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Are you suggesting HN's ranking algorithm biases toward YC-related content? Because that is a serious accusation. I realize YC job posts can disable comments,

by m0th87 15y ago

Are you suggesting HN's ranking algorithm biases toward YC-related content? Because that is a serious accusation. I realize YC job posts can disable comments, and there is a separate tab for open jobs. That's no big deal because the behavior is externally visible and obvious. If HN actually re-ranks articles to support YC content though, that is a big deal. And it's scary how that might subtly affect the Valley, given how large and influential HN is now.

to3m 15y ago
Interesting viewpoint. I'd always assumed that YC-specific "stuff" would get automatic preference, or would at least be marginally sticky. Is that not the case? While this site does permit random people to submit random links, and then allow more random people to comment on the articles, I'd just assumed it was fundamentally a source of marketing for Mr Graham and his activities. After all, it IS part of ycombinator.com...
- earbitscom 15y ago
  I think the preference stems primarily from two factors: 1. There are hundreds of YC companies now, each with multiple founders, almost all of whom are HN readers. Each person here votes on topics, articles and companies they find interesting. I follow a lot of YC-related news because it's fun and helpful to be informed about YC and the alumni. Therefore, I'm more familiar with YC companies and founders, so I will tend to vote on their news slightly more often. With hundreds of founders from YC, it only takes a small bias like this to create a slight lean toward YC news getting better results here than other similar news. 2. This same bias isn't exclusive to YC alumni. Most people on HN familiar with YC like it, respect PG, and are interested in YC companies and the progress of the portfolio. So, in addition to a small bias on the part of the alumni, I have also seen that YC news gets more votes and comments from the rest of the community. While that might mean that YC news gets more exposure and other news less, more people seem to be interested in it than not, so it seems the forum still works as it should.
zedshaw 15y ago
Never said ranking algorithm. I said, there's a bunch of links (like job postings and YC company PR posts) that get privileged front page status with their own decay algorithms, yet they aren't flagged as "promoted". They're just mixed in as if it's actually relevant news a bunch of people upvoted to the front page. Or how about all that crap that was on scribd back when nobody knew what scribd was? If you think this isn't a manipulated news source then you're high on a metric ton of horseshit.
- m0th87 15y ago
  If YC articles have their own decay rate, then they remain on the front page longer. How is that not toying with the ranking algorithm? I've been on HN for a long time (longer than my already pretty old profile suggests), and I've never heard about this. Apologies for the need for clarification, but this is important. It would greatly affect my attitude toward the site, and I think others' as well.
- pg 15y ago
  I said, there's a bunch of links (like job postings and YC company PR posts) that get privileged front page status with their own decay algorithms You are mistaken. Only job postings have their own decay algorithm, and those are visually distinguished from stories by e.g. not having points or comments. All stories have the same decay rate.
  - lukeholder 15y ago
    Sometime I see articles very high up with no comments which made me think some non-job post were self promoted. but maybe thats a cache lag and the votes refresh quicker than comments?
    - pg 15y ago
      It's not due to caching. Some stories just get a lot more votes than comments. E.g. this currently has 87 points and 1 comment: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3353065 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3353065

by m0th87 15y ago

to3m 15y ago

Interesting viewpoint. I'd always assumed that YC-specific "stuff" would get automatic preference, or would at least be marginally sticky. Is that not the case? While this site does permit random people to submit random links, and then allow more random people to comment on the articles, I'd just assumed it was fundamentally a source of marketing for Mr Graham and his activities. After all, it IS part of ycombinator.com...

earbitscom 15y ago
I think the preference stems primarily from two factors: 1. There are hundreds of YC companies now, each with multiple founders, almost all of whom are HN readers. Each person here votes on topics, articles and companies they find interesting. I follow a lot of YC-related news because it's fun and helpful to be informed about YC and the alumni. Therefore, I'm more familiar with YC companies and founders, so I will tend to vote on their news slightly more often. With hundreds of founders from YC, it only takes a small bias like this to create a slight lean toward YC news getting better results here than other similar news. 2. This same bias isn't exclusive to YC alumni. Most people on HN familiar with YC like it, respect PG, and are interested in YC companies and the progress of the portfolio. So, in addition to a small bias on the part of the alumni, I have also seen that YC news gets more votes and comments from the rest of the community. While that might mean that YC news gets more exposure and other news less, more people seem to be interested in it than not, so it seems the forum still works as it should.

zedshaw 15y ago

Never said ranking algorithm. I said, there's a bunch of links (like job postings and YC company PR posts) that get privileged front page status with their own decay algorithms, yet they aren't flagged as "promoted". They're just mixed in as if it's actually relevant news a bunch of people upvoted to the front page. Or how about all that crap that was on scribd back when nobody knew what scribd was? If you think this isn't a manipulated news source then you're high on a metric ton of horseshit.

m0th87 15y ago
If YC articles have their own decay rate, then they remain on the front page longer. How is that not toying with the ranking algorithm? I've been on HN for a long time (longer than my already pretty old profile suggests), and I've never heard about this. Apologies for the need for clarification, but this is important. It would greatly affect my attitude toward the site, and I think others' as well.
pg 15y ago
I said, there's a bunch of links (like job postings and YC company PR posts) that get privileged front page status with their own decay algorithms You are mistaken. Only job postings have their own decay algorithm, and those are visually distinguished from stories by e.g. not having points or comments. All stories have the same decay rate.
- lukeholder 15y ago
  Sometime I see articles very high up with no comments which made me think some non-job post were self promoted. but maybe thats a cache lag and the votes refresh quicker than comments?
  - pg 15y ago
    It's not due to caching. Some stories just get a lot more votes than comments. E.g. this currently has 87 points and 1 comment: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3353065 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3353065