Downvote system HN

#1

Post by thmz » Thu, May 06, 2010, 6:19 PM UTC

When you don't like a comment on HN you just don't change the points of the comment. When you really think a comment is out of place you downvote a comment.

This is a great system. It keeps HN clean from flamebates an other spam.

Today my comment was downvoted. That's ok. I won't complain about that. Only this time I was very curious about the reason.

I like to be curious because I like to learn. And one of the best way's to learn is by your mistakes.

So wouldn't it be great when a downvoter must apply a simple explanation? Or could this lead to discussions about the explanation instead of the subject?

edit Changes 'posts' to 'comments'

Re: Downvote system HN

#2

Post by bdfh42 » Thu, May 06, 2010, 6:26 PM UTC

You can't downvote posts on HN.

You can downvote comments though. You just have to learn to live with this.

Re: Downvote system HN

#3

Post by ilike » Thu, May 06, 2010, 6:38 PM UTC

I like the idea of mandatory comment to downvote. I dont see any reason why someone should give an offtopic explanation for downvotes.

Re: Downvote system HN

#4

Post by wendroid » Thu, May 06, 2010, 7:01 PM UTC

ilike wrote: post #3

I like the idea of mandatory comment to downvote. I dont see any reason why someone should give an offtopic explanation for downvotes.

My car is green

Re: Downvote system HN

#5

Post by thmz » Thu, May 06, 2010, 7:08 PM UTC

bdfh42 wrote: post #2

You can't downvote posts on HN. You can downvote comments though. You just have to learn to live with this.

I'm sorry, I ment 'comments'.

But my question is about the 'learn to live with this'. Wouldn't it be good to learn why you were downvoted?

Re: Downvote system HN

#6

Post by growt » Thu, May 06, 2010, 8:08 PM UTC

I think this has been discussed some times before. You may be downvoted because the Downvoter doesn't agree with your point or because he (or she) thinks your comment is rubbish. There is no way to tell the reason, but so far it seems to work fine anyhow.

Re: Downvote system HN

#7

Post by kgermino » Thu, May 06, 2010, 8:36 PM UTC

wendroid wrote: post #4

ilike wrote: post #3

I like the idea of mandatory comment to downvote. I dont see any reason why someone should give an offtopic explanation for downvotes.

My car is green

Good Point.

Re: Downvote system HN

#8

Post by [deleted] » Fri, May 07, 2010, 2:51 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Downvote system HN

#9

Post by rick_2047 » Fri, May 07, 2010, 6:41 AM UTC

growt wrote: post #6

I think this has been discussed some times before. You may be downvoted because the Downvoter doesn't agree with your point or because he (or she) thinks your comment is rubbish. There is no way to tell the reason, but so far it seems to work fine anyhow.

So does Windows vista for the first few hours till you do not install anything on it

Re: Downvote system HN

#10

Post by pook » Fri, May 07, 2010, 6:45 AM UTC

I can imagine it possible to require a commit-style comment, visible only on a user's profile list of comments.