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Ask YC: Voting and Karma (Call to action)

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Ask YC: Voting and Karma (Call to action)

#31

Post by dhimes »

dcurtis wrote: post #7

At the very basis, an upvote means "I want other people to see this" and a downvote means "I think this is a waste of other people's time." Your voting habits don't influence what you see at all, so it really has no personal effect; you're voting things for other people.

You are exactly correct: since an upvote "floats" something to the top, you should upvote when you think other people should see it. As hackers understand, knowing what something does is important to knowing how to use it correctly.

Re: Ask YC: Voting and Karma (Call to action)

#33

Post by tom »

At first it bothered me that I could make a comment on something, maybe not a comment that everyone would agree with, but a comment that I believed, and yet I'd be down-voted. I'd watch my karma tick away and be like "What are these folks doing? What on earth is wrong with what I said? How does it lessen the quality of the conversation?"

Then I realized, it just doesn't matter. This isn't a contest, it's a community. All this measures is the general vibe of the comment. Higher numbers = better vibe. A fuzzy value at best.

More useful I think would be to see the total score, but also be able to mouse over the score to see how many down-votes and how many up-votes something received. But that would very likely require a big change by PG to maintain three scores, not one.

Re: Ask YC: Voting and Karma (Call to action)

#34

Post by xenoterracide »

DanielBMarkham wrote: post #5

Downvotes without an explanation have no meaning. You should be required to explain why you downvoted. If a downvote means "I'd like to see fewer comments like this" -- then, why? What is wrong? Is it off-topic, rude, you disgaree, it used words you don't like, it ran on too long. What, what, what is the problem?!?! A downvote gives you nothing but some vague feeling that you broke some kind of social rule or norm so…

I've been downvoted for explaining to a guy why he was being downvoted. he then told me his 'trolling' was a joke and to have a sense of humor (he was already at -4) then I started getting downvoted and he got upvoted.

Re: Ask YC: Voting and Karma (Call to action)

#35

Post by [deleted] »

edw519 wrote: post #3

I almost never downvote. The only time I downvote is if something is extremely inappropriate, negative, trolling, or is degrading (IMO) to the quality of this community. I never downvote when I disagree. If I disagree, I reply with my disagreement. I wish others would too. Not much to learn from downvotes. Lots to learn from discussion and healthy debate. I upvote often, to anything that I think adds value.

[deleted]

Re: Ask YC: Voting and Karma (Call to action)

#36

Post by timr »

aneesh wrote: post #10
daveambrose wrote: post #9

I usually never downvote, but when there's something I blatantly disagree with, I'll downvote. I'll upvote for two reasons: 1. More HN readers need to see this. 2. Excellent point.

downvote != disagreement If someone says something I don't agree with, but says it reasonably and with some sort of support, I'll reply instead of downvoting.

That's your opinion.

Many times, a comment is so inane that the only time-efficient way to express disagreement is to vote against it.

Any active forum is going to have a tiny bit of brass buried in a large pile of muck. If we spend all of our time apologizing to the muck-makers, there's very little time to find the brass.

Re: Ask YC: Voting and Karma (Call to action)

#38

Post by rokhayakebe »

iamdave wrote: post #15
rokhayakebe wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are absolutely right, although it seems to me that to a growing number of users Downvote = "I disagree" or "Everyone is downvoting so I'll follow" or "You cannot disagree with this particular user so I'll downvote". I think downvoting should not be. It is an unnecessary evil. A "dichotomy". Fighting for Peace using nuclear power. The best way to fight comments/posts that add no value is to Remain Silent. If you h…

I disagree (although I upvoted your comment because it's a worthy contribution), if you're going to downvote a person at least share with us why you disagree and help us all glean some sort of understanding of your viewpoint. No use adding flame infinitum.

What I mean is I do not need to downvote nor comment if I believe it is not worth it.

I would suggest limits on the number of karma points we can use each week or day (with no rollover) and eliminate the downvote feature.

In the case a comment or story is inappropriate, it can be flagged.

Re: Ask YC: Voting and Karma (Call to action)

#39

Post by brianlash »

blogimus wrote: post #29

I see a practice here which I find unhelpful: "bandwagon upvoting" where it appears that people vote up the leading comments. Do we really need to vote the top comments in a post out of the park, please tell me what utility this provides? I saw this a lot on slashdot when I used to frequent that site. Comments that were at 3 or 4 got pushed to 5, but comments at 2 or less got ignored. But on that site, there was a ha…

> "bandwagon upvoting" where it appears that people vote up the leading comments.

Same deal as with Google Adwords and the reason advertisers are willing to pay top dollar for spots 1-4(ish). They're more visible, so they get more action.

You have to bear in mind that by design the top is that space where eyes fall first. So it stands to reason those comments at the top of the page are the ones that get the most action. Not saying "agreeing because others agree" doesn't go on... I just think it's effect is dwarfed in comparison to the effect visibility has on a comment's votes.

I don't see any way around the problem -- if it's a problem at all -- without altering the presentation of comments. I just don't think it's worth that.

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