Ask HN: Unique Takes on Online Discussion

4 pointskikki6y ago3 comments

Since the start of the internet we've had everything from guestbooks to real time chat rooms - but it seems to me like there really hasn't been much innovation in the format of online discussion. Perhaps that is expected, perhaps we are at the perfect way to communicate with each other online, but I'm interested to know if there are some innovative takes on online communication and discussion. Here are some standout examples of what we currently have:

* Guestbook: Probably one of the earliest forms of online discussion. A single list of replies on a page.

* Message boards: Top level thread with sequential replies, usually paginated. These get cumbersome after a few pages, and for busy threads with hundreds of pages, almost all of the content in the middle gets lost

* Facebook / Instagram: A top level post with a mess of replies that on Facebook can be sorted by relevant, on Instagram I'm not sure can even be sorted, just load more infinitely. I think these examples show really poor execution of online discussion yet are still immensely popular

* Twitter: Twitter has probably the most conversational style for non-live communication. Tweets can be replied to with tweets which can be replied to, nested conversation chains. Jumping into the middle of one of these discussion gives you context by also showing you the previous 1 or 2 tweets.

* IRC: Grandfather of chat rooms. Join a room, chat in real time, leave

* Slack + Discord: Evolving chat rooms with reactions, persistence, a nice user interface - and for Slack threaded replies which are an interesting addition - but somewhat unmanageable with many responses

3 comments

3 comments · 2 top-level

heartbeats6y ago· 1 in thread

Imageboards?

* Threads are sorted by bump order.

* Posts can include images. Opening posts must include images.

* To reply to a post, you link the ID.

* Hovering over an ID displays the post, and each post also links to its replies.

* No identities.

* Dead threads get deleted.

* Threads automatically refresh every 15 seconds.

It encourages a more fast-paced discussion, which is very conversational and often nearly live.

EDIT: Also trollboxes; like a cross between IRC and guestbooks.

kikkiOP6y ago

Where I'm from we'd call them shoutboxes, I forgot they even existed but spent a fair chunk of time in them!

coderintherye6y ago

I'd include Twitch/live-streaming as it's own category, while similar to Slack + Discord its focus is a 1-to-many stream + discussion

Also Guestbook should probably include the more generic "comments" which is similar but describes a wider range of discussion format.

Edit: Oh and message groups, e.g. WhatsApp groups, which provide for semi-private online discussion.

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