4 ms·

Does HN not have rules against clickbait titles? Edit: > ... please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait

quietbritishjim 5y ago
It seems the masses disagree with you, but personally I also find it objectionable. I shouldn't have to click through and increase someone's ad view count just to find out the article is completely irrelevant to me.
- iforgetmypass 5y ago
  I see this all the time on HN and it's maddening. Every other site I read has rules against clickbait titles.
tempestn 5y ago
I believe the rule is against changing the title to make it more click-baity. (Or for any reason besides necessary shortening.) In this case the title of the original article was used unchanged.
- iforgetmypass 5y ago
  Wouldn't this be the original article author's problem, not HN readership's?
  - teddyh 5y ago
    The incentives are opposing; the original author wants clickbaity headlines, since it increases hit counts and therefore ad impressions, and ad income. HN readers would like descriptive (non-clickbaity) headlines so that they can choose not to click on a link.
    - iforgetmypass 5y ago
      Please don't be patronizing. My point is that "the author used a crappy title" doesn't mean submitters should get a pass on "no linkbait" rule (which as was pointed out, is actually a rule.)
      - tempestn 5y ago
        I don't think they were being patronizing, just trying to answer your question as written. Without the context of this reply I wasn't sure of your point either. I should have looked up the rule though - from that other comment it does indeed appear that changing the title is allowed if the original title is clickbait. In this case though (without a subtitle or obvious other alternative), I assume the OP decided it was best to stick with the original.
- quietbritishjim 5y ago
  > ... please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait; don't editorialize.

quietbritishjim 5y ago

It seems the masses disagree with you, but personally I also find it objectionable. I shouldn't have to click through and increase someone's ad view count just to find out the article is completely irrelevant to me.

iforgetmypass 5y ago
I see this all the time on HN and it's maddening. Every other site I read has rules against clickbait titles.

tempestn 5y ago

I believe the rule is against changing the title to make it more click-baity. (Or for any reason besides necessary shortening.) In this case the title of the original article was used unchanged.

iforgetmypass 5y ago
Wouldn't this be the original article author's problem, not HN readership's?
- teddyh 5y ago
  The incentives are opposing; the original author wants clickbaity headlines, since it increases hit counts and therefore ad impressions, and ad income. HN readers would like descriptive (non-clickbaity) headlines so that they can choose not to click on a link.
  - iforgetmypass 5y ago
    Please don't be patronizing. My point is that "the author used a crappy title" doesn't mean submitters should get a pass on "no linkbait" rule (which as was pointed out, is actually a rule.)
    - tempestn 5y ago
      I don't think they were being patronizing, just trying to answer your question as written. Without the context of this reply I wasn't sure of your point either. I should have looked up the rule though - from that other comment it does indeed appear that changing the title is allowed if the original title is clickbait. In this case though (without a subtitle or obvious other alternative), I assume the OP decided it was best to stick with the original.
quietbritishjim 5y ago
> ... please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait; don't editorialize.