Howdy, I am making a Stacker News exclusive IRL publication called Stacker News Zine and I'm looking for specific information (I know we have it here and elsewhere.) And it being the case that a lot of you seem to live to discuss SN, I want to hear from you (or point me to where you've been discussing such things, please)
A lot of you think in game theoretic paradigms intuitively, and I do not share that in common with you.
So help me:
Especially since the latest release: LIT, NEW, TOP
What do you think is important to the audience of SN and what do you do to get your message heard?
I'll share more context if needed.
My answer to this question has been pretty much the same since 2022. It is that
- I am certain that I share commonalities of a way of thinking about the world with the individuals who show up here.
- I am certain that I have a perspective to share.
That's it.
So I'm not going to just start to do something different. But I also know that I'm bumping up against my limits and my shortcomings when it comes to thinking about being a successful, or maybe optimal, or maybe effecient or whatever, contributor to a complicated system.
Tell me 5 things that make it worth the sats you put up to post
@k00b don't laugh at me
edit: am I asking three different questions?
The main thing you should do is teach us something. The best way to do that is to teach yourself something (usually at the edge of your expertise) and write about it. Pose yourself a question you don't exactly know the answer to, but are interested in answering, and answer it. For example:
For anyone struggling to find the questions:
I hope you take this the right way - I feel you do this well when you write about nuances to using Postgres that you experience and learn from by working on SN
I take this as I should write about this stuff more. :)
Yes please
My opinion on this might be biased because I pay month-to-month to have a territory here.
I think quality/depth of thinking is important to the audience. Since it is mostly text-based, quality of written expression also seems to be valued.
I like knowing that when I write something here, there will be at least a few people who will consider it, or even zap it. And the audience here seems smart, which makes that feel even more meaningful. It is refreshing to not have to worry about an algorithm picking up my contributions and it means I can focus on writing to an intelligent reader.
Like others are sharing already (#1437776) it feels pretty random what people end up liking or engaging with. I think it helps when the stackers/readers start to learn what to expect from you, which might mean that consistency pays off. Also, stackers have a clear bias for bitcoin/lightning ajacent stuff (and I'm sure there are others I am missing but I'm not confident enough to say.)
P.s. I'm really glad for your zine. I really think it ups the ante for quality posts.
This has to be like 70% of why im hanging around. Make your work feel valuable, not just fodder for the AI and algos
It is truly unique for that
I have an answer that probably sounds stupid, but I think it's the truth, so here it is:
Don't think about what the stacker news audience thinks is important. Write about things that you find interesting.
One of the great aspects of a forum is that you aren't really posting for a following, you're posting for a topic. You look for the right territory to post and post whatever it is that you found cool. Other people on the forum will see it (or sometimes they won't), but you don't have a following that you're going to alienate or lose...nor one that you need to please.
In the current no-trust november model, the best way to get your post in front of people is to boost it. Put 200 or 300 sats on it and it will probably show up on the front page. Then you will find out if people find it interesting or not.
it's the answer we deserve
yeah you're totally right
that's what I was waiting for, too. kinda thought so. I'm just not quick with it.
I honestly have very little clue... the things I put a lot of effort into and think are going to do very well (in terms of zaps and engagement) can do very poorly, and the things I just spend five seconds on get massive attention.
Very similar in "real" media too. There was a Friday back in ~August when I published a long-ass piece for BM that I had spent probably 100 hours writing and researching -- super important. Got about 1k pageviews or something. Same day, I had thrown together a product-news piece with a unique quote and slammed a provocative title on it, literally during the lunchbreak of the conference I was at. 50k pageviews, ZH exposure, etc etc. 45 minutes vs 100 hours.
At this point, I throw up my hands and just share the things I want to share, really. Screw trying to figure out audience
cool, ok honestly that's good to hear
four now
I'm not sure what "optimal" means in this context, but you're definitely a positive contributor to SN, already.
What is it you're hoping to improve on?
thanks... good question....
If SNZ has a potential that isn't directly related to me, but I could become better in order to serve it, what would I do differently?
I'm asking in the abstract, I think, because I'm uncomfy using other language.
I think I want you to describe the landscape of opportunity?
Ok, my favorite part about stacker news is the discussions. There are a lot of interesting and whacky characters around here.
I'd wager that if you were a more frequent fixture in our discussions we'd benefit directly from your involvement and the SNZ would also include some otherwise hard to find gems.
I wonder which you consider interesting, whacky, or both.
Each stacker contains multitudes
We are multifaceted beings
Think of SN less as a market and more as a small town with a very particular culture and a visible tip jar on every table
Sats make it feel like a game
But what keeps people is not the sats It is that subtle feeling of being read taken seriously and occasionally remembered
The question is not what does SN want The question is Given who I am and how I see What shape of contribution fits this environment while still being honest