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Nitram

(22,671 posts)
Wed May 2, 2018, 10:25 AM May 2018

I have a question about the custom on DU of writing "K&R" or "kicked and recommended"

in the subject line of a comment on a post. My assumption is that clicking on the "rec" button is a recommendation, and writing a comment is a "kick", and that these two acts help put a post on the home page and keep it there. Does writing "k&r" have any additional effect on putting a post before the membership? Isn't it actually more meaningful to click the "rec" button and write an actual comment about the post than to write "K&R"? Just asking.

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I have a question about the custom on DU of writing "K&R" or "kicked and recommended" (Original Post) Nitram May 2018 OP
Especially in General Discussion where posts move off page quickly, DUers typically do two things hlthe2b May 2018 #1
Wouldn't writing a meaningful comment have the same effect as writing K&R? Nitram May 2018 #2
No.. both do the same. K&R is a quick method to accomplish when you don't want to hlthe2b May 2018 #3
If writing "K&R is just a shortcut, I feel it would make a great deal more sense to take the time to Nitram May 2018 #4
LOL... Good luck convincing others of that but I would agree. My pet peeve is those who post hlthe2b May 2018 #5
I agree. If you don't have the time or energy to post a summary or some choice excerpts, Nitram May 2018 #7
I think it is the Twitter effect. And yes, it is distressing that more and more consider that hlthe2b May 2018 #12
I don't always have that kind of time JustAnotherGen May 2018 #9
Maybe it's easier for people using mobile phones. Nitram May 2018 #13
It's just a quick and easy way to get a high post count. PSPS May 2018 #6
Yes... that's another motivation for doing so. hlthe2b May 2018 #14
Topic drift ... Yonnie3 May 2018 #8
That confirms a suspicion I've had that many DUers think "K&R" has some special affect in itself. Nitram May 2018 #11
K&R talisman smilies needed! Yonnie3 May 2018 #16
You're right, the S/N ratio is good here at DU, and the K&R issue is just a minor irritation. Nitram May 2018 #17
Great question Phoenix61 May 2018 #10
Guilty as charged Cirque du So-What May 2018 #15
When I do it, it can be for several reasons ecstatic May 2018 #18

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
1. Especially in General Discussion where posts move off page quickly, DUers typically do two things
Wed May 2, 2018, 10:28 AM
May 2018

to give an important thread more attention. With five recs minimum, it ends up on the "GREATEST" page and many posters go there first. But, it still drops off the General Discussion page if there are not posts. So, by posting K&R it kicks back up to the top of GD at least for a short time.

Nitram

(22,671 posts)
2. Wouldn't writing a meaningful comment have the same effect as writing K&R?
Wed May 2, 2018, 10:33 AM
May 2018

Or is it only by writing K&R it can get to the top of GD?

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
3. No.. both do the same. K&R is a quick method to accomplish when you don't want to
Wed May 2, 2018, 10:35 AM
May 2018

say more than you appreciate and agree with the post and its importance.

Nitram

(22,671 posts)
4. If writing "K&R is just a shortcut, I feel it would make a great deal more sense to take the time to
Wed May 2, 2018, 10:39 AM
May 2018

craft a relevant comment that actually furthers the discussion. I'm imagine that was the original purpose of the mechanism, to encourage discussion and make posts more visible when they sparked more meaningful discussion. IMHO

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
5. LOL... Good luck convincing others of that but I would agree. My pet peeve is those who post
Wed May 2, 2018, 10:41 AM
May 2018

threads with no comment.. only a link.


Or those who post a embedded video with nary a single comment as to what it represents or why they posted it.


Nitram

(22,671 posts)
7. I agree. If you don't have the time or energy to post a summary or some choice excerpts,
Wed May 2, 2018, 10:44 AM
May 2018

you shouldn't be posting. Maybe some people play it like it's a game.

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
12. I think it is the Twitter effect. And yes, it is distressing that more and more consider that
Wed May 2, 2018, 10:51 AM
May 2018

a "conversation", and "meaningful discussion."

JustAnotherGen

(31,688 posts)
9. I don't always have that kind of time
Wed May 2, 2018, 10:48 AM
May 2018

Sometimes you just let the brilliance of another shine, acknowledge it, and move on.

Yonnie3

(17,376 posts)
8. Topic drift ...
Wed May 2, 2018, 10:45 AM
May 2018

On one of my early posts on this forum I got a K&R from another DUer, but I had no REC from that poster.

Back on topic! Yes it would be more meaningful and achieve the same results. It is something I'd prefer to see, but seeing just a K&R is not an issue with me.

The evil prankster in me wanted badly to post a K&R as a response to you, but ...

Nitram

(22,671 posts)
11. That confirms a suspicion I've had that many DUers think "K&R" has some special affect in itself.
Wed May 2, 2018, 10:50 AM
May 2018

If they don't click the "rec" button, their "R" is useless. Thanks for telling me about your impulse rather than doing it. That is funny, and sounds like something I'd be tempted to do. I'd rather people furthered the discussion instead of waving their magic "K&R" talisman.

Yonnie3

(17,376 posts)
16. K&R talisman smilies needed!
Wed May 2, 2018, 11:39 AM
May 2018

Guaranteed to promote your post. Only $1 each. My way of saying I agree with your suspicion.

As a very long term poster on Usenet, I felt that a forum that had 1:10 signal to noise ratio (one informative post in ten) was a better forum than most. I spent too much time with my filters but was pleased with the results. Here at DU I don't feel the need for filters as my mental filter seems to work good enough and that ratio is much better. Losing the K&Rs would be a improvement, but only an increment.

Nitram

(22,671 posts)
17. You're right, the S/N ratio is good here at DU, and the K&R issue is just a minor irritation.
Wed May 2, 2018, 11:58 AM
May 2018

I feel better now that I know I'm not the only one who finds it a little puzzling.

Cirque du So-What

(25,812 posts)
15. Guilty as charged
Wed May 2, 2018, 11:22 AM
May 2018

I have done this a few times when I want the OP and/or the ensuing commentary to receive greater exposure and I don't have anything to say that hasn't been said already.

ecstatic

(32,567 posts)
18. When I do it, it can be for several reasons
Fri May 4, 2018, 08:13 AM
May 2018

1. I'm speechless, but I think it's a great post that people should be aware of
2. Time constraints
3. I'm more of a lurker. Most of the time, I don't feel like elaborating
4. Attention deficit disorder and/or multitasking on too many things, and therefore
5. Unable to be coherent or add anything useful, but still want to go on record as supporting and encouraging such posts

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