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I asked a newbie question recently as I was working with an unfamiliar programming language (EDIT: and could not find an answer to the question already on the s
by throwaway23787 8y ago
I asked a newbie question recently as I was working with an unfamiliar programming language (EDIT: and could not find an answer to the question already on the site).
I got nothing but comments, where one was an actual answer, and the rest were condescending and often technically incorrect.
I made use of the answer, and deleted the question, in order to clear the downvotes from my own (top 20%) account.
I guess the proper strategy for answering noob questions is to put the content in a comment where (I think) it cannot be downvoted.
- bryanlarsen 8y agoWhy delete because of downvotes? I'm a top 8%, and my top karma producer is an answer that is technically wrong, but is useful to some people. It's fun watching the fighting upvotes/downvotes. It's currently at +124 / -58. But an upvote is worth +10, a downvote -2, so...
- throwaway23787 8y agoIt was net negative (1 downvote, no upvotes), and the first comment was someone "schooling" me on an account with my actual name on it, which I don't particularly want as part of my public presentation. EDIT: Actually looking back it was just the one person with the condescending response, but the comment got two upvotes.
- bryanlarsen 8y agoAt least on HN, nothing attracts upvotes faster than a bad downvote. I know myself if I see a grey comment that I don't think should be grey I upvote it even in cases I wouldn't otherwise upvote. But that grey comment would have been shown to a bunch of people...
- samfisher83 8y agoYou can't down vote comments. SO is pretty toxic even with their newer policy. All downvotes should be public.