Hot Topics or Featured Topics Feature?

[TedMosby]

Hello all, I think this is my first topic in this Meta section.

I'd like to ask. Do we have a section where we could see hot topics or featured topics (not topics that are stickied) before on this forum?

I usually see it placed on sidebar or at the top of the thread on other forums. I don't really understand how it's calculated, based on views, replies, both, etc.

Are there any plans for it?
If not, why? What are the downsides if it applied on this forum?
I'm just curious. TIA for your responses.

[Churchillvv]

If you look at the image above the sign which I ticked with read shows a hot topic and this how Bitcointalk displays hot topics, it’s not always sticked to the top of the board like the pinned threads but however, because of how much comments and activities that goes on in the thread it usually finds it way up or stays up frequently. Look closely you will see the numbers and how the forum classifies them, 21 replies hot, very hot 100 replies.

You can see that in speculation board, the thread Wall Observer BTC/USD is a very hot one, it’s always at the top of the board.

[SeriouslyGiveaway]

Do we have a section where we could see hot topics or featured topics (not topics that are stickied) before on this forum?

I usually see it placed on sidebar or at the top of the thread on other forums. I don't really understand how it's calculated, based on views, replies, both, etc.

It depends on your definition of a hot topic or a featured topic, you will find them in one of those places

Forum statistics center https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=stats with Top 10 topics (by Replies), and Top 10 topics (by Views).
or with Merit stats center where you will find
Top-merited topics, all-time https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;stats=toptopicsat
Top-merited topics, recently https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;stats=toptopics

[LoyceV]

Top-merited topics, recently https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;stats=toptopics

I was thinking of the same link, but I can't say the list is very useful. I have my own list of active topics (per hour, day or week), based on posts instead of Merit, but topics with many shitposts can easily make it to the top.

[TedMosby]

-snip-

That’s not the feature I am talking about, but thank you for that, I learned new things today. The icons, or the number of replies or views, don’t reflect the kind of hot topics that I meant. For example, topics that cause drama between members can easily get many views or replies. Or simply the opening of a new signature campaign can get many replies instantly. Also, what’s the point if there are so many “hot” topics?

What I mean is a section where we, as members, can see what’s hot in this forum recently, something that is easy to access and instantly visible when you open the forum, even for non-members. I mean like… maybe 5–10 hot topics globally or locally.

-snip-

It depends on your definition of a hot topic or a featured topic, you will find them in one of those places

The links you gave me are a good source, but still not what I meant. My definition of hot topics is not specific, just generally quality topics that deserve merits, worth discussing, and worth viewing. Even other members would recommend them because they are interesting, objectively or subjectively. For me, ideally, hot topics would be a list of topics that changes every week.

-snip-

I was thinking of the same link, but I can't say the list is very useful. I have my own list of active topics (per hour, day or week), based on posts instead of Merit, but topics with many shitposts can easily make it to the top.

Maybe if “Hot topics” is considered to be applied in the future, we need to use a weighted scoring system based on merit, views, and the number of replies, with the final decision based on votes from moderators or users like you, LoyceV

[tbct_mt2]

Maybe if “Hot topics” is considered to be applied in the future, we need to use a weighted scoring system based on merit, views, and the number of replies, with the final decision based on votes from moderators or users like you, LoyceV

Hot topics with you can be likely not hot topics with me and the other members.

It's similar to how people see a post is a good post, quality post, constructive post or not helpful post. Surely shitpost is clearly realized while to say it is a good/ quality/ constructive post, it depends on whether it is helpful for the reader sometimes, and for the forum member generally. It's hard to agree with each other about a post like it is helpful or not helpful.

With a newbie, it's a helpful post for me but with a legendary member, it's not helpful for him. While generally it is still a good post for the community when a question asked and a helpful answer given.

[TryNinja]

BitList has something like this:

https://bitlist.co/dashboard

(Check most active topics)

It’s mostly dominated by gambling topics though, so maybe I could add more filters in the future.

[Churchillvv]

-snip-

That’s not the feature I am talking about, but thank you for that, I learned new things today. The icons, or the number of replies or views, don’t reflect the kind of hot topics that I meant. For example, topics that cause drama between members can easily get many views or replies. Or simply the opening of a new signature campaign can get many replies instantly. Also, what’s the point if there are so many “hot” topics?

