4 ms·

I don't use Rap Genius often, so I almost missed sama's responses. Be sure to click on the annotations to see them.

pconner 12y ago
I use Genius almost exclusively for its rap annotations, so reading news on this platform felt strange to me. While I can definitely see its merits for lyrics/poetry, I'm not sure how much I like it in this context. I think that expository/news articles should be written well-enough that annotations (other than hyperlinks, I guess) are unnecessary.
- meowface 12y ago
  I actually found the UI excellent when reading this. You get to see counterpoints and clarifications inline, and you can see exactly what phrase or sentence is being addressed. The only improvement I could see is if it was more prominent who is giving the verified annotations. It's listed twice at the top but they're easy to miss. Might be nice to have each person's avatars and names take up the side next to the first few paragraphs.
- Dwolb 12y ago
  I'm of the opposite opinion. I loved it! The concept seems similar to Hypertext [0] (or what it was supposed to be). Would love to see how they handle first-hand commentary from multiple conflicting voices! [0] http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertext http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertext
- terravion 12y ago
  The point of this annotation was for someone who disagrees with the author to offer a point by point take down in the context of the original article. You could understand the article (at least the view the author wants to promote) just fine without the annotation--the annotation provides a counterpoint that systematically undermines the premise of the article. [edit spelling]
  - pconner 12y ago
    Ah, that's the first use of the annotations for this that I've seen. The only other "news" I've seen on Genius before was statements from Genius or a16z, and the annotations only provided more in-depth explanations of the text.
  - seats 12y ago
    Agree! I was going to reply to some of Sam's comments, but stopped because this is not at all what Genius was designed for and my reply to his comments wouldn't fit the UX.
    - yuhong 12y ago
      Did you notice the comments button?
Permit 12y ago
I'm not sure how one is even supposed to know that Sam was the one writing the annotations. Is there even a way to see who wrote them?
- nostromo 12y ago
  Click on the annotation and then click "Authors" under the text.
- state 12y ago
  https://twitter.com/sama/status/509133306278211584 https://twitter.com/sama/status/509133306278211584
famousactress 12y ago
Thanks for pointing this out. @sama's pitch perfect on his notes here.
alain94040 12y ago
if I were a VC, I’d worry much more about Angel List than YC when it comes to A rounds -- SamA Completely agreed. Which pretty much kills the entire point of the article.
- vasilipupkin 12y ago
  why not do A rounds? I agree regarding the signaling issue ( if you do A round for 3 companies, you are sending bad signal for the remaining ones ) - but what if you address/ mitigate the signaling issue?

I use Genius almost exclusively for its rap annotations, so reading news on this platform felt strange to me. While I can definitely see its merits for lyrics/poetry, I'm not sure how much I like it in this context. I think that expository/news articles should be written well-enough that annotations (other than hyperlinks, I guess) are unnecessary.

meowface 12y ago
I actually found the UI excellent when reading this. You get to see counterpoints and clarifications inline, and you can see exactly what phrase or sentence is being addressed. The only improvement I could see is if it was more prominent who is giving the verified annotations. It's listed twice at the top but they're easy to miss. Might be nice to have each person's avatars and names take up the side next to the first few paragraphs.
Dwolb 12y ago
I'm of the opposite opinion. I loved it! The concept seems similar to Hypertext [0] (or what it was supposed to be). Would love to see how they handle first-hand commentary from multiple conflicting voices! [0] http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertext http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertext
terravion 12y ago
The point of this annotation was for someone who disagrees with the author to offer a point by point take down in the context of the original article. You could understand the article (at least the view the author wants to promote) just fine without the annotation--the annotation provides a counterpoint that systematically undermines the premise of the article. [edit spelling]
- pconner 12y ago
  Ah, that's the first use of the annotations for this that I've seen. The only other "news" I've seen on Genius before was statements from Genius or a16z, and the annotations only provided more in-depth explanations of the text.
- seats 12y ago
  Agree! I was going to reply to some of Sam's comments, but stopped because this is not at all what Genius was designed for and my reply to his comments wouldn't fit the UX.
  - yuhong 12y ago
    Did you notice the comments button?

Permit 12y ago

I'm not sure how one is even supposed to know that Sam was the one writing the annotations. Is there even a way to see who wrote them?

nostromo 12y ago
Click on the annotation and then click "Authors" under the text.
state 12y ago
https://twitter.com/sama/status/509133306278211584 https://twitter.com/sama/status/509133306278211584

famousactress 12y ago

Thanks for pointing this out. @sama's pitch perfect on his notes here.

alain94040 12y ago

if I were a VC, I’d worry much more about Angel List than YC when it comes to A rounds -- SamA Completely agreed. Which pretty much kills the entire point of the article.

vasilipupkin 12y ago
why not do A rounds? I agree regarding the signaling issue ( if you do A round for 3 companies, you are sending bad signal for the remaining ones ) - but what if you address/ mitigate the signaling issue?