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I've long wondered if it would make sense to have a separate agree/disagree vote for each comment separate from the comment's normal upvote/downvote count. The

by curtis 9y ago

I've long wondered if it would make sense to have a separate agree/disagree vote for each comment separate from the comment's normal upvote/downvote count. The totals for agree and disagree would be shown on the comment, but would not otherwise be used. I'd probably go one step further and allow users to simultaneously agree and disagree with a comment. So you get something like: [upvote] [downvote] [agree] [disagree] 2 points 7 agree 4 disagree (2 both agree and disagree) The idea is to separate comment quality from agreement/disagreement. I'm not sure this would be a good fit for HN since we can't generally see comment scores anyway, but it might work for other sites like Reddit.

Gustomaximus 9y ago
I think this is a really good idea. Also it would be interesting to test adding a compulsory text field when someone downvotes to include why you down voted. Then add votes to down-vote reasons. Over time you would develop a good database of people who add value through downvoting (vs I disagree mentality) and weight these accordingly for better auto-moderation.
- KajMagnus 9y ago
  Interesting idea, i.e. the text field. In real life, though, people would be too short of time, to click buttons and open menus to find out what other people have written in those text fields (I'm assuming the texts woudln't be shown direcly on the page?). There'd be barely no meta-votes, I'm afraid. And the insightful reasons for why-downvote, would be in effect hidden. What about a little tweak: To instead let people add ordinary replies = ordinary comments, to describe why they downvoted? Maybe a downvote icon, could be shown, somewhere next to the reply, and the computer would know that "this reply is an explanation about why the author downvoted the parent". And if someone agreed with that downvote-reason, they could maybe click the Like button, for the reply. And then the system knows that "People like this reasoning about downvoting", and henceforth give slightly more trust to the downvoter's downvotes.
AtteLynx 9y ago
A local news site has such a system in their comment section. Judging by the scores, most people just end up using both for agree/disagree.
- KajMagnus 9y ago
  Yes too I think "Upvote" and "Agree" are too similar. Actually I've implemented a 4 votes discussion system: - Like = I agree / useful / insightful - Disagree — does not affect post sort order or karma - Bury — for moving well-intended but boring comments, like "Thanks!" and "Me too", downwards. Without having to delete or actually downvote them. - Unwanted — this corresponds to HN's downvote. Core members & staff can use it, if they don't want that type of comment, at the site. Reduces the commenter's karma, moves the post downwards. Here are two demo pages: (scroll up a bit to see the "Some disagree with this" warning) - https://beautiful.demo.ed.community/-6#post-14 https://beautiful.demo.ed.community/-6#post-14 - https://insightful.demo.ed.community/-7#post-3 https://insightful.demo.ed.community/-7#post-3
miguelrochefort 9y ago
A comment is not always atomic. We should be able to agree/disagree with the subset of a comment.

by curtis 9y ago

Gustomaximus 9y ago

I think this is a really good idea. Also it would be interesting to test adding a compulsory text field when someone downvotes to include why you down voted. Then add votes to down-vote reasons. Over time you would develop a good database of people who add value through downvoting (vs I disagree mentality) and weight these accordingly for better auto-moderation.

KajMagnus 9y ago
Interesting idea, i.e. the text field. In real life, though, people would be too short of time, to click buttons and open menus to find out what other people have written in those text fields (I'm assuming the texts woudln't be shown direcly on the page?). There'd be barely no meta-votes, I'm afraid. And the insightful reasons for why-downvote, would be in effect hidden. What about a little tweak: To instead let people add ordinary replies = ordinary comments, to describe why they downvoted? Maybe a downvote icon, could be shown, somewhere next to the reply, and the computer would know that "this reply is an explanation about why the author downvoted the parent". And if someone agreed with that downvote-reason, they could maybe click the Like button, for the reply. And then the system knows that "People like this reasoning about downvoting", and henceforth give slightly more trust to the downvoter's downvotes.

AtteLynx 9y ago

A local news site has such a system in their comment section. Judging by the scores, most people just end up using both for agree/disagree.

KajMagnus 9y ago
Yes too I think "Upvote" and "Agree" are too similar. Actually I've implemented a 4 votes discussion system: - Like = I agree / useful / insightful - Disagree — does not affect post sort order or karma - Bury — for moving well-intended but boring comments, like "Thanks!" and "Me too", downwards. Without having to delete or actually downvote them. - Unwanted — this corresponds to HN's downvote. Core members & staff can use it, if they don't want that type of comment, at the site. Reduces the commenter's karma, moves the post downwards. Here are two demo pages: (scroll up a bit to see the "Some disagree with this" warning) - https://beautiful.demo.ed.community/-6#post-14 https://beautiful.demo.ed.community/-6#post-14 - https://insightful.demo.ed.community/-7#post-3 https://insightful.demo.ed.community/-7#post-3

miguelrochefort 9y ago

A comment is not always atomic. We should be able to agree/disagree with the subset of a comment.