4 ms·

What's an example of being shown content from a pool that does not involve an algorithm?

• grishka 2y ago
  I don't want there to be any pools of content. I want to see the posts made by people I follow, in the order in which they were posted, and nothing else at all.
  • terminalbraid 2y ago
    "the posts made by people I follow" is a pool (regardless of what you want to claim) and "that subset in the order in which they were posted" is an algorithm (regardless of what you want to claim). Presenting a subset of content (the people you follow vs. literally all the content) in any particular order requires an algorithm. It's not a particularly advanced algorithm, but an algorithm nonetheless. Consider even that most people would throw a fit if what you just asked for was the case and the only case. Most people probably want "most recently posted" given no other options, which is a different algorithm and the reverse order that you say you want.
    • beej71 2y ago
      The "algorithm" in social media discussions contexts on HN refers to an algorithm that is optimized to keep your eyeballs on the site. It does not refer to a dumb algorithm that is showing all posts in chronological order. The notable difference is that no one considers the latter harmful. Undesirable, maybe, but not actively harmful.