This student's invention could save millions of lives across the world | Hacker News Reader

This student's invention could save millions of lives across the world

bbc.co.uk

19 pointsCarolineW16 comments

Amazing - Based on tech patented by Einstein. http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2016/09/forgotten-einstein-discover...

This submission has 14 points in under an hour, and yet is not on the front page. Obviously this is because it's being flagged, and the reason is clear - it's because people are crying "Link Bait! Link Bait!"

Well, I followed the HN guidelines and used the title (more-or-less) as given. Should I defy the HN guidelines and change the title to one that isn't link bait?

Help me HN - what should I do?

You might find the first part of this useful:

http://micheleincalifornia.blogspot.com/2014/08/but-can-you-...

Also, in the future, with bad titles, look to the subtitle or first paragraph for an alternstive. Here is a copy-paste of a portion of the first text after the photo that woukd have been less terrible:

student has invented a mobile fridge that could save millions of lives across the world

It takes a bit of practice and luck. I submitted an article yesterday about giraffe DNA. It was totally ignored. Today, some other article on the topic is on the front page. (Shrug)

DanBC suggests that BBC's News Beat service use of link-baity headlines is because they target a youth audience. Perhaps the alternative is to look for a version meant for stodgy and jaded adults? :)

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-37309443 is another article on the same topic, titled "Student's vaccine cooler wins UK James Dyson Award". It also gives more details about how the cooler works.

Now submitted as a separate item. Thanks.

The guidelines say:

> Otherwise please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait.

Although they don't offer guidance in the case of linkbait, they do offer permission to use a title other than the original. A representative phrase or subtitle from the article is usually best.

Maybe it's hacking rather than defiance.

I became afraid to open such clickbait links. Too many times disappointed.

Although it's the same title as the article, it could be changed to something like "A student invents a portable fridge". Less clickbaity that way.

And yet the HN guidelines say the original title should be used.

To add on that, has any of those inventions made by students ever pan out?

Not sure. Let me Google it.

Here's an excerpt, if the title is a bit too bait-y for you:

> A 22-year-old British student has invented a mobile fridge that could save millions of lives across the world.

> Will Broadway's "Isobar" has been designed to keep vaccines at the ideal temperature while in transit in developing countries.

Such a linkbait title as nothing to do on HN

This story is from BBC's News Beat service, the news service for young people. (Which helps fulfil the UK's duty under Article 17 of the convention on the rights of the child)

They tend to use headlines with some elements of click bait, because that's what they're competing with.

Its very similar to the original article. If you have a problem suggest a better one - I'm guessing 'British student invents portable vaccine fridge, could save millions' is better.

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