I'm starting to feel like there are a lot of "link" posts submitted to SN with no commentary from OP that goes along with it. I realize OP can add a comment to the post after submitting, but more and more I am not seeing that happen. Personally, I feel like submitting a link without commentary is just lazy and non-productive. Why should I click your post and read the linked content? What is OP's opinion of it?
IDK, probably just a weekend rant. Curious to hear what other's think about this, too...
I feel the same way and have posted about this issue before: #160077
I guess we're in the minority.
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Why should I click your post and read the linked content?
Because the link itself may be interesting enough
I think most people just post links to say "hey, look, I've found something which may be interesting to you". That's all.
I think the option to add something to your link for free would be nice. But I wouldn't make it mandatory.
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I 2nd @ekzyis point:
I think most people just post links to say "hey, look, I've found something which may be interesting to you". That's all.
There is a metric ton of content out there (I know I am stating the obvious) an user is bound to miss something good and/or the big tech "algorithms" might be suppressing it for them.
I think a profile setting or search filter that lets one filter out link only / none commented post might be a win/win feature.
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I think a profile setting or search filter that lets one filter out link only / none commented post might be a win/win feature.
Yes, I think we just need more user choices. I think everyone here is having a valid point but it's hard to find common ground. So the solution would be to let everyone have their own "ground". That's definitely the direction we want to take SN in. For example, @k00b is working on personalized feeds.
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I agree, they should be separated. Under their own subject heading "links". Show a shortlist near the top but articles really are the main content of this site.
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I suppose that’s fair. Maybe the middle ground is to let you add a description or comment for free, as you suggested.
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doesn't it seem a bit like sats farming, though? I come across so many interesting websites in my day. Not usually about bitcoin though. :)
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You can consider it "sats farming" but for me, it's no different than posting a link on HN
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which is attention farming? I dunno. I didn't use HN.
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Personally, I don't think it's always necessary and I don't fault anyone if they don't leave commentary along with the link. Often times the title says enough. And if the link leads me to a good article or something worthy of my time, I'm just grateful for the find.
However... I do think the submission form could encourage the OP to leave commentary. Besides TITLE and LINK perhaps we need an optional box for COMMENT?
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Currently you can create a discussion post, instead of a link, in which you can add commentary and share the link inside of it.
This is also how you can link to an image.
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I found on a forum that required this people would start just copy-pasting the article or using ChatGPT to summarize…
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Yes, please require some text a thumbnail something.
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Completely agree. I tried many times to share a link and immediately my comments but I can't.
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You can create a discussion post instead of a link post to do that
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Requiring a commentary might help - but commentaries might be short in order to be first.
Adding a commentary can take time to do it well. Plus, if you're making an effort to make an article easier to read a user might have:
  • copy/pasted an article as a discussion
  • added images via links from the original
  • hyperlinked references within article
  • added bold, italics, headers and the original link
I know, because I've done this myself several times only to find that others have posted this, or a similar story from another source sometimes as a link and sometimes with commentary.
I don't really mind spending the time doing this I've time and the sats aren't the point. Often I've got my own reward because I've spent so much time on the article I've understood it far more.
Not sure how to implement some sort of POW, or even if its worth it, but I though I'd put my two sats in.
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I noticed the same thing when I first joined SN…you shall never see a link from me 🫡
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I don't mind it per-se, but I do mind it when my only option is a universal feed, and THOSE posts are as prevalent, or MORE prevalent, than content posted with commentary with the poster.
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Fair point. See #203124
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