"Was Top 7 on Hacker News" Contrast with something like "had 7th most comments on Hacker News" Consider (a) algorithmic ranking, (b) votes and (c) discussion,

"Was Top 7 on Hacker News" Contrast with something like "had 7th most comments on Hacker News" Consider (a) algorithmic ranking, (b) votes and (c) discussion, i.e., comments, aka replies Perhaps in some cases (b) might drive (a) which then drives (c), and of course (a) can drive (b) As such, (b) votes and (a) ranking are almost always aligned However, (b) votes and (c) comments are not always aligned For example, comments with large point accumulation, i.e., votes, and hence high ranking, usually receive some negative replies (source: personal experience) This can also be true for submissions gaining points rapidly