💯 to needing a better metric regarding npubs.

Maybe PageRank. Except … that won’t work. PageRank is an extrinsic metric. Follower count is another extrinsic metric. I want an intrinsic metric.

Example of an extrinsic metric: fame. It’s a relationship between the user and the community.

Examples of intrinsic metrics: height, weight, intelligence. Those things are independent of the community.

PageRank is an extrinsic metric, kinda like fame. We need to modify it so it’s an intrinsic metric, more like intelligence.

GrapeRank is a modification of PageRank that converts it into an intrinsic metric.

Suppose I want to know the height of user1. Users 2, 3, and 4 estimate 5’11, 6’1, and 6’0, and communicate those results to me. What do I do with those numbers?

One idea is to add them together. User1 is … 18 ‘ tall. Obviously that’s the wrong metric. This is the PageRank approach.

The right metric: weighted average, which comes to 6 feet, give or take, depending on which of users 2,3,4 I trust the most. 

GrapeRank is a weighted average. Simple as that.

GrapeRank is a nonlinear equation, as opposed to PageRank, which is linear. But who cares? Use the easy algo and get the useless metric (18 feet), or the slightly harder algo and get a useful answer that estimates objective reality (~ 6 feet).

Trynta write this out in long form today. 🤓