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I agree that that's not a best practice. It's not what the downvote mechanism was intended for.

tracker1 2y ago
In a way, iirc, it really is. It's as much a "I disagree" as it is "I don't like this". That said, I would like to see more people actually respond in addition to a downvote. I don't think that's generally a function of the moderators though.
MrMcCall 2y ago
Flagging is used by people who have no rebuttal but are mad. That's why I have only flagged one or two posts, ever, but not because I was mad, but because the comment was just plain beyond the pale. And my posts against portaying violent rape in film got flagged. Make it make sense, because I understand the failure of this system because systems are my trade-in-craft.
- jraph 2y ago
  Nope, sometimes I would have a rebuttal but flagging is the better option (constructive discussion is hard without mutual respect, and/or don't feed the troll). Or, the comment doesn't even have anything to refute, it's just disrespectful or it's spam, or both. I have flagged a few comments but I'm rarely mad. And if one is mad because of a disrespectful comment, the flagging is probably appropriate too.
  - MrMcCall 2y ago
    > constructive discussion is hard without mutual respect Yes, indeed.
- AlexeyBelov 2y ago
  > Flagging is used by people who have no rebuttal but are mad This is cope, just like "I'm being downvoted for speaking the truth!". Nobody thinks "wow, they said a true statement, I should downvote them". I suggest you try to steelman the idea of flagging and see that maybe there could be other things at play.
  - MrMcCall 2y ago
    > Nobody thinks "wow, they said a true statement, I should downvote them". Precisely. That's the biggest problem with closed-minded fools.
    - AlexeyBelov 2y ago
      I don't understand your point, sorry. Or maybe you misunderstand (on purpose?). I'm saying you attribute those downvotes incorrectly. It's maybe natural to do so as an instinct -- "those people are against me!" -- but on HN it's expected to be a bit more introspective. It's incorrect to say that "people downvote because I'm right" or "people downvote because they have nothing to say".
      - MrMcCall 2y ago
        [dead]
        otterley 2y ago
        > To be 'ignorant' requires willfully _ignoring_ the truth No it doesn't. To borrow from the law, ignorance requires no scienter. It simply means you lack knowledge of factual or situational context, willfully or otherwise.

In a way, iirc, it really is. It's as much a "I disagree" as it is "I don't like this". That said, I would like to see more people actually respond in addition to a downvote. I don't think that's generally a function of the moderators though.

MrMcCall 2y ago

Flagging is used by people who have no rebuttal but are mad. That's why I have only flagged one or two posts, ever, but not because I was mad, but because the comment was just plain beyond the pale. And my posts against portaying violent rape in film got flagged. Make it make sense, because I understand the failure of this system because systems are my trade-in-craft.

jraph 2y ago
Nope, sometimes I would have a rebuttal but flagging is the better option (constructive discussion is hard without mutual respect, and/or don't feed the troll). Or, the comment doesn't even have anything to refute, it's just disrespectful or it's spam, or both. I have flagged a few comments but I'm rarely mad. And if one is mad because of a disrespectful comment, the flagging is probably appropriate too.
- MrMcCall 2y ago
  > constructive discussion is hard without mutual respect Yes, indeed.
AlexeyBelov 2y ago
> Flagging is used by people who have no rebuttal but are mad This is cope, just like "I'm being downvoted for speaking the truth!". Nobody thinks "wow, they said a true statement, I should downvote them". I suggest you try to steelman the idea of flagging and see that maybe there could be other things at play.
- MrMcCall 2y ago
  > Nobody thinks "wow, they said a true statement, I should downvote them". Precisely. That's the biggest problem with closed-minded fools.
  - AlexeyBelov 2y ago
    I don't understand your point, sorry. Or maybe you misunderstand (on purpose?). I'm saying you attribute those downvotes incorrectly. It's maybe natural to do so as an instinct -- "those people are against me!" -- but on HN it's expected to be a bit more introspective. It's incorrect to say that "people downvote because I'm right" or "people downvote because they have nothing to say".
    - MrMcCall 2y ago
      [dead]
      - otterley 2y ago
        > To be 'ignorant' requires willfully _ignoring_ the truth No it doesn't. To borrow from the law, ignorance requires no scienter. It simply means you lack knowledge of factual or situational context, willfully or otherwise.