[kbenson]

> In what cases is that useful?

Edit: whoops, I thought you were replying to the request to add 2017 to the title.

If you've possibly already read it and are wondering if it's a repeat, if you have knowledge that the topic has had changes since then which might make it less accurate, and any number of other things.

In the end, it's more information, if people want to assume something negative about it, I feel that's on them (as long as the information shown is accurate).

[pushpop]

I feel you’re talking about the date in brackets, which most people agree is useful. However the GP is discussing a different behaviour on HN where the word “How” is automatically dropped from headlines when it is used as a prefix. This behaviour doesn’t provide more information, as you state, though your opinion of its desirability might still differ from the GPs.

[kbenson]

Yeah, I noticed that myself a bit ago, and edited my comment. You're correct in that I was talking about the date. Thread comprehension fail on my part. :)