So yeah, if you’re going to go as far as reasoning about how links might have affected my algorithm, which you did do, of course you should actually check on that. It takes all of 5 seconds.

I didn’t check because I didn’t check. If I’d been inclined to be saying something like “Fred Jones stole money from his company”, I would have checked to make sure it was true first. But that’s not what I was saying - and I thought I was pretty obvious about that - I was starting a conversation. Because I was having a conversation, or thinking I might - not completing an affidavit, or filing a story with the WaPo. I think there’s a difference, Gabe. Regardless of what search tools are out there.

Had you checked, you would have found it was linked to, even before your and Tony’s post. Though you might have lost a post with dark suggestions about rigged placement.

Sponsored status did not contribute to that post appearing. The fleeting top placement was largely a function of the other posts getting really stale and old.

There are no “new rules” as far a sponsored posts becoming regular posts.

Ironically, I’m also experimenting with marked placement in the left as “Recent Sponsor Posts”, and once Tabblo’s post drops off the edge it might then appear as a “Recent Sponsor Post”. Kinda confusing, but then sponsor posts don’t usually become regular posts (third time in three months).

Now, whether or not the algorithm gives precedence (different weight) to sponsors into making it INTO organic Top Item search is another question. ;)

Cheers
t