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I would most likely have downvoted your reply if I'd encountered it in any other context, but I upvoted it because you were replying to an invitation to defend

by schoen 6y ago

I would most likely have downvoted your reply if I'd encountered it in any other context, but I upvoted it because you were replying to an invitation to defend the magazine's decision that purported to be curious about why someone would defend it. I really don't like the pattern of asking "I'm curious whether anyone would seriously advocate opinion X that's controversial in this community, and why" and then downvoting people who try to seriously advocate opinion X. (I know people can't downvote direct replies, but it seems like this pattern indirectly discourages curiosity and conversation and encourages a sort of official party line.)

yew 6y ago
It certainly makes following the conversation more difficult, but you needn't feel obligated. I don't mind watching the total go up and down with the tide... Edit: but as my answer (including quote!) below has been flagged, I think I'll just leave this to stand on its own.
deleted 6y ago
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seneca 6y ago
In general I agree with you, baiting people into stating an unpopular argument and then dog piling kills conversation. That being said, I downvoted that particular response because there's no argument being made. It's the typical gnashing of teeth and hurling of slurs you see everywhere on the internet, and is also harmful to a useful conversation.
ZephyrBlu 6y ago
I think the comment has been downvoted because it does not seem to be in good faith and there is no substance to it.
- schoen 6y ago
  Well, here's a better sibling comment with more substance and effort: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26394196 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26394196 I tried writing a response three different times (specifically on the concepts of "safety" and "representation") and didn't manage to hit the right notes. ... Maybe next academic cancel-culture thread? :-(

by schoen 6y ago

yew 6y ago

It certainly makes following the conversation more difficult, but you needn't feel obligated. I don't mind watching the total go up and down with the tide... Edit: but as my answer (including quote!) below has been flagged, I think I'll just leave this to stand on its own.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

seneca 6y ago

In general I agree with you, baiting people into stating an unpopular argument and then dog piling kills conversation. That being said, I downvoted that particular response because there's no argument being made. It's the typical gnashing of teeth and hurling of slurs you see everywhere on the internet, and is also harmful to a useful conversation.

ZephyrBlu 6y ago

I think the comment has been downvoted because it does not seem to be in good faith and there is no substance to it.

schoen 6y ago
Well, here's a better sibling comment with more substance and effort: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26394196 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26394196 I tried writing a response three different times (specifically on the concepts of "safety" and "representation") and didn't manage to hit the right notes. ... Maybe next academic cancel-culture thread? :-(