> There's also the issue of self-censorship, where users will refrain from posting their opinion in case they get downvotes and negative karma. This is the pri

> There's also the issue of self-censorship, where users will refrain from posting their opinion in case they get downvotes and negative karma. This is the price for shadow-banning which some blogs use to censor freedom of speech. The hosters may consider it super smart to silence unwelcome messengers. Actually they just expose their own intolerance. > The things people post here are fascinating, but the comments, in my honest opinion, aren't. Truth can be inconvenient and offending, causing downvotes. People often try to silence offenders as "hate speakers" these days just because of (justified) criticism. It is evidence of increasing intolerance.