I just checked your links and gotta admit, you're right. Although, still I don't see why this has been posted "three" times before!
I think HN should add a URL checker in the submit page.
I think HN should add a URL checker in the submit page.
Posts that are over a year old can be reposted. It's a way to get a fresh perspective on ideas.
If the URL checker were to present itself as a helpful aid for reposts ("You might want to use this title like the other 3 posters have used: X") it might avoid that result.
On a sidenote, I get a weird feeling from HN's simple UI/UX. On one hand, it feels like the old CLI machines that put the focus on "content" - kinda like "do one thing and do it right".
On the other hand, reading all the comments, getting notified for replies on comments, etc. is really hard. In this day and age, one would wonder if HN really hates JS (well, except for the upvote button).
They are however acknowledging some things that are broken and need fixing, and in recent days have been introducing small changes to correct those (eg. the unvote button, ability to fold). I do hear you on the notification for comment replies thing though, I was really surprised when I found that feature wasn't there, and at times end up missing out potentially good conversations because I didn't check for and notice the reply comment until too late.
Although, even top-tier programmers and professionals are eventually "human", and design rules apply to them as well. It's like saying these folks are more comfortable to use some strange user-undfiendly smartphone, while they mostly just use an iPhone instead.
They could also use a better CSS but who cares, text is king in this kind of sites. It displays quite well on mobile too, especially with Opera which reflows text after zoom (the very reason for using Opera).