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I think the title change was in poor taste here. Most people don't really care about this issue for a browser in of itself, but the mailing list dialogue made t

by yzzxy 12y ago

I think the title change was in poor taste here. Most people don't really care about this issue for a browser in of itself, but the mailing list dialogue made the link interesting.

Stratoscope 12y ago
And as a practical matter, I believe the title change led directly to downvotes for my cornbread recipe and perhaps the recipes that other people posted last night. Mine was at +4 last night, now down to +2. I try not to worry much about downvotes, but I do use them as a signal to help me understand what kinds of comments are appreciated or not. I often read the HN threads before looking at the original article, and I can easily imagine reading these comments after the title change and thinking, "Why are these people talking about cornbread recipes? What does this have to do with page loads or Iceweasel? Downvote!" In this case, though, "cornbread" was right there in the title when we started sharing our recipes last night, and the original article talks about baking cornbread and links to a recipe. So the recipes weren't entirely irrelevant at the time we posted them - and the initial upvotes seemed to confirm that - but the title change sure makes them look off-topic.
- yzzxy 12y ago
  I actually meant to mention this in my original post but forgot: the first comment I saw when I opened this last night was your recipe. I thought that was a good indicator of where the discussion was going before the title change altered the tone.
keenerd 12y ago
As someone who's writings have been on the front page a few times, I've wondered how I can protest the heavy handed title mods. The best idea so far is to wait for one of my pages to "make it" here and then stealthily change my title to something extremely clickbaity. Anyone have suggestions for titles? "Read this One Weird Article; HN Mods Hate It!" is my personal favorite.

by yzzxy 12y ago

I think the title change was in poor taste here. Most people don't really care about this issue for a browser in of itself, but the mailing list dialogue made the link interesting.

Stratoscope 12y ago

And as a practical matter, I believe the title change led directly to downvotes for my cornbread recipe and perhaps the recipes that other people posted last night. Mine was at +4 last night, now down to +2. I try not to worry much about downvotes, but I do use them as a signal to help me understand what kinds of comments are appreciated or not. I often read the HN threads before looking at the original article, and I can easily imagine reading these comments after the title change and thinking, "Why are these people talking about cornbread recipes? What does this have to do with page loads or Iceweasel? Downvote!" In this case, though, "cornbread" was right there in the title when we started sharing our recipes last night, and the original article talks about baking cornbread and links to a recipe. So the recipes weren't entirely irrelevant at the time we posted them - and the initial upvotes seemed to confirm that - but the title change sure makes them look off-topic.

yzzxy 12y ago
I actually meant to mention this in my original post but forgot: the first comment I saw when I opened this last night was your recipe. I thought that was a good indicator of where the discussion was going before the title change altered the tone.

keenerd 12y ago

As someone who's writings have been on the front page a few times, I've wondered how I can protest the heavy handed title mods. The best idea so far is to wait for one of my pages to "make it" here and then stealthily change my title to something extremely clickbaity. Anyone have suggestions for titles? "Read this One Weird Article; HN Mods Hate It!" is my personal favorite.