Hot is posts that are receiving a lot of upvotes curretly.
New is posts listed chronologically.
Rising is posts that are starting to get upvotes.
Top is a more long term set of upvoted posts.
When you look at them in this manner, it allows you to look at posts in the way you prefer. I always look at the Hot list initially and the follow the New list.
That is how the system is set up.
Hot is posts that are receiving a lot of upvotes curretly.
New is posts listed chronologically.
Rising is posts that are starting to get upvotes.
Top is a more long term set of upvoted posts.
When you look at them in this manner, it allows you to look at posts in the way you prefer. I always look at the Hot list initially and the follow the New list.