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Neat, I've noticed this pattern in the past, but haven't ended up in this spot myself What's the better way to play out this dynamic? Since there were three co

by __s 7y ago

Neat, I've noticed this pattern in the past, but haven't ended up in this spot myself What's the better way to play out this dynamic? Since there were three comments I didn't think it'd be optimal to spam by replying to all three individually. Maybe picking one to reply to would be better. I don't think downvoting is the right play, but ignoring may be Maybe responding with agreement to the article, without objection to the objection

dang 7y ago
Great question! It's better to reply, because then it at least won't get upvoted to the top of the thread, accruing mass and blocking fresh conversation. I think you're correct that it suffices to pick one to reply to, perhaps the most prominent one, or the one where the reply will be most interesting. I don't see any problem with downvoting something like https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22934379 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22934379 as well. The trouble with an indignant anti-crap comment is that it can't help but repeat the crap it's objecting to, because that's what it's about. Negation is a form of repetition. Crap subthreads tend eventually to get moderated by users, but that doesn't happen with their anti-crap counterparts. Usually those get upvoted to the top, since people love defending the unfairly criticized and we all respond to indignation. But then it sits there, choking out new discussion with metafumes. The best way to counter bad comments is to post a good one—for example, a reflective comment about the specifics of the article, or a curious comment about something unexpected in it. This isn't always an option, though, because one doesn't always have something like that to say. I think responding to reflexive negativity with a pleasantly-worded objection can still be helpful—just not as a top-level comment.
hunter2_ 7y ago
I'm imagining some kind of heterarchical mode of comment threading where you can refer to n parent comments for your reply. Could that ever work for semi-mainstream discussion formats? The interface could perhaps work like hashtags, but instead of generic topics, you tag your desired parent comments. Similar to a multi-quote on a non-threaded (chronological only) forum topic.

by __s 7y ago

dang 7y ago

Great question! It's better to reply, because then it at least won't get upvoted to the top of the thread, accruing mass and blocking fresh conversation. I think you're correct that it suffices to pick one to reply to, perhaps the most prominent one, or the one where the reply will be most interesting. I don't see any problem with downvoting something like https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22934379 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22934379 as well. The trouble with an indignant anti-crap comment is that it can't help but repeat the crap it's objecting to, because that's what it's about. Negation is a form of repetition. Crap subthreads tend eventually to get moderated by users, but that doesn't happen with their anti-crap counterparts. Usually those get upvoted to the top, since people love defending the unfairly criticized and we all respond to indignation. But then it sits there, choking out new discussion with metafumes. The best way to counter bad comments is to post a good one—for example, a reflective comment about the specifics of the article, or a curious comment about something unexpected in it. This isn't always an option, though, because one doesn't always have something like that to say. I think responding to reflexive negativity with a pleasantly-worded objection can still be helpful—just not as a top-level comment.

hunter2_ 7y ago

I'm imagining some kind of heterarchical mode of comment threading where you can refer to n parent comments for your reply. Could that ever work for semi-mainstream discussion formats? The interface could perhaps work like hashtags, but instead of generic topics, you tag your desired parent comments. Similar to a multi-quote on a non-threaded (chronological only) forum topic.