You got a point. I mean the algorithm is not like that of Reddit and Instagram, which is just to capture your attention all the time by showing old to new posts and even days old posts to grab your attention. Stacker News is way different and great.

NovaRift

AskSN

how do you describe SN to people?

unschooled

> There are no algorithms

what do you mean by this? 

im only asking because ive run into this in conversation and then stumble to explain.

and while i agree empirically (though i admit this is out of my wheelhouse) the [math behind the wot](https://stacker.news/items/916035/r/unschooled) is not the same as Instagram's/tiktok's algo, there is an element to it that feels similar. 

for example, what ranks highest on sn is based on zaps and comments, but the rewards system incentivizes people to zap and comment what they think others will also zap and comment. in other words it can be gamed, so that actually peoples zapping behaviour is based on what the think others will also zap, because this seems to win them the most rewards. 

im not saying i have an issue with this. im just wondering how this can be differentiated in conversation from what is conventionally called an algorithm.