HACKER Q&A
📣 iosystem

Should upvotes/downvotes show the user?


I believe it would be an interesting implementation for HN. I rarely comment, but when I do, I think it would be interesting to read the comments of users who upvoted or downvoted, potentially gauging the reaction behind their vote, especially if they choose not to reply. I don’t know of a website that does something similar, and flaws might exist, such as commenters retaliating against recurring downvotes from specific individuals. However, implementing something like a timeout for downvoting the person who has downvoted could be considered. Even seeing who is upvoting whom could be interesting, and I’m sure collecting and analyzing such data would be useful for mods to prevent abuse of the voting system if not already done. Another ideal situation is to have a comment field that could be required for downvoting to possibly inform why.

  👤 meristohm Accepted Answer ✓
Seems worthwhile to discuss, so I upvoted your post. The barrier on mobile is too high right now to see if this has been floated already.

Sometimes I upvote a post because I think the potential discussion has merit here, regardless of the link. I have either never downvoted, or only once, to something completely inane and not helpful to the discussion. I really try not to fall into voting based on agreement, since my opinions can and have changed as I learn more. Still, there's a fair amount of subjectivity behind my upvoting, coupled with often choosing to move on to the next dopamine hit rather than thoroughly dig in.

Data on our voting behavior would be interesting. Is it already collected and analyzed by a subset of people behind HN?

What is your motivation for this, beyond that it would be interesting, helpful to mods against abuse, and more transparency as to why the vote? That all may be enough, of course, especially the latter two reasons. More transparency and accountability might make discussions even less prone to devolving into emotional reactions?

👤 h2odragon
disqus does that

i'd say it adds an extra layer of personality politics and further excuses for discussion and bad feelings around the schoolyard level socialization. makes real discussion of subjects more difficult.

I think if i was designing a forum implementation i might go further the other way: not just votes but comments being anonymous, at least at first glance. perhaps have a link on each comment to show the user who wrote it etc.

I think that might increase the signal just a bit, the less "extra" there is around our words, the more need to craft them so they stands on they own

👤 chiefalchemist
I agree that down voting needs context. Do they believe the statement is wrong? Then correct it, right? Isn't that part of why this place exists? Or is it more emotional / subjective and the down voter simply disagrees? For example, something less than flattering is said about your employer, is no reason for down voting.

I don't really down vote. I don't recall the last time I did. Also, I don't agree with the mindset "I don't like it so I'll down vote it." It's annoying when that happens. To me it feels small minded and lazy, and it lack intellectual wherewithal.