7 ms·

Alternately, how about being able to undo a vote, like reddit?

by akamaka 11y ago

eru 11y ago
I remember we discussed that. I think once-for-all votes were an attempt at social engineering to shape the site.
- vixsomnis 11y ago
  It's a bit reminiscent of the purported ancient Rome thumbs-down (or thumbs-up).
- PhasmaFelis 11y ago
  I'm really curious what it was trying to social-engineer. I've seen dozens of sites with vote buttons and all of them except HN allow you to change your vote, because why wouldn't you? It's easy to engineer and obviously superior.
  - riffraff 11y ago
    "think thrice before using your votes". I remember this being also used as the justification for not having clearly separated up/down buttons. I totally disagree with it, fwiw.
    - rplnt 11y ago
      It makes some sense - In theory you wouldn't cast your vote prematurely (after reading the first sentence for example).
      - laurent123456 11y ago
        In theory, but in practice do they have some evidence that people care more when they can't undo their vote?
        marrs 11y ago
        Also it's a little unfortunate that the up-vote button can be easily mistaken for a link-to-parent button. I've lost count of the number of comments I've up-voted when actually I just wanted to know who they were replying to.
    - lewisl9029 11y ago
      I personally think "having an interface that makes it nigh impossible to downvote when you meant to upvote" should be a prerequisite for the "think thrice before using your votes" goal... Well at least they're doing something to address it now. In any case, I still disagree with the lack of a reverse vote option, especially when upvoting also serves as an archival mechanism, and downvoting removes the opportunity to use that functionality permanently.
      - OJFord 11y ago
        > especially when upvoting also serves as an archival mechanism Right - it's not even about _changing_ votes. Just an hour or so ago I accidentally upvoted the wrong submission (on mobile), so now that's stored in my "saved stories"; nothing I can do about it.
ggreer 11y ago
I'm not against that, but I bet it would require a lot more work than a styling change.
dredmorbius 11y ago
I've heard via email that this is in the cards.

Alternately, how about being able to undo a vote, like reddit?

by akamaka 11y ago

Alternately, how about being able to undo a vote, like reddit?

eru 11y ago

I remember we discussed that. I think once-for-all votes were an attempt at social engineering to shape the site.

vixsomnis 11y ago
It's a bit reminiscent of the purported ancient Rome thumbs-down (or thumbs-up).
PhasmaFelis 11y ago
I'm really curious what it was trying to social-engineer. I've seen dozens of sites with vote buttons and all of them except HN allow you to change your vote, because why wouldn't you? It's easy to engineer and obviously superior.
- riffraff 11y ago
  "think thrice before using your votes". I remember this being also used as the justification for not having clearly separated up/down buttons. I totally disagree with it, fwiw.
  - rplnt 11y ago
    It makes some sense - In theory you wouldn't cast your vote prematurely (after reading the first sentence for example).
    - laurent123456 11y ago
      In theory, but in practice do they have some evidence that people care more when they can't undo their vote?
      - marrs 11y ago
        Also it's a little unfortunate that the up-vote button can be easily mistaken for a link-to-parent button. I've lost count of the number of comments I've up-voted when actually I just wanted to know who they were replying to.
  - lewisl9029 11y ago
    I personally think "having an interface that makes it nigh impossible to downvote when you meant to upvote" should be a prerequisite for the "think thrice before using your votes" goal... Well at least they're doing something to address it now. In any case, I still disagree with the lack of a reverse vote option, especially when upvoting also serves as an archival mechanism, and downvoting removes the opportunity to use that functionality permanently.
    - OJFord 11y ago
      > especially when upvoting also serves as an archival mechanism Right - it's not even about _changing_ votes. Just an hour or so ago I accidentally upvoted the wrong submission (on mobile), so now that's stored in my "saved stories"; nothing I can do about it.

ggreer 11y ago

I'm not against that, but I bet it would require a lot more work than a styling change.

dredmorbius 11y ago

I've heard via email that this is in the cards.