What I mean is a section where we, as members, can see what’s hot in this forum recently, something that is easy to access and instantly visible when you open the forum, even for non-members. I mean like… maybe 5–10 hot topics globally or locally.

Perhaps for something like this as you describe to exist it means that someone has to be active or there should be an automated system that access and/or assess all threads/topics and rate them accordingly, however determining what is the hot gist or happening in the forum right now.

However that is going to be subjective, which validates @tbct_mt2 opinion of quality variance, so it might seem quiet not reachable at the moment maybe that would a future consideration but however there are quite alternatives that may not satisfy your description but helps a little. Meanwhile, there are threads that could fit in to your description; like the Bitcointalk award thread, when the voting is going on it could be considered a hot gist,  and many other threads that comes up once in a while in the reputation board base on accusations etc. but like I said it will then have to do with assessment before validating its hotness.

[Btcdeybodi]

What I mean is a section where we, as members, can see what’s hot in this forum recently, something that is easy to access and instantly visible when you open the forum, even for non-members. I mean like… maybe 5–10 hot topics globally or locally.

If you are referring to recent posts that was made then it is very simple to view from the bottom of the homepage. There are always 5 recent posts that are been updated immediately a new post is made

[uchegod-21]

Maybe if “Hot topics” is considered to be applied in the future, we need to use a weighted scoring system based on merit, views, and the number of replies, with the final decision based on votes from moderators or users like you, LoyceV

Hot topics with you can be likely not hot topics with me and the other members.

It's similar to how people see a post is a good post, quality post, constructive post or not helpful post. Surely shitpost is clearly realized while to say it is a good/ quality/ constructive post, it depends on whether it is helpful for the reader sometimes, and for the forum member generally. It's hard to agree with each other about a post like it is helpful or not helpful.

With a newbie, it's a helpful post for me but with a legendary member, it's not helpful for him. While generally it is still a good post for the community when a question asked and a helpful answer given.

If I understand OP very well, for a topic to be hot, you don't need to like it or hate it. It doesn't need to be hot with you or cold with another member. It does not necessarily need to be a very quality post. It could simply be something trending, or an ongoing trolling but due to it has received highest number of replies in a short period, it becomes a hot thread .

This feature is common in other groups, but I am not a fan of it. That feature has a way to influence what people read in the forum. It could also lead to inactivity in some boards. Someone would just login, go straight to hot topics, contribute and log out, thereby missing other parts of the forum.

So, instead of the hot topic feature, the auto-bumping when a fresh post is recorded tends to work well. So, a hot topic (thread) in a board is that thread that is always at the top despite not been pinned.

[alegotardo]

Taking advantage of the OP's suggestion, I believe it would be interesting to have some filtering or sorting methods so that each user can decide what they want to see at the top of each section/board.

It may be that more important and more useful for me is the recently created topics, it may be that I prefer to see in top those that have received new posts (current default), or I want to see the one with the highest average number of responses in the last hour, or the one that received the most merit in the OP.

These are filters or sorting criteria that could make navigation more intuitive. I miss a feature of this type, but I understand that it may be difficult to create or even consume more resources than desired.

[joker_josue]

It’s mostly dominated by gambling topics though, so maybe I could add more filters in the future.

It might be more interesting to filter this list by board or forum area.
I think you should definitely do that.

I thought I'd already suggested this idea, but maybe not. 

[The Cryptovator]

That’s not the feature I am talking about, but thank you for that, I learned new things today. The icons, or the number of replies or views, don’t reflect the kind of hot topics that I meant. For example, topics that cause drama between members can easily get many views or replies. Or simply the opening of a new signature campaign can get many replies instantly. Also, what’s the point if there are so many “hot” topics?

What I mean is a section where we, as members, can see what’s hot in this forum recently, something that is easy to access and instantly visible when you open the forum, even for non-members. I mean like… maybe 5–10 hot topics globally or locally.

