HN Explorer

Ask HN: Why many replies don't get a follow up?

2 points by maksimur ↗ HN
I noticed this frequent pattern on Hacker News which is comments getting a reply but seldom getting a follow up by its GP. There are even users never following up entirely no matter what, almost as if they're just dumping their thoughts.

It's a pity because the interaction has the potential to be quality content but never realizes.

Is there a particular reason for this? Is it because of the edit limit? (many) users having issues with their attention (thinking ADHD)? Anything else I can't think of right now?

5 comments

[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 26.6 ms ] thread
warrenm
The big thing, one which I mostly disagree with, is that HN doesn't give users notifications if/when a comment/reply is left

And it's even worse when you submit something - replies to those don't even show up under your "threads" page ... you have to navigate to user->submissions, then check to see if there are any replies, then read them, then decide if you need to interact

sharemywin
I agree with this. Once I post something, I don't sit there hitting refresh waiting for a reply.
incomingpain
You never know when you get a reply and generally speaking you are censored from replying with the 'You're going too fast' even though it hasn't let you post anything in hours. How fast are you going if you haven't posted in hours? It's not HN itself but rather brigading by people who dislike what you said.
ThalesX
I have this feeling of polluting the thread. Like if I'm interested enough to start a discussion about a topic, or the person replying to my post is, maybe this thread format is not the best way to go about it. Sometimes I even go and do an edit to my post and answer some replied concerns there, but most of the time I feel like I'd be polluting too much.
wrp
I suspect the majority of HN visitors swing by once a day. They make a comment here and there and then leave. By the next day when they see any replies, the thread is history and they expect no one is going to care.