Comment 2EP Re: Ugh. Focus.

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Ugh. Focus. (Score: 2)

by kwerle@pipedot.org on 2014-07-09 15:53 (#2CY)

I like pipedot because it seems to be tech focused and real.

I dislike soylent because it seems to be random. Seriously, TSA articles and (from today): "Why Does Everyone Look Hotter in Sunglasses?"

I don't want 20 stories/day about crap. If I wanted that, I'd read . I want 0-5 stories a day about real geek stuff.

Re: Ugh. Focus. (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-07-10 14:39 (#2EC)

I totally agree. I went to SN when /. became unbearable but the choice of articles on SN is just not good. It often feels like half of them are trying to be subtle political articles without being overtly political and that really really annoys me. The other half don't feel at all related to anything nerdy, geeky, or technical. It was at some point a few weeks ago that I decided I couldn't take less than 10% of the articles being decent any more and left for |. The rate of articles posted here might be a tad slow at times but they are quality posts like we used get on /. waaaaay back in the day (for reference, my /. user ID is low five digits and I already been lurking for more than a year when I finally created an account). I have been around /. for a long time so I've had plenty of time to figure out what I like and |. is way closer to that than SN has been and the trend is continuing in both directions for both sites. Sad really that SN seemed like it was going to be like the good old days of /. but their choice of "news" is just not nerdy enough.

Re: Ugh. Focus. (Score: 1)

by zafiro17@pipedot.org on 2014-07-10 16:49 (#2EF)

I have to agree that "just accept everything and let the users filter it out" isn't a great strategy - it means until users join, decide they like it, make an account, learn how to filter and then actually choose their own settings, they're bombarded with a shitstream of randomness. It takes a bit of editorial control from the get-go to ensure your site looks good. Kind of like having a hot wife who doesn't let you wear one of your stupid t-shirts out of the house, just to keep you looking good.

If you come here from a twitter or Google Plus post (I'm posting both place, by the way, to try to get the word out), you should see a (1) well-designed site with (2) an interesting/useful layout and (3) moderation system, and (4) a choice of interesting articles that have led to (5) quality conversation with (6) smart people. Good coding gets you #1, #2, and #3, good editing gets you #4 and hopefully #5, and hopefully that attracts the attention of #6, who help strengthen #5.

If we all provide the good conversation and interesting stream of articles, this place will grow on its own.

Re: Ugh. Focus. (Score: 1)

by kwerle@pipedot.org on 2014-07-10 18:03 (#2EJ)

It takes a bit of editorial control from the get-go to ensure your site looks good.
And that's where I disagree. I think it takes a LOT of editorial control - rejecting a LOT of articles.

Re: Ugh. Focus. (Score: 1)

by zafiro17@pipedot.org on 2014-07-10 21:29 (#2EP)

Yeah, fair enough. And that means engaging in the luxury of pissing off people who have submitted stuff (not a show-stopper, but it's harder when you have fewer submitters), as well as a good sense of "what's this site going to be about?" I think we're off to a great start, by the way - hoping to make this into something awesome.

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