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>IMO, noobs might think HN community is hostile & leave. I believe the parent was referring to downvoting comments that are hostile in tone, not using downvoti
by ddeck 11y ago
>IMO, noobs might think HN community is hostile & leave.
I believe the parent was referring to downvoting comments that are hostile in tone, not using downvoting as an outlet for his own hostility.
- spacemanmatt 11y agoTone policing is a form of hostility, too.
- quesera 11y agoWell, yes, then I am intolerant of aggressive behaviour and take action to suppress it and its spread. The simple logic is that hostility obscures the writer's meaning, invites reactive hostility, and pollutes the conversation. I can see no reason to promote it. Slow down, try again without invective, be civil. It works better. We are not the powerless disenfranchised citizens of a dictatorial state with no other means of expression. Some of us might be, actually, but not in this setting.
- spacemanmatt 11y agoTone policing disenfranchises minority views, period. Doesn't matter whether the context is social justice or database performance; Unless the tone is beyond well-known bounds (e.g. is abusive, flippant, way off-topic, etc.) I don't think it is generally constructive. Edit: I think we're talking past each other on where "tone policing" becomes regular old moderation.
- manidoraisamy 11y agoHe seems to disagree with OP completely. But, I find OP's point about noobs valid: > People who get down voted (esp noobs to the community) have no idea why they were.
- quesera 11y agoI agree with that part, but disagree with the proposed solution, completely. I suggested an idea to inform new users in a post upthread (link to guidelines next to any comment of yours that is score-negative), but it would probably be better to link to a page with the guidelines plus a blurb about accidents, confusion, and just not taking it too seriously.