questions → more problems with the "popular" algorithm

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More Problems With The "Popular" Algorithm

I posted this yesterday and it was (incorrectly) RIP'd last night after getting 8 votes:
http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/169c9285-4d02-473d-8552-1cd493677486/life-narrated-by-david-attenborough-on-blu-ray-with-free-shipping#8

Yet some how it went to Popular a couple of hours ago. Since the number of votes is the same (having been RIP'd), it must the the number of comments that pushed it over to Popular.

Because that first deal was RIP'd, I reposted the deal this morning (as it turns out I posted it shortly before the other deal moved to Popular):

http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/751ada64-bd3f-4f7c-8d0b-c268b8df38a0/life-narrated-by-david-attenborough-on-blu-ray-for-free-shipping#0

Within the first hour, it got as many votes as the previous deal, but is currently at the bottom of Page 2 on Fresh.

Granted, the second deal doesn't have any comments.... But that's because comments are being posted to the RIPd deal on Popular.

Should RIP'd deals be eligable to move to Popular?

by anotherhiggins
asked 2 years ago

9 Answers answer

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vote-for2vote-against

@anotherhiggins: I definitely noticed that one (having been the first to comment on your original deal) and am likewise confused at the untimely death (RIP, if you will) of the deal.

I'm not sure how exactly the popular algorithm works, but your deduction that the comment count pushed it over to popular seems logical enough... shrug
I suppose dead deals are fair game to be "popular" if people like talking about them. I don't necessarily mind a dead deal showing up there as long as it's interesting...

arosiriak
2 years ago

vote-for2vote-against

@arosiriak: deals that are RIP'd before they hit popular aren't supposed to roll over. There was something wrong.

hobbit
2 years ago

vote-for3vote-against

@hobbit: And something wrong beyond that was the RIP in first place - it wasn't dead yet! I still got it.

arosiriak
2 years ago

vote-for3vote-against

@arosiriak: someone probably tattled on it and staff didn't check. There seemed to be a lot of that stuff going on yesterday. The wrong duplicate deal was deleted. Hmmmmmm

hobbit
2 years ago

vote-for2vote-against

I agree with @hobbit, it's not normal for an RIP'd deal to move to Popular. The site's stabiity issues are causing frustration for us and I'd imagine the developers also.

And while you didn't ask this specifically, I think that deals already on Popular which are RIP'd should 'follow the light' after a brief (2 - 6 hour) mourning period...to the end of the Popular pages. They can still be sorted by date order there, of course.

Is there a real benefit to having them take up space on the first 2 - 3 pages of Popular when they are no longer available? They will after all still show up if someone does a search.

afurball
2 years ago

vote-for1vote-against

Perhaps this is a bit out there as a suggestion, but maybe rather than just going to the end of the popular pages, deals that are RIP'd can go to their own list (i.e. a new tab: Popular, Fresh, RIP)... Just a thought. They could even have extra stats posted on the deal too.

They'd still be searchable that way too.

arosiriak
2 years ago

vote-for3vote-against

@arosiriak: that was suggested early on before and someone said that then that would throw off the symmetry of the tabs. Because there wouldn't be a corresponding tab in the questions area. At least visual noise wasn't mentioned then. ;)

hobbit
2 years ago

vote-for2vote-against

I tattled on your RIP'd deal under "Other" asking for it to be revived since it was still functional based on the comments. I noticed that wasn't successful.

perkalicious11
2 years ago

vote-for2vote-against

@perkalicious11: Thanks.

I've responded to an email from Jay about an earlier tattle (in which I asked that the price be changed in the title and the instructions be updated) and I also re-Tattled an hour or more ago asking that it be revived and edited. I haven't heard back yet.

The final price has gone up about $5, but <$35 for the David Attenborough version of Life on Blu-ray is still a pretty freaking great deal.

http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/751ada64-bd3f-4f7c-8d0b-c268b8df38a0/life-narrated-by-david-attenborough-on-blu-ray-for-free-shipping#0

anotherhiggins
2 years ago

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