>by consistently upvoting them

My comment is actually downvoted at -3 points currently. As for the top comment, I don't see the issue with pointing out that the site is enabling the tracking of users when it claims not to, especially since it is directly related to the topic of the site itself. I don't think being unconditionally positive is in line with the site's goal of promoting "intellectual curiosity."

>judging by the karma ranking and comment history of some of these commenters

That top comment is from John Nagle of Nagle's algorithm. I doubt his karma is from being negative.