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Because they are long-running discussions, it’s not repetitive. When we allow Rust or JS threads to keep popping up, it’s because we evolve with the topic over

Because they are long-running discussions, it’s not repetitive. When we allow Rust or JS threads to keep popping up, it’s because we evolve with the topic over time and continuously discuss it. What the HN shadow mod team is doing is killing the possibility of a long-running, evolving discourse on important topics.

pvg 2y ago
Rust and JS threads are on topic for the site, most current events stuff is not. is killing the possibility of a long-running, evolving discourse on important topics. These topics have been the most discussed topics on HN the last couple of months by a massive margin. The quality of 'discourse' has been abysmal so we know empirically the 'evolution' theory/hope is misplaced.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- Tadpole9181 2y ago
  [flagged]
- MegaButts 2y ago
  > These topics have been the most discussed topics on HN the last couple of months by a massive margin. Have any of these topics managed to not be censored via flagging? From my perspective, I have very much wanted to talk about these things on HN and despite checking multiple times a day I have never been able to engage in an ongoing discussion (by which I mean the post wasn't removed from the front page due to flagging, effectively limiting the visibility it would otherwise get from organic upvotes). You're entitled to dislike these topics and to flag them. And I'm entitled to think you're actively making HN worse with your gatekeeping. The problem with flagging is it gives more weight to a smaller group. I don't know the weighing exactly, but I'd guess flagging is 10-100x more effective than regular voting. So in theory just 1-10% of people have the ability to censor topics they don't like. Kinda seems like the antithesis of what's "interesting" to me. And yes, I absolutely 100% would prefer contentious "go fuck yourself" arguments on politics than not being allowed to discuss it in good faith at all.
  - tptacek 2y ago
    The "smaller group" here is anyone with over 500 karma. You're going to have to find some other place to have "contentious go-fuck-yourself arguments" --- about literally anything --- because they are anathema to curious conversation, which is the overriding goal of this site. That goal isn't changing just because we're all activated about politics right now, just like it wasn't in 2017.
    - MegaButts 2y ago
      We just fundamentally disagree. From my perspective you are the antithesis of curious conversation by censoring topics you don't want to discuss. I don't want to read the latest update on some dumb framework but I don't flag the post. Also getting 500 karma on HN isn't hard.
      - tptacek 2y ago
        Right, my point is, it's not in fact a small group of people.
        MegaButts 2y ago
        Getting 500 karma is a trivial task and not some tiny group. Are there any HN regulars (that don't just lurk) that don't have that much karma? The point is a flag has higher weight than an upvote, and it's easy to get the ability to flag posts.
        tptacek 2y ago
        Right, again, my point: the cohort of people who can be flagging these articles is quite large. It's not a small number of gatekeeping old-timers.
        MegaButts 2y ago
        dang has admitted that flagging carries more weight than voting, we just don't know what the weighing is.

pvg 2y ago

Rust and JS threads are on topic for the site, most current events stuff is not. is killing the possibility of a long-running, evolving discourse on important topics. These topics have been the most discussed topics on HN the last couple of months by a massive margin. The quality of 'discourse' has been abysmal so we know empirically the 'evolution' theory/hope is misplaced.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
Tadpole9181 2y ago
[flagged]
MegaButts 2y ago
> These topics have been the most discussed topics on HN the last couple of months by a massive margin. Have any of these topics managed to not be censored via flagging? From my perspective, I have very much wanted to talk about these things on HN and despite checking multiple times a day I have never been able to engage in an ongoing discussion (by which I mean the post wasn't removed from the front page due to flagging, effectively limiting the visibility it would otherwise get from organic upvotes). You're entitled to dislike these topics and to flag them. And I'm entitled to think you're actively making HN worse with your gatekeeping. The problem with flagging is it gives more weight to a smaller group. I don't know the weighing exactly, but I'd guess flagging is 10-100x more effective than regular voting. So in theory just 1-10% of people have the ability to censor topics they don't like. Kinda seems like the antithesis of what's "interesting" to me. And yes, I absolutely 100% would prefer contentious "go fuck yourself" arguments on politics than not being allowed to discuss it in good faith at all.
- tptacek 2y ago
  The "smaller group" here is anyone with over 500 karma. You're going to have to find some other place to have "contentious go-fuck-yourself arguments" --- about literally anything --- because they are anathema to curious conversation, which is the overriding goal of this site. That goal isn't changing just because we're all activated about politics right now, just like it wasn't in 2017.
  - MegaButts 2y ago
    We just fundamentally disagree. From my perspective you are the antithesis of curious conversation by censoring topics you don't want to discuss. I don't want to read the latest update on some dumb framework but I don't flag the post. Also getting 500 karma on HN isn't hard.
    - tptacek 2y ago
      Right, my point is, it's not in fact a small group of people.
      - MegaButts 2y ago
        Getting 500 karma is a trivial task and not some tiny group. Are there any HN regulars (that don't just lurk) that don't have that much karma? The point is a flag has higher weight than an upvote, and it's easy to get the ability to flag posts.
        tptacek 2y ago
        Right, again, my point: the cohort of people who can be flagging these articles is quite large. It's not a small number of gatekeeping old-timers.
        MegaButts 2y ago
        dang has admitted that flagging carries more weight than voting, we just don't know what the weighing is.