3 ms·

The author doesn't link to the question and answer they posted, so it's hard to know whether they posted a reasonable question and answer, and were unfairly dis

by mooism2 15y ago

The author doesn't link to the question and answer they posted, so it's hard to know whether they posted a reasonable question and answer, and were unfairly disparaged by the denizens of the php tag, or whether they posted a clueless question and a misleading answer and can't cope with the downvotes without blogging about it.

obiterdictum 15y ago
I agree. For what it's worth, my experience has been completely the opposite (disclaimer: I'm a SO addict with rep approaching 20k). 1. I've never got downvoted for asking something that could be found by googling and don't downvote anyone else for it (unless it's the blatant "give me the codez" type of question). In fact, usually such questions are considered a low-hanging fruit for those answering the question (and who know where to look). 2. My spelling/grammar errors get corrected by users with editorial powers (and I try to do the same). 3. I consider this the advantage of the site: incorrect answers get downvoted, correct answers get upvoted.
tkellogg 15y ago
Deep down inside he's probably scared that Stackoverflow users also roam Hacker News & the Internet at large and doesn't want his blog post to become a honeypot for scorn. Honestly, I understand completely where he's coming from. I've posted answers to SO and received lots of "well that's obviously wrong" kind of comments - it took me months to realize what was so wrong about those answers (why couldn't they just tell me). The SO crowd can be extremely purist & hostile. But I suppose that's what drives quality in their answers.
- brohee 15y ago
  "I've posted answers to SO and received lots of "well that's obviously wrong" kind of comments - it took me months to realize what was so wrong about those answers (why couldn't they just tell me)." So in retrospect doesn't it show you weren't qualified to answer, and that the downvoting, by lowering the visibility of your answer, is doing its job? I.e. that the system is working as intended? As for not being told why you were wrong, surely you could have asked in comments and gotten an answer.
- mooism2 15y ago
  Something I've noticed about my own behaviour is that when I'm tired or lazy or in a rush I'm quick to downvote. When I have the time and energy I'm more likely to post a comment asking "Isn't this wrong because...?" or "What about...?"

by mooism2 15y ago

obiterdictum 15y ago

I agree. For what it's worth, my experience has been completely the opposite (disclaimer: I'm a SO addict with rep approaching 20k). 1. I've never got downvoted for asking something that could be found by googling and don't downvote anyone else for it (unless it's the blatant "give me the codez" type of question). In fact, usually such questions are considered a low-hanging fruit for those answering the question (and who know where to look). 2. My spelling/grammar errors get corrected by users with editorial powers (and I try to do the same). 3. I consider this the advantage of the site: incorrect answers get downvoted, correct answers get upvoted.

tkellogg 15y ago

Deep down inside he's probably scared that Stackoverflow users also roam Hacker News & the Internet at large and doesn't want his blog post to become a honeypot for scorn. Honestly, I understand completely where he's coming from. I've posted answers to SO and received lots of "well that's obviously wrong" kind of comments - it took me months to realize what was so wrong about those answers (why couldn't they just tell me). The SO crowd can be extremely purist & hostile. But I suppose that's what drives quality in their answers.

brohee 15y ago
"I've posted answers to SO and received lots of "well that's obviously wrong" kind of comments - it took me months to realize what was so wrong about those answers (why couldn't they just tell me)." So in retrospect doesn't it show you weren't qualified to answer, and that the downvoting, by lowering the visibility of your answer, is doing its job? I.e. that the system is working as intended? As for not being told why you were wrong, surely you could have asked in comments and gotten an answer.
mooism2 15y ago
Something I've noticed about my own behaviour is that when I'm tired or lazy or in a rush I'm quick to downvote. When I have the time and energy I'm more likely to post a comment asking "Isn't this wrong because...?" or "What about...?"