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Ask HN: Why HN lacks a reply alert feature?

9 points by bluu00 ↗ HN
I don't know if meta posts are allowed or not. I am quite new to the community. Trying to learn from mistakes here.

Why don't we have a "reply" feature, that alerts on every reply to a comment on any thread?

Its very difficult to check manually by navigating through own comments, especially if there are comments on more than 2 threads in a day.

I don't want to compare, but lobste.rs have implemented such a feauture and I find it very useful.

16 comments

[ 3.7 ms ] story [ 43.2 ms ] thread
27182818284
There used to be one actually at one point in time--I think? It was long enough that I can't remember its name anymore, so I'll have to let others help out with this thread.

Personally, I'm glad it doesn't exist. I don't expect HN to be like every other forum out there.

bluu00
>I don't expect HN to be like every other forum out there.

HN is different and we all love the way it is.

Permanence of posts and accounts, spam filtering/blocking etc.

However, how do you keep track of "replies" ? Or should I ignor...

codegeek
This one [0]. Know of this for many years but not sure if still running.

EDIT: Yes, it still works.

[0] http://hnreplies.com/

davchana
Yes, its working. I get emails when my comment gets a reply.
bluu00
thanks a lot.

>Your e-mail address has been verified. You'll be notified of any new replies to your comments.

however, would still love native feature , YC!

m-p-3
Push notifications would be nice.
LatteLazy
I believe its a design choice to discourage flame wars like you get on reddit. Making you go look prevents that (or at least discourages it).

There is also a timer expressly preventing you from replying too quickly to each other.

Pick-A-Hill2019
Questions like yours that get asked time and time again on HN make me sigh with frustrated rage, especially when posted by someone with a 20 day old nick with 100+ karma. But, to quote one of your own submissions [1]

There are many quotes on questions, like “better to ask and be thought a fool for five minutes than to remain a fool forever” and the likes, but to me, there is something deeper than that. Asking questions often reveals a lot more information than just the answer to the question, almost regardless of the situation.

However, it is always worth doing a search before asking questions rather than receiving a spoon-fed answer (or a Dang "discussed Previously At:) comment but - here ya go ... follow the Rabbit Hole of Links to Truly Understand the 'Why'.

Search is your friend when it comes to things like 'why doesn't HN do x or y?'.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21788013

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23741350

Edit to add forgotten [1] link https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24366538

bluu00
[1] : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24366538

>There are many quotes on questions, like “better to ask and be thought a fool for five minutes than to remain a fool forever” and the likes, but to me, there is something deeper than that. Asking questions often reveals a lot more information than just the answer to the question, almost regardless of the situation.

Thanks. Explains a lot already.

>make me sigh with frustrated rage

I could've asked "do we render emojis here? ⭐" Or "are ascii emojis downvoted? ಠ_ಠ "

>it is always worth doing a search before asking questions rather than receiving a spoon-fed answer

"meta" question. Not well documented.

>>> I don't know if meta posts are allowed or not. (post) Well rules out searching.

>Search is your friend when it comes to things like 'why doesn't HN do x or y?'

>>>I am quite new to the community. (post)

thanks.

Have a nice day.

Pick-A-Hill2019
Thank you for taking my comment in the (well intentioned) spirit it was posted in. The 'frustrated rage' was not directed towards you personaly and I thank you for not taking it that way.

Thanks & have a great day :)

brudgers
Its very difficult to check manually

It discourages this sort of thing, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24377372

bluu00
I see. So , ignore ?

I am really curious, should I have avoided this comment?

I honestly believed that his reply to the person making "just a point" was more arrorgant and not something that came out intellectually.

gitgud
Personally I like not having alerts. I'm sick of every site having a little bell with a red number on it... It's great to leave comments, and check back every once and a while...
probinso
When you click on the "threads" link you see all of your conversations