It seems complicated and long at first but once you get it, it is done easily. For instance, try to explain "how to walk" to someone who had an accident and forgot it. Even thought we know exactly how to walk and start doing it takes less than a second, it takes days to explain/master.
Another suggestion: Adding a small section above the top10 with a random link from "new". And for that link, you need to click yes or no depending of if it is interesting.
What I like about this approach is the randomness in it where random people get random link. I also like the fact that by you aren't choosing between 30 links.. you only get one and you need to say if it's interesting or no. Also, I like the fact that it's on the front page.
So, the top 10 links could be the most yes-ed in a certain period, or the ratio yes/no ratio, or anything really.. You could also put more weight on a yes if you've got more point in HN (Simply because I usually trust their judgement.. for instance, they know when something has already been shown dozen of time)
Also, it feels a little bit more like a game to me.. each time I refresh I need to really participate to say if that special link is interesting or no.. :D
Mechanical Turkers are incentivized to give positive feedback because there's a chance (lurking in the back of their minds, surely) that people are emotionally sensitive and if they get criticized, they will be emotionally wounded and won't approve their HIT.
Do you know how I know this? I asked Turkers to give me feedback on one of my sites, and it was nothing but sunshine and razzmatazz smoothies.
You know you're building something people want when they vote with their wallets or attention (give you their email address, phone number...)
New Theory: hell, an even better test might be are they willing to "invite their friends" to tell them about it? People share things with friends because they like their friends - is it of sufficiently high value that they will get a "social credit" for sharing with their friends?.
I guess you could ignore the 73% that said they would use it. But note that 27% said they wouldn't use it and also stated "WHY they wouldn’t use" it. This should be at least 1% useful.
That article totally describe me. Really realist and interesting read. However, it's kind of normal to have no content if the goal of the site is to let you share things with your friends.
