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"I hadn't realized that Hacker News had turned into reddit, and that any comment against the one with the Kennedy smile was worthy of downvotes" I suspect you

"I hadn't realized that Hacker News had turned into reddit, and that any comment against the one with the Kennedy smile was worthy of downvotes" I suspect you are being downmodded not for the content of your comments but your condescending and sneering remarks, eg, the "your savior" bit or this - "Saunt Obama". I suspect anyone sneering at the opposite side ("Caribou Barbie" or "McShame" for e.g) would be downmodded too. If one must discuss politics on HN (and there are good reasons not to), I would hope the standard of discourse to be much higher than on a political site (or even reddit). Assuming that people holding opposite an opposite view is intelligent and have good reasons to do is probably a good starting point. Likewisw for those downmodding you. "Your savior" (for e,g) smacks of condescension and implicitly tries to paint the author of the comment you were responding to as some kind of cult follower. My personal opinion (fwiw) is that HN should avoid these political discussions. But then what do I know? I am not a United States citizen and so am much more detached from the elections. Another 10 days and the excitement should die down.

Prrometheus 18y ago
I'm sorry, I was responding to the weights given our initial comments at the time of making my second one. It was frustrating for me to see a simple (though unsupported) opinion of mine given many downvotes because it expressed concern about the stances of Obama, while the following (also unsupported) comment had an equal number of upvotes for praising Him. That is how the mass-opinion moves. It was unfair of me to attack the motives of Obama supporters. I do get frustrated living in real-world surroundings where there are 40 Obama bumper stickers for every 1 for somebody else, and an online world that is, if anything, more biased. I would edit out the flippant remarks if I could, but alas, too much time has passed and HN doesn't let me. It is also my personal failing that I am unable to let a political discussion progress without getting involved. It is a further personal failing that I cannot do so while remaining dispassionate, although I have in the past. I may have just been worn down by Obamamania, it following me from the ground in pre-primary New Hampshire to university in San Diego unabated for nearly a solid year. I also look forward to ten days from now when the excitement dies down, and our representatives in the great tug-of-war over the wealth of society that is democracy has been decided.

Prrometheus 18y ago

I'm sorry, I was responding to the weights given our initial comments at the time of making my second one. It was frustrating for me to see a simple (though unsupported) opinion of mine given many downvotes because it expressed concern about the stances of Obama, while the following (also unsupported) comment had an equal number of upvotes for praising Him. That is how the mass-opinion moves. It was unfair of me to attack the motives of Obama supporters. I do get frustrated living in real-world surroundings where there are 40 Obama bumper stickers for every 1 for somebody else, and an online world that is, if anything, more biased. I would edit out the flippant remarks if I could, but alas, too much time has passed and HN doesn't let me. It is also my personal failing that I am unable to let a political discussion progress without getting involved. It is a further personal failing that I cannot do so while remaining dispassionate, although I have in the past. I may have just been worn down by Obamamania, it following me from the ground in pre-primary New Hampshire to university in San Diego unabated for nearly a solid year. I also look forward to ten days from now when the excitement dies down, and our representatives in the great tug-of-war over the wealth of society that is democracy has been decided.