While I, as well, agree that this may well not be HN-worthy, your usage of "Freedom of Speech" is silly. First and foremost, the concept of "Freedom of Speech" has no application in a private forum. If HN allows free speech, it does so willingly, not because it needs to. In addition to that, freedom of speech does not mean that your words aren't allowed to be judged. People often forget that freedom of speech means the freedom to offend and be offended, and both sides are able to say what they want. In that way, voting is a form of 'speech' as well, it's just not textual.