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Noticing this aggressive downvoting trend quite alot on HN lately. Perfectly valid inoffensive arguments are downvoted just because the downvoter disagrees with

Noticing this aggressive downvoting trend quite alot on HN lately. Perfectly valid inoffensive arguments are downvoted just because the downvoter disagrees with them.

icebraining 12y ago
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171
- dataminer 12y ago
  That was a comment made 2402 days ago, is it still HN's position? HN has evolved quite alot since then.
  - Crito 12y ago
    Unless you've got something newer to suggest otherwise, that's how HN operates. "Downvotes aren't for disagreeing" is an absurd redditism (everyone knows that they are, since upvotes are for agreeing).
    - adwf 12y ago
      It's a little different on HN due to how the comments are hidden quite quickly when downvoted. I frequently upvote people who reply to me but I disagree with, simply because it would ruin the comment chain and hey, they might just be right anyway ;) I reserve downvotes for rudeness and demonstrably wrong/misleading comments.
    - dataminer 12y ago
      I can understand a downvote with a solid reply, but downvote just for disagreeing doesn't add to the discussion, its more of a censorship which should only be used for offensive/misleading comments IMHO. Personally, I use upvotes to reward new knowledge or an interesting argument in a comment, I don't upvote every comment I agree with, and downvote only if the comment is offensive.
    - zo1 12y ago
      So then the end result is that opinions/comments that a lot of people disagree with will get punished? Seems counter-intuitive if you're trying to have a reasonable argument/discussion/debate about something. It's one thing to express disagreement, but it's completely different to silence + punish someone because you disagree with them.
- ryandvm 12y ago
  I think it's funny how HN likes to think of themselves as free-minded, creative individuals and yet there's a persistent cult of personality around here. With all due respect, I don't find it particularly relevant what one guy said 6 years ago. I don't care whether he created HN or not. He's no longer an active participant.
  - icebraining 12y ago
    I think it's funny how HN likes to think of themselves as free-minded, creative individuals I'm not!
jacquesm 12y ago
It happened again. -1 is the new 1 it seems. Pity.
Karunamon 12y ago
I think people get way too bothered about downvotes (myself included). They affect nothing other than color. If someone disagrees with you, good. It means you've taken a stand on something.

Noticing this aggressive downvoting trend quite alot on HN lately. Perfectly valid inoffensive arguments are downvoted just because the downvoter disagrees with them.

icebraining 12y ago

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171

dataminer 12y ago
That was a comment made 2402 days ago, is it still HN's position? HN has evolved quite alot since then.
- Crito 12y ago
  Unless you've got something newer to suggest otherwise, that's how HN operates. "Downvotes aren't for disagreeing" is an absurd redditism (everyone knows that they are, since upvotes are for agreeing).
  - adwf 12y ago
    It's a little different on HN due to how the comments are hidden quite quickly when downvoted. I frequently upvote people who reply to me but I disagree with, simply because it would ruin the comment chain and hey, they might just be right anyway ;) I reserve downvotes for rudeness and demonstrably wrong/misleading comments.
  - dataminer 12y ago
    I can understand a downvote with a solid reply, but downvote just for disagreeing doesn't add to the discussion, its more of a censorship which should only be used for offensive/misleading comments IMHO. Personally, I use upvotes to reward new knowledge or an interesting argument in a comment, I don't upvote every comment I agree with, and downvote only if the comment is offensive.
  - zo1 12y ago
    So then the end result is that opinions/comments that a lot of people disagree with will get punished? Seems counter-intuitive if you're trying to have a reasonable argument/discussion/debate about something. It's one thing to express disagreement, but it's completely different to silence + punish someone because you disagree with them.
ryandvm 12y ago
I think it's funny how HN likes to think of themselves as free-minded, creative individuals and yet there's a persistent cult of personality around here. With all due respect, I don't find it particularly relevant what one guy said 6 years ago. I don't care whether he created HN or not. He's no longer an active participant.
- icebraining 12y ago
  I think it's funny how HN likes to think of themselves as free-minded, creative individuals I'm not!

jacquesm 12y ago

It happened again. -1 is the new 1 it seems. Pity.

Karunamon 12y ago

I think people get way too bothered about downvotes (myself included). They affect nothing other than color. If someone disagrees with you, good. It means you've taken a stand on something.