4 ms·

Part of what makes HN much better than other online forums is getting deep into comments that challenge opinions on something. Only upvoting things you agree wi

Part of what makes HN much better than other online forums is getting deep into comments that challenge opinions on something. Only upvoting things you agree with can lead to a mono-culture like you see in many sub-reddits where opposing views are frequently silenced. You should re-think your downvote on comments you disagree with. I only downvote comments that don't add to a discussion (or are offensive or stuff like that).

Kiro 4y ago
Why? pg himself says downvote on disagreement is fine. > I think it's ok to use the up and down arrows to express agreement. Obviously the uparrows aren't only for applauding politeness, so it seems reasonable that the downarrows aren't only for booing rudeness. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171
- mattbrewsbytes 4y ago
  I disagree with that and gave you an upvote :). Everything is not an absolute (Kenobi enters: "Only a Sith deals in absolutes"). If someone always downvotes everything they disagree with and only upvotes things they agree with, I think that approach should be re-thought. Maybe someone proves you wrong, points out a perspective that you disagree with but is valid, give them an upvote. pg's comment is also from 14 years ago before bots invaded nearly every public forum online possibly manipulating votes/likes to promote various things.
- CoastalCoder 4y ago
  I strongly disagree with pg on this. Particularly because downvoting leads to comments being hidden / killed. I think it's a recipe for an echo chamber, and imho HN works only because some users ignore his take on this.
  - barnabee 4y ago
    I think your comment is interesting even though I disagree, so I upvoted. It's perhaps important though I didn't state it, that the strength of my impetus to upvote interesting comments or comments that add value to the discussion is stronger than the strength of the impetus to downvote on disagreement, so when the too clash it's an upvote or no action. So I don't feel like your worry is a practical issue for hoe I use the voting buttons. After reading these comments, if something is mediocre and I think it's wrong that still seems like a good reason to use downvote on disagreement (where I don't go around downvoting every mediocre comment, though I could see the argument for doing so).
- barnabee 4y ago
  Thanks! I was looking for this to respond with, as pg's words here are part of the reason I use the site this way.

Kiro 4y ago

Why? pg himself says downvote on disagreement is fine. > I think it's ok to use the up and down arrows to express agreement. Obviously the uparrows aren't only for applauding politeness, so it seems reasonable that the downarrows aren't only for booing rudeness. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171

mattbrewsbytes 4y ago
I disagree with that and gave you an upvote :). Everything is not an absolute (Kenobi enters: "Only a Sith deals in absolutes"). If someone always downvotes everything they disagree with and only upvotes things they agree with, I think that approach should be re-thought. Maybe someone proves you wrong, points out a perspective that you disagree with but is valid, give them an upvote. pg's comment is also from 14 years ago before bots invaded nearly every public forum online possibly manipulating votes/likes to promote various things.
CoastalCoder 4y ago
I strongly disagree with pg on this. Particularly because downvoting leads to comments being hidden / killed. I think it's a recipe for an echo chamber, and imho HN works only because some users ignore his take on this.
- barnabee 4y ago
  I think your comment is interesting even though I disagree, so I upvoted. It's perhaps important though I didn't state it, that the strength of my impetus to upvote interesting comments or comments that add value to the discussion is stronger than the strength of the impetus to downvote on disagreement, so when the too clash it's an upvote or no action. So I don't feel like your worry is a practical issue for hoe I use the voting buttons. After reading these comments, if something is mediocre and I think it's wrong that still seems like a good reason to use downvote on disagreement (where I don't go around downvoting every mediocre comment, though I could see the argument for doing so).
barnabee 4y ago
Thanks! I was looking for this to respond with, as pg's words here are part of the reason I use the site this way.