the situation. Thanks. Explains a lot already. >make me sigh with frustrated rage I could've asked "do we render emojis here? ⭐" Or "are ascii emojis downvoted? ಠ_ಠ " >it is always worth doing a search before asking questions rather than receiving a spoon-fed answer "meta" question. Not well documented. >>> I don't know if meta posts are allowed or not. (post) Well rules out searching. >Search is your friend when it comes to things like 'why doesn't HN do x or y?' >>>I am quite new to the community. (post) thanks. Have a nice day.
  - Pick-A-Hill2019 6y ago
    Thank you for taking my comment in the (well intentioned) spirit it was posted in. The 'frustrated rage' was not directed towards you personaly and I thank you for not taking it that way. Thanks & have a great day :)
brudgers 6y ago
Its very difficult to check manually It discourages this sort of thing, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24377372 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24377372
- bluu00 6y ago
  I see. So , ignore ? I am really curious, should I have avoided this comment? I honestly believed that his reply to the person making "just a point" was more arrorgant and not something that came out intellectually.
  - brudgers 6y ago
    Did it make Hacker News better? https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png
    - bluu00 6y ago
      no.
gitgud 6y ago
Personally I like not having alerts. I'm sick of every site having a little bell with a red number on it... It's great to leave comments, and check back every once and a while...
probinso 6y ago
When you click on the "threads" link you see all of your conversations