Ask HN: How does ranking work for Tell HN?

2 pointsby theorchid2 mesi fa4 comments

I submitted a Tell HN post. It got 80 upvotes in an hour and hit the front page. However, about an hour later the post disappeared from the front page and from pages 2 and 3. It's now only visible in the Ask section.

If the full text of the post is hosted directly on Hacker News, how does the algorithm detect upvote manipulation and hide it from the front page?

People often share a direct link with friends, who then click and upvote. Could the algorithm interpret this kind of organic sharing as manipulation?

Are there any other reasons why a post might disappear from the front page?

My post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48230104

4 comments

downbad_2 mesi fa

I think sometimes the mods press a button to remove it (certain posts) from the front page if they don't think it belongs on the site.

rationalist2 mesi fa

I posted a Remind HN: Call your mom for Mother's Day. It did very well, then mysteriously disappeared, so your thesis is probably right.

downbad_2 mesi fa

Yea, I think I'm right. I've noticed posts on the front page disappear suddenly and got drowned several pages down.

theorchid2 mesi fa

> if they don't think it belongs on the site

But then it wouldn't have gotten any upvotes and wouldn't have hit the front page, would it?