questions → is answer/comment popularity skewed by design?

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Is answer/comment popularity skewed by design?

I understand that the early bird typically eats more worms, but but I find that the "popular" comments and answers are usually the ones that were there first.

If I add a comment/answer, and one person upvotes it, it is now considered a "popular" entry, and is promoted to the top of the page. Others look at the promoted comments and if agree, upvote it again, and so on, without giving as much attention to the newer entries. Looking at these as a whole, they are almost ranked by popularity AND time. This design makes sometimes very astute and valuable entries less popular, only because they were entered sometime later.

I think the popular comments should be listed, but off to the side and not promoted at the top. It's skewing the results -- the rich get richer so to speak.

by acraigl
asked 4 months ago

4 Answers answer

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I am the 1%

jeremytheindian
4 months ago

vote-for6vote-against

I'd better answer this question early then

I guess I don't really understand what your complaint is here. You seem to believe you're right in your theory, so just be sure to post your answer first. See how easy it really is to get the top answer/comment. I assure you that if it was really that easy, everyone would be doing it. It's not because it takes more than just being first to give the top answer.

capguncowboy
4 months ago

vote-for7vote-against

When commenting in a long thread USE ALL CAPS to be noticed and become popular.

drunkcajun
4 months ago

vote-for10vote-against

Question: why does it matter how many votes you get, or if your answer gets popular? Gaining votes can add to your reputation, and that's it. And reputation is absolutely worthless :) Moving on.

studerc
4 months ago

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4 months ago
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acraigl
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