zlacker

>>tonmoy+(OP)
There's really one thing missing from the guidelines IMO - "don't downvote for disagreement, downvote for offtopic/flamebait/inappropriate comment".

Well, this should be obvious, but it sadly isn't...

>>Pannon+Ch
Historically, it has been explicitly okay to downvote for disagreement >>117171

>>stevek+6k
There was a time when downvoting someone was accompanied by an explanation of why the downvote had just happened, but I think that didn't live long.

Either way, after the divisive last few years I don't think that that many people care for downvotes anymore, i.e. for what "the other side" thinks.

>>pagane+dh1
Maybe you're talking about some other site, but I don't remember HN ever operating this way. Downvoting disagreement is one of the oldest norms on the site.

>>tptace+li1
2010-2012, I’d say. Too lazy to search through the comments back then. I also remember when meta discussions/posts like this one were actively discouraged, I’d say that lasted for longer.

Slightly related to the topic of moderation and this forum, the people behind it should really do something about allowing users in here to delete their comments/past history. We’re only a doxxing event away from making the news (this forum was no better than Reddit when it came to the Boston bombing, as an example and talking about doxxing).

>>pagane+5k1
Meta discussions are still discouraged, but I think that Dan sort of lets one slip by to vent out the pressure every once in awhile.

Downvoting for disagreement was absolutely a norm here 2010-2012. You'd have been chided for giving a reason to your downvote then.

The deletion of comments and comment history is a perennial topic; you can search Dan's comment history to understand the rationale behind our policies on it.