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(Edit, for context: the original submission title was “WhatsApp can now read your recent messages when you report a user”) By selecting a specific part of the

(Edit, for context: the original submission title was “WhatsApp can now read your recent messages when you report a user”) By selecting a specific part of the article to highlight in the title, you introduce your own bias before people even begin reading. Stick to the Submissions Guidelines [1], and use the original title. “WhatsApp beta for Android 2.20.206.3” [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html > Please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait; don't editorialize

ffpip 6y ago
> “WhatsApp beta for Android 2.20.206.3” Sorry but there is zero information in that title. I'm not going to use that. The intention of my post is to make more people aware of this new 'feature'. If some other user had posted this article with that title, I wouldn't have clicked it and I wouldn't have know of this new change.
- surround 6y ago
  > I wouldn't have clicked it That’s exactly the point. The current title is clickbait. If you think the original title is boring, it’s because this is a boring piece of news. I wouldn’t be worried about “warning” people, since WhatsApp already warns people when they click the report button: > Most recent messages from this user will be forwarded to WhatsApp
  - ffpip 6y ago
    > The current title is clickbait Can you state anything factually wrong with the title? Wikipedia states clickbait as misleading. Now that I think of it, I should have used 'will' instead of 'can'. You don't have any choice, which 'can' might imply. But that would be even more clickbaity based on your assessment >I wouldn’t be worried about “warning” people Okay. I wanted to warn people even before they get this update, so I posted it.
    - surround 6y ago
      There is nothing factually wrong with the current title. Nonetheless, it is misleading. Recent news surrounding WhatsApp has people worried that they’re going to start breaking encryption and violating people’s privacy. When I first read the title, I thought that WhatsApp was sending a copy of your messages when you report someone without telling you. I’m certain it wasn’t your intent to convey this meaning, but based upon other people’s reactions to the title, I don’t think I’m the only one who read it this way.
  - hannasanarion 6y ago
    Do you think that any newspaper with headlines other than "News Story Number 3742489" is similarly "clickbait"?
sixstringtheory 6y ago
It’s a good thing you edited your original suggestion: > “Users may send recent chat history when reporting” because that is false. According to the article, you have no choice as to whether you send that chat history. It is a _must_ if you want to report. Your new suggestion is just as bad because it throws out all context about why anyone would care about just another beta. This isn’t a software release track announcement board.
- surround 6y ago
  How about: “Users can now report a copy of recent messages to WhatsApp”
  - ffpip 6y ago
    > “Users can now report a copy of recent messages to WhatsApp” Isn't that wrong? You can only report people, not messages. When you report a person, the messages are sent
    - surround 6y ago
      Is the distinction important here, if both happen simultaneously?

ffpip 6y ago

> “WhatsApp beta for Android 2.20.206.3” Sorry but there is zero information in that title. I'm not going to use that. The intention of my post is to make more people aware of this new 'feature'. If some other user had posted this article with that title, I wouldn't have clicked it and I wouldn't have know of this new change.

surround 6y ago
> I wouldn't have clicked it That’s exactly the point. The current title is clickbait. If you think the original title is boring, it’s because this is a boring piece of news. I wouldn’t be worried about “warning” people, since WhatsApp already warns people when they click the report button: > Most recent messages from this user will be forwarded to WhatsApp
- ffpip 6y ago
  > The current title is clickbait Can you state anything factually wrong with the title? Wikipedia states clickbait as misleading. Now that I think of it, I should have used 'will' instead of 'can'. You don't have any choice, which 'can' might imply. But that would be even more clickbaity based on your assessment >I wouldn’t be worried about “warning” people Okay. I wanted to warn people even before they get this update, so I posted it.
  - surround 6y ago
    There is nothing factually wrong with the current title. Nonetheless, it is misleading. Recent news surrounding WhatsApp has people worried that they’re going to start breaking encryption and violating people’s privacy. When I first read the title, I thought that WhatsApp was sending a copy of your messages when you report someone without telling you. I’m certain it wasn’t your intent to convey this meaning, but based upon other people’s reactions to the title, I don’t think I’m the only one who read it this way.
- hannasanarion 6y ago
  Do you think that any newspaper with headlines other than "News Story Number 3742489" is similarly "clickbait"?

sixstringtheory 6y ago

It’s a good thing you edited your original suggestion: > “Users may send recent chat history when reporting” because that is false. According to the article, you have no choice as to whether you send that chat history. It is a _must_ if you want to report. Your new suggestion is just as bad because it throws out all context about why anyone would care about just another beta. This isn’t a software release track announcement board.

surround 6y ago
How about: “Users can now report a copy of recent messages to WhatsApp”
- ffpip 6y ago
  > “Users can now report a copy of recent messages to WhatsApp” Isn't that wrong? You can only report people, not messages. When you report a person, the messages are sent
  - surround 6y ago
    Is the distinction important here, if both happen simultaneously?