Search blocklists: explain exclusions, not just hide results
A user organizes a search blocklist with public explanations for exclusions and invites contributions.
The takeaway
Transparent filtering rules are easier to inspect and correct.
The context
Dissatisfied with search results and existing lists, the maker uses issues to explain why sites are blocked. They report improved casual searches, which remains a personal judgment. The useful design is to keep rules, evidence, and feedback together instead of publishing an unexplained list.
Steps worth trying
Editorial suggestions, not promises made by the original author.
- 01
Define actionable filtering criteria and keep examples and reasons for each addition.
- 02
Allow user overrides and corrections and periodically check for useful material filtered by mistake.
Where this applies — and where it may not
Lists reflect maintainer preferences and sites change; the post provides no objective search-quality evaluation.
From the discussion
“explaining why each site was blocked via issues.”
@popcar2 · View source
Show HN: A blocklist to remove spam and bad websites from search results
@popcar2 · 225 points · 84 comments
Read the Hacker News threadSource: OpenIndex Hacker News dataset (ODC-By). Original content belongs to its authors. Summaries, translations, and suggested steps are AI-assisted editorial work. Read the sources; individual outcomes are not guarantees.