Didn't Slashdot have a system whereby you had to give a reason for a downvote? I may be mis-remembering as I've not been on that site for aeons. But, even then, how do you make such a system functional? Say I downvote a well-argued post, simply because I disagree with it, but choose some other 'Reason for Downvote' like 'Irrelevant'or 'Misleading'. to make my downvote seem legitimate.

Incidentally, you can also expect someone [most likely DanG himself] to come in and point out to you that discussion of the inner workings of HN is not a valid topic for debate.

In its way HN is just as much of an echo-chamber as Twitter, where contrary or unpopular views will get you censured. It's just all done under more of a veneer of reasonableness here.

Ironically I think you are probably safe with a down vote button! Personally I have only ever down voted thuggish comments. I can't understand why others think it is a productive way to disagree.

Ideally down voting should adversely effect the voter too.

Isn’t it more that low quality comments are downvoted?

If it was used to silence people then sure, but I’m not sure that’s happening. I read many different opinions, and often have seen quite interesting discussions take place. Idk if that could happen if people are silenced for their opinion regularly.

As to the quality of the comment; it is indeed a social credit system, I think the fact that it’s called karma also points toward that. You need some moderation to have good discussions.

Either way, that you got the magical downvote power suggests you are doing pretty well, congrats on 500!

To not participate if you don't like HN.

This is the best self moderated community I know of. You misunderstand that there are many varied opinions with down voting power, not a on reminded conformist group.

Shallow, smug, or other comments which do not add value to the conversation is discouraged. That's for Reddit and Twitter, although I wish that those platforms would improve discourse.

If.you can't find the words, maybe don't use any?

Well said. I get it in SO, but here? Upvoting or downvoting doesn't make sense. We're all smart and we can take being wrong. Strong opinions held lightly.

In reference to your comment that got downvotey'd, I don't think it provided much value to anyone ("we scrapped a small ocaml project because the ocaml guy left", is very... well, expected)

And multiple people provided detailed rebuke as well against the implication that it was ocaml's fault.

I'd say your comment came off as snide more than smug

Regardless, in that case it seemed to work perfectly, you felt bad for posting snide remarks, and will less likely post such things in the future