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On HN, it's completely appropriate to use downvote for disagreement (this has came up over and over again, but I doubt it's gonna change). Generally, I tried no

by NhanH 11y ago

On HN, it's completely appropriate to use downvote for disagreement (this has came up over and over again, but I doubt it's gonna change). Generally, I tried not to downvote for just disagreement, but melling's comment is pretty much the text book sample of the middlebrow dismissal, or gratuitously negative that we try to avoid.

melling 11y ago
That's incorrect. Why don't you read this 10 times then reread what I said. " We live in some exciting times. Every few months we have a new probe somewhere teaching us so much about our tiny corner of the universe." It's simply not accurate.
- NhanH 11y ago
  I was not one of those who downvoted you. And on further reading of your comments, it looks like you are commenting on the political climate of our society (no one cares about space/ science etc.), rather than specific engineering ability of the probe/ the team involves. It is a popular sentiment, and I can say that a lot of us would agree with it. But your original comment read very much like belittling the current Pluto mission, which is a different thing and very much not welcomed here. I mean, we even try not to complain too much for the 10000 JS frameworks being posted here, let alone another probe in space.
  - eCa 11y ago
    > very much not welcomed here While I agree with your first paragraph, I have issues with sweeping statements as to which viewpoints are welcome here. While I, as stated, disagree with melling's opinion in this matter, he is more than welcome to have it and make it known. Just as those who don't agree, through downvote or response, are welcome to their view.
pc2g4d 11y ago
I felt like melling was pointing out something valuable---putting current achievements into perspective with a little history.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
Diamons 11y ago
Middlebrow dismissal isn't even a real phrase.
- enraged_camel 11y ago
  It sure is. It even originated here on Hacker news. http://www.byrnehobart.com/blog/why-are-middlebrow-dismissals-so-tempting/ http://www.byrnehobart.com/blog/why-are-middlebrow-dismissal...
  - Diamons 11y ago
    Right, so its part of the circle jerk. Once again, not a real phrase.
ars 11y ago
> On HN, it's completely appropriate to use downvote for disagreement No. It is not appropriate at all! You reply for disagreement. You do not downvote. Downvotes are for useless messages, flamebait, off topic, things like that. Downvote for disagreement leads to reddit and no one wants that.
- kevin_thibedeau 11y ago
  The bigger issue is that people with negative reactions are more likely to downvote than those willing to upvote on touchy subjects. That creates an imbalance and everyone has to be careful not to upset the hypersensitive SJWs as a result. The same human tendency accounts for the imbalance in online reviews.
- baddox 11y ago
  Out of curiosity, do you consider it acceptable to downvote a message for not contributing to the conversation, even if it is technically on topic? I try to follow official policies, but I confess that I often just think of voting as a general way to express my opinion of how a comment contributes to the quality of the discussion.
- wglb 11y ago
  Check out what PG says about this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171
  - jschwartzi 11y ago
    I don't agree with him there, because unpopular opinions should still be expressible. The downvote allows you to suppress opinions that you don't agree with which I don't think fits with the spirit of discourse that a good community should have. If someone says something inflammatory, suppress it. If someone says something you don't agree with, disagree with it.
    - pests 11y ago
      I agree. Is it time we move on and form our own opinion about the use of the downvote as a community instead of always deferring by quoting pg, whilst whose values and contributions are obvious, has only posted 1 comment[1] (and no submissions[2]) since his last active day 475 days ago?[3] [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=pg https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=pg [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=pg https://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=pg [2] I do not know however if he reads or still votes on HN.
pests 11y ago
"I know it when I see it"

by NhanH 11y ago

melling 11y ago

That's incorrect. Why don't you read this 10 times then reread what I said. " We live in some exciting times. Every few months we have a new probe somewhere teaching us so much about our tiny corner of the universe." It's simply not accurate.

NhanH 11y ago
I was not one of those who downvoted you. And on further reading of your comments, it looks like you are commenting on the political climate of our society (no one cares about space/ science etc.), rather than specific engineering ability of the probe/ the team involves. It is a popular sentiment, and I can say that a lot of us would agree with it. But your original comment read very much like belittling the current Pluto mission, which is a different thing and very much not welcomed here. I mean, we even try not to complain too much for the 10000 JS frameworks being posted here, let alone another probe in space.
- eCa 11y ago
  > very much not welcomed here While I agree with your first paragraph, I have issues with sweeping statements as to which viewpoints are welcome here. While I, as stated, disagree with melling's opinion in this matter, he is more than welcome to have it and make it known. Just as those who don't agree, through downvote or response, are welcome to their view.

pc2g4d 11y ago

I felt like melling was pointing out something valuable---putting current achievements into perspective with a little history.

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

Diamons 11y ago

Middlebrow dismissal isn't even a real phrase.

enraged_camel 11y ago
It sure is. It even originated here on Hacker news. http://www.byrnehobart.com/blog/why-are-middlebrow-dismissals-so-tempting/ http://www.byrnehobart.com/blog/why-are-middlebrow-dismissal...
- Diamons 11y ago
  Right, so its part of the circle jerk. Once again, not a real phrase.

ars 11y ago

> On HN, it's completely appropriate to use downvote for disagreement No. It is not appropriate at all! You reply for disagreement. You do not downvote. Downvotes are for useless messages, flamebait, off topic, things like that. Downvote for disagreement leads to reddit and no one wants that.

kevin_thibedeau 11y ago
The bigger issue is that people with negative reactions are more likely to downvote than those willing to upvote on touchy subjects. That creates an imbalance and everyone has to be careful not to upset the hypersensitive SJWs as a result. The same human tendency accounts for the imbalance in online reviews.
baddox 11y ago
Out of curiosity, do you consider it acceptable to downvote a message for not contributing to the conversation, even if it is technically on topic? I try to follow official policies, but I confess that I often just think of voting as a general way to express my opinion of how a comment contributes to the quality of the discussion.
wglb 11y ago
Check out what PG says about this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171
- jschwartzi 11y ago
  I don't agree with him there, because unpopular opinions should still be expressible. The downvote allows you to suppress opinions that you don't agree with which I don't think fits with the spirit of discourse that a good community should have. If someone says something inflammatory, suppress it. If someone says something you don't agree with, disagree with it.
  - pests 11y ago
    I agree. Is it time we move on and form our own opinion about the use of the downvote as a community instead of always deferring by quoting pg, whilst whose values and contributions are obvious, has only posted 1 comment[1] (and no submissions[2]) since his last active day 475 days ago?[3] [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=pg https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=pg [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=pg https://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=pg [2] I do not know however if he reads or still votes on HN.

pests 11y ago

"I know it when I see it"