I see that you disagreed with my comment. If you had silently downvoted me (as is "ok" to do), the discussion goes nowhere. Instead you did the noble thing and responded to my comment with an counterpoint.
So, I ask you, which makes for a better HN? One where people downvote to disagree, or where people respond explaining why they disagree?
In my mind it is the latter behavior that makes HN a good place to be.
So regardless of what pg has stated I will continue to believe that it is far better (for HN) to respond to comments I disagree with than to downvote them, for down-voting (aka punishing) someone for saying something I don't agree with doesn't help me, it doesn't help the commenter, it doesn't help HN. So what's the point?
So, I ask you, which makes for a better HN? One where people downvote to disagree, or where people respond explaining why they disagree?
In my mind it is the latter behavior that makes HN a good place to be.
So regardless of what pg has stated I will continue to believe that it is far better (for HN) to respond to comments I disagree with than to downvote them, for down-voting (aka punishing) someone for saying something I don't agree with doesn't help me, it doesn't help the commenter, it doesn't help HN. So what's the point?