Instead of having a link directly to the article, have the link go to the discussion page instead, but with an added header.
That extra header would check for a cookie. If that cookie is set, no action. If the cookie is not set, set the cookie, then forwards the user to the actual article.
Then, when you finish reading and decide it's worth an up vote, when you go 'back', you're already at the discuss page where you can vote the story itself up, as well as comment on it.
I often go to the comments page for a submission first, then click the article link. Particularly if it looks like it's going to be one that drifts off. That way the back button puts me in the right place, even if I come back to it hours later.
I must say, that's a mighty fine idea you have there.
Although it may surprise some folks at first. If HN had ads it would seem to be click fraud. Might work as a bookmarklet or browser extension.
Comments
I think there's another technical solution.
Instead of having a link directly to the article, have the link go to the discussion page instead, but with an added header.
That extra header would check for a cookie. If that cookie is set, no action. If the cookie is not set, set the cookie, then forwards the user to the actual article.
Then, when you finish reading and decide it's worth an up vote, when you go 'back', you're already at the discuss page where you can vote the story itself up, as well as comment on it.
I often go to the comments page for a submission first, then click the article link. Particularly if it looks like it's going to be one that drifts off. That way the back button puts me in the right place, even if I come back to it hours later.
I understand your intent, but under no circumstances (that I can think of) is it okay to change the expected behaviour of the back button.
The back button should always do just that ~ take the user back to the previously viewed page.
I must say, that's a mighty fine idea you have there. Although it may surprise some folks at first. If HN had ads it would seem to be click fraud. Might work as a bookmarklet or browser extension.
I was thinking it would be opt-in on the preferences page.
Another option would be an extra link at the end of the headline (like how scribd appears for pdf), but that just ends up looking cluttered.