Ask HN: How does the points system work here?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2881547

by rush-tea • 15 years ago

4 5 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I am a bit confused... I replied to a thread and I got -2 points (yes, negative points). I didn't spam or discourage, just offering my advise.

Just curious... And how do one judge or vote +/- point?

Thanks.

benologist• 15 years ago

Users with a certain amount of points can vote comments up or down.

ColinWright2• 15 years ago

I assume you're talking about this comment:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2880317

In short, it's wrong. Patenting your business model is no defense against wholesale copying. Copyright is a defense, but then you have to defend it. Taking it to the courts costs money, and has an uncertain result.

So in this particular case I would guess you've been downvoted because you added nothing of value, and what advice you did give was wrong.

As to how the points work, it's like this.

People can upvote submissions and comments. Every upvote helps float the item higher, and counts for you as a point of karma.

People with enough karma (currently 500 points) can also downvote (with a few exceptions). Downvotes are pretty much the opposite of upvotes, floating the item lower, and taking karma from you.

The exceptions to downvotes are that you can't downvote:

* Something that's really old

* A reply to a comment you made

* A reply to a submission you made

* A submission.

People here are pretty hot on the idea of value. Simple "Me Too!" comments get hammered, and content-free blather will get downvoted or ignored. Mostly things get upvoted if they genuinely add relevant information.

Mostly.

rush-tea• 15 years ago

OK. I understand it now... But now I am counting on my points via 'threads' section on the top bar, but it doesn't add up. As of now I have 8 'karma', but when I count, the points should be greater than 8...

So how do I know which post gets point? and which not?

Sorry, newbie questions. I read the FAQ on the HN in regards of the points system, but there are not one clear answer...

Thank you.

ColinWright2• 15 years ago

When you submit or comment your item automatically gets one point, but that doesn't contribute towards your karma. If you add up the points on all your items, then subtract the number of items, you should get close.

But there are also aspects to the algorithms that aren't made public. Our host occasionally makes changes to help fend off voting rings, spammers, trolls, and other nasty and undesirable things.

Finally, there is no feedback as to things getting upvoted.

My recommendation is that you try to be informative, helpful, add value, and not care so much about the karma. Whether or not people see your contributions is largely luck anyway. Just try to work it out if you get downvoted to the basement - try to see why people think you added no value, or were wrong. The guidelines suggest not complaining about downvotes, and I'd agree. It doesn't help, and it makes boring reading.

And you're welcome. Just join in, and be useful.

Good luck!

VicT11• 15 years ago

So 'karma' is just the level of influence you have? So you could say that 'karma' is the klout for HN? Or is there more to it?

Ask HN: How does the points system work here?

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