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The problem with downvotes is that they're wholly subjective. While you may not downvote someone based on disagreeing with them, others will and can.
by gregd 13y ago
The problem with downvotes is that they're wholly subjective. While you may not downvote someone based on disagreeing with them, others will and can.
- jlgreco 13y agoI don't even see that as a problem. If we accept the use of upvotes to signal agreement, it is only natural that downvotes will come to signal the opposite.
- apalmer 13y agoThe problem is that this produces an echo chamber, the things that majority 'agrees' with hits the top, and the things that folks 'disagree' with sink out of site. Upvoting/Downvoting comments shouldnt really be based on 'aggreement' but instead based on 'interesting', upvoting interesting or thought provoking comments regardless of wether you agree or not leads to more interesting conversation...
- jlgreco 13y agoUsing upvotes freely but downvotes sparingly produces something else (which I cannot mention by name without this comment going 'dead'). The willingness to disagree is a large part of what makes HN what it is, and I think that downvotes help foster the sort of atmosphere in which that is possible. Really, contrarian viewpoints are hardly an endangered animal here.
- 6cxs2hd6 13y agoNatural for some. I can't downvote [1]. When it comes to downvoting rights, Hacker News has the rough equivalent of a poll tax or voter ID law. ;) [1]: Not yet. Depending on the reaction to my post, "not yet" might change into "can". Or might change into, "yeah, never".