I have to agree that commentless downvoting is not a good way to combat infohazards. I’d probably take it a step further and argue that it’s not a good way to combat anything, which is why it’s not a good way to combat infohazards (and if you disagree that infohazards are ultimately as bad as they are called, then it would probably mean it’s a bad thing to try and combat them).
Its commentless nature means it violates “norm one” (and violates it much more as a super-downvote).
It means something different than “push stuff that’s not that, up”, while also being an alternative to doing that.
I think a complete explanation of why it’s not a very good idea doesn’t exist yet though, and is still needed.
However, I think there’s another thing to consider: Imagine if up-votes and down-votes were all accurately placed. Would they bother you as much? They might not bother you at all if they seemed accurate to you, and therefore if they do bother you, that suggests that the real problem is that they aren’t even accurate.
My feeling is that commentless downvotes are likely a contributing mechanism to the process that leads them to be placed inaccurately, but it is possible that something else is causing them to do that.
I have to agree that commentless downvoting is not a good way to combat infohazards. I’d probably take it a step further and argue that it’s not a good way to combat anything, which is why it’s not a good way to combat infohazards (and if you disagree that infohazards are ultimately as bad as they are called, then it would probably mean it’s a bad thing to try and combat them).
Its commentless nature means it violates “norm one” (and violates it much more as a super-downvote).
It means something different than “push stuff that’s not that, up”, while also being an alternative to doing that.
I think a complete explanation of why it’s not a very good idea doesn’t exist yet though, and is still needed.
However, I think there’s another thing to consider: Imagine if up-votes and down-votes were all accurately placed. Would they bother you as much? They might not bother you at all if they seemed accurate to you, and therefore if they do bother you, that suggests that the real problem is that they aren’t even accurate.
My feeling is that commentless downvotes are likely a contributing mechanism to the process that leads them to be placed inaccurately, but it is possible that something else is causing them to do that.