You shouldn't see downvoting as a personal attack. It's simply a way to express disagreement with the statement. How else would one signal agreement or disagr

You shouldn't see downvoting as a personal attack. It's simply a way to express disagreement with the statement. How else would one signal agreement or disagreement if not by up- or downvoting? Would you rather have everyone answer with "I agree" or "I disagree"? Maybe Hacker News simply attracts more US readers than non-US readers and thus they are bound to disagree with any criticism.