Similarly, the upvote chart for this entry may look like it was shared on some place hours after being posted, and upvoted in bulk: https://upvotetracker.com/post/hn/29024311
[edit: removed "insinuating" bit, against HN guidelines]
> Please don't post insinuations about astroturfing, shilling, brigading, foreign agents and the like. It degrades discussion and is usually mistaken. If you're worried about abuse, email hn@ycombinator.com and we'll look at the data.
Sometimes posts that had few votes get put on the best list and given a second chance. Looks to me like that’s how this story started getting more votes, allowing it to gain traction.
See also this post by HN moderator “dang” about the second chance system and the comments he wrote there as well about it: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26998308
> Moderators and a small number of reviewers go through old submissions looking for articles that are in the spirit of the site—gratifying intellectual curiosity—and which seem like they might interest the community.
Anyway, don't want to put the tin-foil hat. I removed the incriminating bit.
Thanks, your original comment is better now after that edit I think.