Earlier quoted context omitted.
> "When this thread is referenced to a week from now there is no way to see what sort of agreement occurred with either one of us." That just means that people will have to read the comments and decide for themselves based on the merits of the comments. One might argue that that is better than deciding based on points because some people interpret points as assent to the beliefs expressed in the comment while others…
>> That just means that people will have to read the comments and decide for themselves based on the merits of the comments. You imply that the sole benefit of the score would be to allow me to form my own opinion. Whereas I hypothosize that I already know my own opinion - the score allows me to measure the opinion of others. Those who have no opinion of their own are easily swayed, with or without a score, however f…
I think part of the reason for hiding the points is to affect the process of forming opinions and better facilitate changing opinions already formed - I doubt that the use of scores to confirm one's own opinions is seen as beneficial to the community. For people who believe that scores should reflect the quality of a comment rather than the popularity of the sentiment it expresses your argument tends to support the hiding of scores.