Either we failed to understand you, or you failed to explain to us what you are talking about. When you are finding hot topics out of those with the most views, replies or merit, then you should also prefer based on what you want to see hot topics you want? Do you want to fire 🔥 back on the topic? Then will it be hot? The forum already has this system, as you can see on the screenshot above, so are you looking for a new board? Then what will be the board name, and how should the judge act?

However, the current forum without a featured or hot board looks pretty good. Btw, for your information, you may have noticed some topics featured by the forum on the top. This you could call a featured topic, though sometimes the forum shares some other important external links. Otherwise, the current hot topics' definition is fine to me.

[TedMosby]

-snip-

If you are referring to recent posts that was made then it is very simple to view from the bottom of the homepage. There are always 5 recent posts that are been updated immediately a new post is made

-snip-

Yeah I see it, what I meant is something like that, in that layout but for hot topics.

-snip-

If I understand OP very well, for a topic to be hot, you don't need to like it or hate it. It doesn't need to be hot with you or cold with another member. It does not necessarily need to be a very quality post. It could simply be something trending, or an ongoing trolling but due to it has received highest number of replies in a short period, it becomes a hot thread .

This feature is common in other groups, but I am not a fan of it. That feature has a way to influence what people read in the forum. It could also lead to inactivity in some boards. Someone would just login, go straight to hot topics, contribute and log out, thereby missing other parts of the forum.

-snip-

Yes you did understand what I mean. The word "trending" is close to this. But IMO, trending has nothing to do with merits (quality). Only engagements (views and replies). CMIIW.

Thank you for sharing your experience with "hot topics" feature on other forum. At least I know what's the downside of this kind of feature. And I agree with you about that. It could make replies concrentated on some hot topics only. But I think for people who loves foruming, they will keep exploring, not limited to hot topics only.

It’s mostly dominated by gambling topics though, so maybe I could add more filters in the future.

It might be more interesting to filter this list by board or forum area.
I think you should definitely do that.

I thought I'd already suggested this idea, but maybe not. 

And add a weighted scoring system based on merit, views, number of replies, velocity of activity, and time frame 
Sorry TryNinja, too many request. Just kidding

-snip-

Either we failed to understand you, or you failed to explain to us what you are talking about. When you are finding hot topics out of those with the most views, replies or merit, then you should also prefer based on what you want to see hot topics you want? Do you want to fire 🔥 back on the topic? Then will it be hot? The forum already has this system, as you can see on the screenshot above, so are you looking for a new board? Then what will be the board name, and how should the judge act?

However, the current forum without a featured or hot board looks pretty good. Btw, for your information, you may have noticed some topics featured by the forum on the top. This you could call a featured topic, though sometimes the forum shares some other important external links. Otherwise, the current hot topics' definition is fine to me.

I know myself and I am 100% sure that the problem is on me. I failed to explain. Sorry




I asked Gemini AI to explain it better, using the Reddit scoring system for example. Because they have some categories, like Hot, Top, Rising, New, Best, etc.

Hot" posts on Reddit are fast-rising, popular content currently receiving high engagement (votes/comments) within the last 24 hours. "Top" posts are ranked strictly by the highest upvote count over a specific time (e.g., last hour, 24 hours, week, year, or all-time).

Reddit determines "Hot" threads primarily by calculating the velocity of engagement (upvotes, comments, and views) relative to a post's age, aiming to highlight content that is trending right now rather than just the most upvoted post of all time.  The algorithm uses a combination of factors to rank posts, giving early engagement significantly more weight than later interactions.

Reddit uses a logarithm to weight votes, meaning the first 10 upvotes are worth as much as the next 100, which are worth as much as the next 1,000. This prevents old, popular posts from dominating the feed indefinitely.

So, these 2 called Top Topics. See the text at the end on the link.
Top-merited topics, all-time https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;stats=toptopicsat
Top-merited topics, recently https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;stats=toptopics

And this one called, hot topic.


But as Loycev said,

Top-merited topics, recently https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;stats=toptopics

I was thinking of the same link, but I can't say the list is very useful. I have my own list of active topics (per hour, day or week), based on posts instead of Merit, but topics with many shitposts can easily make it to the top.

BTW, guys, I read all your replies here. Thank you for all your responses here. But I can't quote and reply to all of your replies. All replies are very helpful to address my question.

At the end, this is what I mean, visually.