zlacker

>>itchyj+(OP)
A lot of times I decide not to contribute because I am afraid of being downvoted into the abysss, usually all it takes, is one reply to interpret my own comment wrongly or assuming things I don't specificy. Then the HN readers will read my comment and the disagreeing reply. At this point, I get downvoted (or upvoted) based on the interpretation of my comment by the reply.

So if I don't spend 20minutes making sure my reply is perfect, I will get downvoted.

Let's see if I get downvoted here too, as I wrote this on the go without checking all my facts.

>>orlies+t8
Why does it matter though? Beyond the 500 points required for unlocking the downvote functionality there is no difference in the site whatever points we have .

it shouldn’t really influence your behaviour?

You are right that quality of the response is rewarded .

It is lot more about timing if you contribute late to a thread or post it is less likely you will get any points .

I usually find myself doing that frequently , the lack of upvote/ downvote only bothers me when there are no replies, you don’t know whether people read it, not so much whether people agreed with it.