I think that a site like HN works best if you do what you think is right and ignore what PG wants on a case-by-case basis. If overall your actions are getting d

I think that a site like HN works best if you do what you think is right and ignore what PG wants on a case-by-case basis. If overall your actions are getting downvoted, then clearly there is a fit problem between you and HN, and either you must change, HN must change, or you should go elsewhere. However if overall you are getting positive karma, then overall there is a good fit and don't worry about the odd bit of behaviour that gets negative karma. Unless it's something specifically discouraged, I think you should let it slide. FWIW, I don't think karma reflects utility for something like this. I just saw someone post "[2005]" as a comment on another post, and it got some upmods. Obviously that's helpful in a certain way, but I didn't bother to upmod it myself. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate it. So... tl;dr; version: Rock on!