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> then it seems that editorializing to this extent wholly changes what HN is about This has been being since very many years, so it doesn't really change anyth

> then it seems that editorializing to this extent wholly changes what HN is about This has been being since very many years, so it doesn't really change anything per se. It's that you're just realizing it, and lately primary sources are being preferred more.

demallien 12y ago
No, the mods have definitely become heavier recently. I saw one the other day which was a letter from Richard Feynman to an ex-student, explaining to him, amongst other things, how to choose problems to work on. The original title mentioned that it was from Richard Feynman, the modded title was just something like "How to choose problems to work on", with no mention of Feynman, which is so generic and boring that I would never have clicked on the link. Dear mods, modding is something to use when there is a clear threat to community values. The default position, if you are in doubt, should be to do nothing.
- k-mcgrady 12y ago
  The rules around titles are to always use the title from the article. If people could make up their own titles we could end up with a tonne of click-bait. There are clearly situations like the one you mention where the title doesn't do the article justice but I'd rather miss the occasional article that see a tonne of click-bait and waste my time viewing dozens of shitty articles.
  - dmlorenzetti 12y ago
    The rules around titles are to always use the title from the article. In general, that is the rule. The cynic in me couldn't help but notice that an article with the original title "One of a Kind: What do you do if your child has a condition that is new to science?" has been on HN's front page for a day now with an alternate title. For some reason, the same mods who removed "Feynman" as "click-bait" that is "not the title from the article" don't seem to have a problem sticking with the alternate title "Thanks, HN: You helped discover a disease and save lives" [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8050106 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8050106].
    - xiaoma 12y ago
      I noted that on the article. Hopefully they will correct it. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8057767 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8057767
      - xiaoma 12y ago
        ...or just downvote me for even mentioning it :(
    - chicken_lady 12y ago
      The submitter here is Matt Might, whose family was the subject of the article. His first comment in the thread makes it obvious why this is an exceptional case.
      - xiaoma 12y ago
        With all due respect, you've only been on HN for a couple of months. Why would there be an "exception" to the policy of discouraging submitters from editorializing headlines? Even if the submitter had a personal connection to the material (which isn't unusual), the guidelines should be respected.
        SamReidHughes 12y ago
        Because the purpose of the guidelines is to make the site better, and changing that headline would not make the site better. Also, the headline modifications in that case were not made with the same intentions that other (harmful) headline modifications are made.
- gcv 12y ago
  So the Feynman article's title did change! I thought my eyes were playing tricks. Dear moderators: please don't do that. And when someone reposts the classic "You and Your Reseach" again, don't strip out Hamming's name from that title, either.

demallien 12y ago

No, the mods have definitely become heavier recently. I saw one the other day which was a letter from Richard Feynman to an ex-student, explaining to him, amongst other things, how to choose problems to work on. The original title mentioned that it was from Richard Feynman, the modded title was just something like "How to choose problems to work on", with no mention of Feynman, which is so generic and boring that I would never have clicked on the link. Dear mods, modding is something to use when there is a clear threat to community values. The default position, if you are in doubt, should be to do nothing.

k-mcgrady 12y ago
The rules around titles are to always use the title from the article. If people could make up their own titles we could end up with a tonne of click-bait. There are clearly situations like the one you mention where the title doesn't do the article justice but I'd rather miss the occasional article that see a tonne of click-bait and waste my time viewing dozens of shitty articles.
- dmlorenzetti 12y ago
  The rules around titles are to always use the title from the article. In general, that is the rule. The cynic in me couldn't help but notice that an article with the original title "One of a Kind: What do you do if your child has a condition that is new to science?" has been on HN's front page for a day now with an alternate title. For some reason, the same mods who removed "Feynman" as "click-bait" that is "not the title from the article" don't seem to have a problem sticking with the alternate title "Thanks, HN: You helped discover a disease and save lives" [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8050106 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8050106].
  - xiaoma 12y ago
    I noted that on the article. Hopefully they will correct it. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8057767 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8057767
    - xiaoma 12y ago
      ...or just downvote me for even mentioning it :(
  - chicken_lady 12y ago
    The submitter here is Matt Might, whose family was the subject of the article. His first comment in the thread makes it obvious why this is an exceptional case.
    - xiaoma 12y ago
      With all due respect, you've only been on HN for a couple of months. Why would there be an "exception" to the policy of discouraging submitters from editorializing headlines? Even if the submitter had a personal connection to the material (which isn't unusual), the guidelines should be respected.
      - SamReidHughes 12y ago
        Because the purpose of the guidelines is to make the site better, and changing that headline would not make the site better. Also, the headline modifications in that case were not made with the same intentions that other (harmful) headline modifications are made.
gcv 12y ago
So the Feynman article's title did change! I thought my eyes were playing tricks. Dear moderators: please don't do that. And when someone reposts the classic "You and Your Reseach" again, don't strip out Hamming's name from that title, either.