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I think the number of posts that reach the front page is precisely the same number of posts that deserve to reach the front page, as the means of determining wo
by CPLX 4y ago
I think the number of posts that reach the front page is precisely the same number of posts that deserve to reach the front page, as the means of determining worth is entirely self-referential. Thus the purpose of this system is what it does.
- dang 4y agoThere's actually an external principle we're optimizing for: https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sort=byDate&type=comment&query=curiosity%20optimiz%20by:dang https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sor.... On HN, the optimal front page is the most intellectually interesting front page. That's an oversimplification, of course, because every user has a different fitness function for what's interesting. So the optimal front page would be something like the front page that aggregates everyone's fitness functions in an optimal way, whatever that is. I'm not saying HN gets there, or close. But it's not for want of trying, and we at least know what we're trying for.
- dekervin 4y agoIt's a marvel it keeps working as well as it does. Even if we could introduce more external input in the design of the core machinery, I personally would not.