HN Karma System

Cluster focuses on discussions about the Hacker News karma system, including its purpose, value, mechanics, user obsession, and thresholds for features like voting or flagging.

📉 Falling 0.3x Other

5,777

Comments

Years Active

Top Authors

#7493

Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007

145

2008

397

2009

452

2010

522

2011

535

2012

364

2013

394

2014

360

2015

182

2016

191

2017

192

2018

187

2019

235

2020

268

2021

261

2022

303

2023

406

2024

173

2025

179

2026

Top Contributors

dang (48) tptacek (42) rms (38) krapp (36) jacquesm (34)

Keywords

StackOverflow HN RPG TIL wikipedia.org karma hn points vote approval users timezones comment add value colored

Sample Comments

mistercow • Feb 6, 2013 • View on HN

Does anybody actually care about karma on HN? If so, why?

al_borland • Sep 2, 2025 • View on HN

This is what karma scores on site like this or Reddit try to replicate.

akadien • Oct 26, 2010 • View on HN

Dude, it's karma points on HN. A number on a server somewhere that has no bearing whatsoever on your real life. Have some perspective.

gaika • Jul 16, 2008 • View on HN

Anybody else feel the same about karma system on Hacker News?

newfie_bullet • May 25, 2023 • View on HN

TIL there's a karma leaderboard on hacker news!

Encryptor • Dec 3, 2011 • View on HN

why do people care about HN karma?

dot • Mar 31, 2011 • View on HN

so basically like the karma system on HN :)

revskill • Jun 9, 2023 • View on HN

What's the point of HN Karma honestly ?

Waraqa • Sep 7, 2025 • View on HN

I wonder why his karma is less than the points of the post. doesn't karma follow the total points of one's posts and comments?

mustpax • Jan 21, 2012 • View on HN

Whatever gave you the idea that 7000+ karma entitles you to anything on HN?