That would be relevant if army1987′s observation had been that almost all of Ritalin’s recent comments have been voted on. It wasn’t.
Anything that’s a bit controversial usually gets some downvotes on LW even if it’s overall in positive karma.
That would be relevant if all those comments were at, say, +4 −3. They aren’t. They’re mostly at +0 −1 or +0 −2 or +1 −1. Which is why the top two competing hypotheses are “consistently lowish perceived quality” and “someone on an anti-Ritalin campaign”.
Which is why the top two competing hypotheses are “consistently lowish perceived quality”
If the post is at +0 −1 there are fewer people who consider the post to be negative than if the post is at +3 −4.
If nobody votes up certain posts than that has nothing to do with “someone on an anti-Ritalin campaign”.
That would be relevant if army1987′s observation had been that almost all of Ritalin’s recent comments have been voted on. It wasn’t.
That would be relevant if all those comments were at, say, +4 −3. They aren’t. They’re mostly at +0 −1 or +0 −2 or +1 −1. Which is why the top two competing hypotheses are “consistently lowish perceived quality” and “someone on an anti-Ritalin campaign”.
If the post is at +0 −1 there are fewer people who consider the post to be negative than if the post is at +3 −4. If nobody votes up certain posts than that has nothing to do with “someone on an anti-Ritalin campaign”.