3 ms·
I disagree. I would downvote any opinion I thought was 'bad for the world' (or whatever), even if it was stated politely, providing it wasn't already in minus k
by Tycho 16y ago
I disagree. I would downvote any opinion I thought was 'bad for the world' (or whatever), even if it was stated politely, providing it wasn't already in minus karma (that's just mean). If something has 69 upvotes, but just as many people think its wrong, then downvoting lets readers know more accurately how the HN community feels about a certain topic.
Btw I think there is an old pg post sanctioning downvoting for disagreement.
Edit: wouldn't downvote a comment to zero either
- zachallaun 16y agoI don't believe that a downvoted comment more accurately reflects the feelings of HN than an upvoted rebuttal. You're right that "bad for the world" opinions should likely be downvoted, but I often disagree with comments that are not so without feeling a desire to downvote them.
- aeurielesn 16y ago> I don't believe that a downvoted comment more accurately reflects the feelings of HN than an upvoted rebuttal. People has many times suggested to force a reply when you down vote to counter the emptiness that a lone down vote leaves.
- Tycho 16y agoI agree pretty much. I rarely downvote anything, it's a bit unfriendly. But there are times when I strongly disagree but don't want to start a 'someone on the Internet is wrong ' thread.
- Locke1689 16y agoThe OP should double check the HN guidelines (http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html). There is no requirement that downmodding not be for disagreement. HN is not Reddit (which I shouldn't have to tell him because his account is less than a year old ;)) and we do not follow Reddiquette. FYI, here's PG's comment: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171
- latch 16y agoI did re-check the guidelines before posting, but wasn't aware of PG's comments. Thanks. My preference (and that's really all this is, my preference), as has since been suggested, is that unless the comment is clearly unconstructive/offensensive/antagonizing, people leave a reply along with a downvote (or upvote an existing reply they more strongly agree with).
- lukifer 16y agoI disagree with you, and therefore upvoting. ;) The voting mechanism means whatever the end user wants it to mean. I use a simple metric: did the comment improve, or detract from, the conversation?
- nyellin 16y agoI think Tycho would agree. If the comment improved the discussion, it couldn't have been "bad for the world."
- JoeAltmaier 16y agoSometimes provoking a better comment makes a distressing comment useful; therefore upvoteable. Like I upvoted that distressing comment up there.
- noibl 16y agoThe worst case is downvoting a new comment to zero in order to hide it because you disagree. This is a fragile medium for multi-faceted discourse and that kind of thing is just vandalism. What's so wrong with the idea of upvoting a post that you intend to rebut if it neatly articulates a reasonable position?
- JoeAltmaier 16y agoI always do; I endorse that. Its hypocritical to reply if you don't think the comment is important.
- Tycho 16y agoNot everything needs or ought to spark a new discussion. But I would up vote things I disagreed with if they were insightful. Retrodden political soundbites though? Nah