undefined | Better HN

0 pointspatio1115y ago0 comments

Last time I used Facebook there wasn't a system of badges, karma, minimum karma levels required to access core features, and a community wiki for my wall posts. These are all highly nonobvious.

Embedded assumption #475 in Stack Overflow users: it is obvious that replying to a question is not Answering it.

0 comments

davidu15y ago

I use StackOverflow. I've posted questions and I've read lots of responses.

I have no idea what the badges, karma, etc. are. For me, it works quite well. In fact, the only mildly confusing thing for me was that I had to use some OpenID thing to login the first time.

Think about that. Their value prop to someone coming in through Google or posting a question is simple and the barrier to entry is very low.

GFischer15y ago

I've also posted questions and read responses on SO, but I believe I still haven't figured out how to "use" StackOverflow.

My first experiences with the site weren't too good: I tried to upvote a comment (I mean, there's a big fat arrow to the left of the comment!), and then I tried to answer the question and I believe it didn't let me either...

Document15y ago

I don't see a private message option (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30088, http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=75407), so I'm replying to your most recent comment to ask: Did you ever find the story you mentioned at http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1386010?

1 more reply

fragmede15y ago

Don't forget the FAQ that demands you acknowledge its existence. I'm fickle enough that the top bar alone drives me away half the time. I'm not alone on this.

ssp15y ago

I'm not alone on this.

No, you're not. I remember looking at stackoverflow once and there was some sort of New here? Read this wall of text to get started! to which I responded Awesome! Maybe I'll read that when I have looked at the latest pictures on reddit!

Stackoverflow incorrectly assumed that I gave a shit about their website. They can get away with it because they have technical users who often don't react like that. But if your users aren't technical, then you can't possibly overestimate how much they don't care about your website.

s3graham15y ago

Yeah, that thing is so irritating. I actually considered writing an extension to hack it out.

ertjertds15y ago

Joe Average allows SO to set a cookie so that it won't ask you more than once...

fragmede15y ago

How does SO setting a cookie in Chrome help Firefox, Safari, Opera or IE ? and how about on any other computer I'll ever touch?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

davidu15y ago

I use StackOverflow. I've posted questions and I've read lots of responses.

I have no idea what the badges, karma, etc. are. For me, it works quite well. In fact, the only mildly confusing thing for me was that I had to use some OpenID thing to login the first time.

Think about that. Their value prop to someone coming in through Google or posting a question is simple and the barrier to entry is very low.

GFischer15y ago

I've also posted questions and read responses on SO, but I believe I still haven't figured out how to "use" StackOverflow.

Document15y ago

1 more reply

fragmede15y ago

Don't forget the FAQ that demands you acknowledge its existence. I'm fickle enough that the top bar alone drives me away half the time. I'm not alone on this.

ssp15y ago

I'm not alone on this.

s3graham15y ago

Yeah, that thing is so irritating. I actually considered writing an extension to hack it out.

ertjertds15y ago

Joe Average allows SO to set a cookie so that it won't ask you more than once...

fragmede15y ago

How does SO setting a cookie in Chrome help Firefox, Safari, Opera or IE ? and how about on any other computer I'll ever touch?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse