This discussion is a good example of why downvoting, graying comment text, and specifically, downvoting for disagreement, are bad.

The solution to the problem this story is about is robust, fearless discussion in pursuit of truth.

But what I see here are many thoughtful, reasoned comments being shamed and made hard-to-read by people who aren't able or willing to rebut them. It is cowardly and anti-intellectual.

It's effectively the downvoters saying, "I disagree with what you said, therefore I will make it harder for other people to hear you." It's antithetical to the stated purpose of this site: intellectual curiosity.