The number of links getting promoted to the front page has been rising steadily, and it is obvious that we must soon consider raising the score required to promote a link. Give us your feedback...
The threshold isn't actually just based on votes. We do require a minimum of 3 votes at present, but having three votes will not promote a link unless it is active in other ways, too. The system computes a "score" for each link whenever it is voted, clicked, commented, etc... This score is what it actually uses to determine when to promote.
We'll probably raise the required score AND shorten the time that links can live in the queue before they are automatically buried.
One thing we may do is to simply make the "threshold" a personal preference. We still want to default to a value which is well-balanced for the typical user, especially considering that the typical user never adjusts any preferences at all.
But the idea is kinda neat. Instead of having a "promoted" state, we would simply let you choose your own way to filter and view the flow of links in the system. You could, for example, select only links with a score of 10 or higher, or only links with at least 5 votes.
This type of personal filtering could even be extended to let you set different levels for different tags, according to your own interest in those tags. You could decide to see "all Ruby stories with a score of 4 or higher, but no other stories unless they have a score of 7 or higher." If we could make the interface easy enough, then this would allow you to zero in on a link flow that is finely tuned to your personal tastes.
UPDATE - we have increased the minimum score and minimum votes required for promotion, and we have shortened the lifetime of the queue from 7 days down to 5 days. This should help a lot.
It is now more important than ever for you to visit the queue and vote on upcoming stories.
Rick - That kind of personal filtering sounds great. It would be wonderful to give each tag a bump up or down depending on personal preference (Show all PHP stories higher than 1, don't ever show Java posts, etc)
I like the speed of it honestly, but I find myself in the queue a lot. Why not leave the queue date at 7? For me the interesting stories are the edge cases, where the nitty gritty of tomorrows thinkers can be found. The front page stories seem to be a little too "Rails is Beautiful" for me.
ilazarte, I happen to agree that some of the interesting stuff just barely creeps over the minimum threshold, but then it does quite well once it promotes.
Still, the overal velocity of the system's link flow is too high for many developers. They want a tasty, refreshing drink now and then - not from a firehose! As long as we're stuck with this "one size fits all" model we've deployed right now, we have to try to aim the default at the right place for most people.
Personally, this all argues for giving every user a high degree of control in his/her own preferences. We have one big stream of links, and I definitely want the input to come in fast and furious. The easiest way to help every community member be satisfied may be to give them each an easy mechanism to control the valve themselves. I think we'll try to!
Comments
mghaoui replied ago:
So like, you're gonna raise the threshhold from 3 to 4?
rick replied ago:
The threshold isn't actually just based on votes. We do require a minimum of 3 votes at present, but having three votes will not promote a link unless it is active in other ways, too. The system computes a "score" for each link whenever it is voted, clicked, commented, etc... This score is what it actually uses to determine when to promote.
We'll probably raise the required score AND shorten the time that links can live in the queue before they are automatically buried.
wytten replied ago:
Yes, please do...Too much (lame) content lately.
rick replied ago:
One thing we may do is to simply make the "threshold" a personal preference. We still want to default to a value which is well-balanced for the typical user, especially considering that the typical user never adjusts any preferences at all.
But the idea is kinda neat. Instead of having a "promoted" state, we would simply let you choose your own way to filter and view the flow of links in the system. You could, for example, select only links with a score of 10 or higher, or only links with at least 5 votes.
This type of personal filtering could even be extended to let you set different levels for different tags, according to your own interest in those tags. You could decide to see "all Ruby stories with a score of 4 or higher, but no other stories unless they have a score of 7 or higher." If we could make the interface easy enough, then this would allow you to zero in on a link flow that is finely tuned to your personal tastes.
rick replied ago:
UPDATE - we have increased the minimum score and minimum votes required for promotion, and we have shortened the lifetime of the queue from 7 days down to 5 days. This should help a lot.
It is now more important than ever for you to visit the queue and vote on upcoming stories.
Kim Flournoy replied ago:
Rick - That kind of personal filtering sounds great. It would be wonderful to give each tag a bump up or down depending on personal preference (Show all PHP stories higher than 1, don't ever show Java posts, etc)
ilazarte replied ago:
I like the speed of it honestly, but I find myself in the queue a lot. Why not leave the queue date at 7? For me the interesting stories are the edge cases, where the nitty gritty of tomorrows thinkers can be found. The front page stories seem to be a little too "Rails is Beautiful" for me.
rick replied ago:
ilazarte, I happen to agree that some of the interesting stuff just barely creeps over the minimum threshold, but then it does quite well once it promotes.
Still, the overal velocity of the system's link flow is too high for many developers. They want a tasty, refreshing drink now and then - not from a firehose! As long as we're stuck with this "one size fits all" model we've deployed right now, we have to try to aim the default at the right place for most people.
Personally, this all argues for giving every user a high degree of control in his/her own preferences. We have one big stream of links, and I definitely want the input to come in fast and furious. The easiest way to help every community member be satisfied may be to give them each an easy mechanism to control the valve themselves. I think we'll try to!
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