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downvotes on HN are, by official policy, for disagreeing with ideas. They are not just for low quality posts. And, even on sites where downvotes are supposed to
by greggman3 5y ago
downvotes on HN are, by official policy, for disagreeing with ideas. They are not just for low quality posts. And, even on sites where downvotes are supposed to be for low quality/off topic, etc enough people still use them as "I don't like this idea and don't want you to spread it even if it's arguably valid".
Further, they're a form of violence against the poster. Not sure what other word to use to be told in a single click "You Suck!". It is or arguably can be a form of bullying.
- erikerikson 5y agoI personally upvote posts I disagree with that nonetheless improve my thoughts and productively challenge my assumptions. I prefer a voting convention that increases the probability that I give my attention to worthwhile content rather than trendy sentiment. [clarification: I suspect you agree and do not mean to imply otherwise, though I do not know]
- strogonoff 5y ago> downvotes on HN are, by official policy, for disagreeing with ideas Care to link to that policy? I was always of the impression that short low-quality comments that don’t further the discussion are prime examples of acceptable downvote targets here. Disagreeing with a constructively expressed idea is best done by expressing your own argument in a reply.
- greggman3 5y agoA quick google https://www.google.com/search?q=disgreement+downvote+hacker+news https://www.google.com/search?q=disgreement+downvote+hacker+... https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16131314 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16131314 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17996858 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17996858
- ampgt 5y ago> I was always of the impression that short low-quality comments that don’t further the discussion are prime examples of acceptable downvote targets here. Disagreeing with a constructively expressed idea is best done by expressing your own argument in a reply. Amen to that. Not how it always works around here though.
- belval 5y agoThey are not, the guidelines are linked in the footer and don't mention anything about downvotes aside from "not talking about downvotes".
- greggman3 5y agohttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16131314 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16131314
- csee 5y agoThey are not a form of violence. That's concept creep in order to force home a rhetorical point that you're trying to make.
- Grustaf 5y agoYeah if downvoting is violence, what is upvoting? Sexual harassment?
- belval 5y ago> Further, they're a form of violence against the poster. Not sure what other word to use to be told in a single click "You Suck!". It is or arguably can be a form of bullying. Your point before that part was something I could engage with, but if you really see any form of disagreement as "violence" or a "form of bullying" then I don't understand how you can even function online.
- PixyMisa 5y ago"Further, they're a form of violence against the poster." You suck.