Suggest HN: A New Comments Ranking Algorithm
Reddit's comments ranking algorithm puts the best comment really at the top (my subjective perception). It doesn't matter in which sub you are but the best ones are always at the top. And this leads to a very good thread on every level.
On HN—I assume—that two thing could influence my different feeling: one is of course that we do not see the points per comment on HN (which I like) but also the writer's karma is incorporated into the ranking algorithm. And latter might lead to sometimes strange orders. Often good comments are buried at the deep end while mediocre comments, sometimes even off-topic comments stick to #1 like glue (I am aware that new comments stick up to 10 min on #1). The better visibility of higher ranked comments lead again to more upvotes and we end up with an odd list where relevancy could be questioned.
Would love to see a try towards a comments ranking algorithm which is just based on points leaving out the karma (only for the comments not for submissions).