HACKER Q&A
📣 qzx_pierri

Is there a way for me to ensure I'm never able to downvote on HN?


This may seem like a strange request, but I really enjoy HN because I don't see a downvote icon attached to comments. I only think to interact with a comment if I want to upvote them and show support or leave a friendly comment. It's a very positive flow.

As of now, when I see a comment I don't agree with, I just scroll past. Once I hit a certain point threshold and acquire the downvote ability (I'm not too far off), I fear I may start paying more attention to the lower quality comments because I'll feel like I need to help out HN by downvoting them.

I guess I associate downvoting someone's post with some sort of 'negative' mental response. The 'no downvote' zone is great and I would like to remain here. If removing the downvote feature isn't possible, could a mod reset my point score to zero?

Thanks!

  👤 perihelions Accepted Answer ✓
Here's a uBlock Origin filter that hides downvote arrows:

    news.ycombinator.com##:xpath(//div[contains(@title,"downvote")]):style(display: none !important)
I didn't make any extra effort for you; I already had a filter (below) that enlarges the size of arrows (all types), for easier clicking.

    news.ycombinator.com##:xpath(//div[contains(@class,"votearrow")]):style(width: 15px !important; height: 15px !important; background-size: 15px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important)
👤 tgflynn
If you are thoughtful enough to write this comment I think you you should be thoughtful enough to avoid downvoting if you believe it is wrong.

I agree with you, by the way. I've been above the downvote threshold for a long time and I don't think I've ever downvoted a comment because there is nothing I hate worse than having a comment downvoted with no explanation as to what it was the downvoter disagreed with.

👤 ggm
I do think there is merit in showing disapprobation. But it has to be used judicously and probably 99% of the time [flag] is the right thing, because it heads to "this shouldn't be here" more than "I don't like this"

Unpopular opinion, contrarianism incurs a cost in downvote, but it also has a disproportionate effect. It's often designed to seek attention. Trolling is too, and so it's easy to mistake the two. Some people just live for "devils advocate" and forget the scale effects. Your one "but..." reason is not actually outweighing the 99 "here's the good things" stories oftentimes.

I should add I've been flagged, and I've been downvoted. I think both were potentially unfair in the moment but I also think a Dang intervention is something to take seriously and I've had both good and bad kinds: He has asked me why I deleted a post, as well as telling me I shouldn't have posted.

👤 trinovantes
Use ublock origin and hide the html element
👤 rolph
post a comment that is something controversial, or factually wrong on purpose, and a reduction of points will be produced, for you.

example

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30284615

just salt your comment history alittle like this and you can surf a score.

some people like to have scores like 1337. or 666 as the number equates to leetspeak

👤 detaro
if trinovantes clientside solution isnt an option, best to email the mods (contact link in footer) regarding your other choices - they know best what they can/are willing to do.