3 ms·

I'm having a similar issue, with links from our startup. Sometimes folks have submitted links from us that probably aren't meant for the HN crowd, but we defin

by pitdesi 16y ago

I'm having a similar issue, with links from our startup. Sometimes folks have submitted links from us that probably aren't meant for the HN crowd, but we definitely also write a lot of stuff that might be useful to HN folks. For example, someone submitted this blogpost of ours a couple of days ago - 5 reasons to quit your corporate job and join a startup: http://feefighters.com/blog/5-reasons-to-leave-the-corporate-world-and-join-a-startup/ http://feefighters.com/blog/5-reasons-to-leave-the-corporate... Seemingly very relevant to HN, yet it was instantly marked [dead], and we have no idea why. I tried submitting it too, and the same thing happened. Can someone explain? We're active members of the community, as is obvious from our posts/comments. Many of our feefighters posts have been on the front page for an extended period of time... see: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2235710 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2235710 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2310154 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2310154 etc... but now all of our posts are blacklisted. Anyone? Anyone?

jcr 16y ago
I can explain it, but don't consider my explanation authoritative, or for that matter accurate. The problem is the format of your writing. It's essentially indicating low quality content and is using link bait titles. --I know this is not a very nice thing to say, but it is not intended as an insult, and there's very good reason to say it... http://paulgraham.com/nthings.html http://paulgraham.com/nthings.html Additionally, you should reread the guidelines for hacker news: http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html > If the original title begins with a number or number + gratuitous adjective, we'd appreciate it if you'd crop it. E.g. translate "10 Ways To Do X" to "How To Do X," and "14 Amazing Ys" to "Ys." Exception: when the number is meaningful, e.g. "The 5 Platonic Solids." The problem you face is if you get flagged by enough HN users for violating the guidelines, the site gets automatically black listed.
- pitdesi 16y ago
  That makes sense... Except that I've seen a lot of those on the front page (5 ways to X) But I agree that it makes sense to crop it. Thanks for a refresher on the guidelines.
  - jcr 16y ago
    Ya, some occasionally get through but considering PG took the time to write an essay on the topic, you can see why they're discouraged, and hence, problematic as submissions. I'm sorry if I was a bit to blunt in my explanation but I lacked the panache to find a nicer way to phase it and still get the important parts across.

by pitdesi 16y ago

jcr 16y ago

I can explain it, but don't consider my explanation authoritative, or for that matter accurate. The problem is the format of your writing. It's essentially indicating low quality content and is using link bait titles. --I know this is not a very nice thing to say, but it is not intended as an insult, and there's very good reason to say it... http://paulgraham.com/nthings.html http://paulgraham.com/nthings.html Additionally, you should reread the guidelines for hacker news: http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html > If the original title begins with a number or number + gratuitous adjective, we'd appreciate it if you'd crop it. E.g. translate "10 Ways To Do X" to "How To Do X," and "14 Amazing Ys" to "Ys." Exception: when the number is meaningful, e.g. "The 5 Platonic Solids." The problem you face is if you get flagged by enough HN users for violating the guidelines, the site gets automatically black listed.

pitdesi 16y ago
That makes sense... Except that I've seen a lot of those on the front page (5 ways to X) But I agree that it makes sense to crop it. Thanks for a refresher on the guidelines.
- jcr 16y ago
  Ya, some occasionally get through but considering PG took the time to write an essay on the topic, you can see why they're discouraged, and hence, problematic as submissions. I'm sorry if I was a bit to blunt in my explanation but I lacked the panache to find a nicer way to phase it and still get the important parts across.