If I find a comment that I disagree with, and post a reply explaining why I disagree with it, can I also down-vote that comment or is it considered petty to do both? What if someone if someone posts a reply to one of my comments disagreeing with me, and I am not swayed and still think they are wrong, do I down-vote them or does only have the effect of punishing disagreement?
Not a question of much significance, but this is probably the most appropriate place to ask.
No clue about a general answer, so I’ll give you mine. I figure if enough people do that, a general answer may emerge.
I consider the two independent. That is, I’ll downvote if I think it’s worth downvoting, and I’ll reply if I think it’s worth replying, and I’ll do both if I think both. I don’t think that’s petty.
I endorse adding an explanation of the downvote when i do both, although I don’t always actually do it.
As for when to downvote; the rule of thumb is “downvote what you want less of; upvote what you want more of.”
Beyond that, well, individual preferences differ. For my own part, I don’t want less disagreement per se so I don’t downvote things I disagree with, although many things I downvote I also disagree with. But some people do.
I generally hold off on downvoting any posting I’m publicly engaging with. It feels too much like discussion as a fight, in which I am armed not only with the Broadsword of Argument, but also the Flintlock of Karma.
When I downvote anything, it’s for more than just simple disagreement, but something beyond that: insults, persistence in refusing to read background information, etc. I’ve even upvoted things I disagreed with, for making an argument that was worth making, if only to see it refuted, and I’ve downvoted things I agreed with, on grounds such as triviality or irrelevance.
ETA: I also never mention any specific up or downvotes.
In general, I will only downvote a comment in a thread that I have commented in if the comment is egregiously wrong or rude. I don’t feel any similar restraint against upvoting comments that seem correct even if they agree with me. I also will upvote comments that disagree with me if they make good points even if I think they are overall wrong. I don’t know how common this approach is.
My take: if it is a conversation with several people or is a first-level comment, it is fair game. If it is a two-person conversation, it generally bad form.
Minor question about netiquette for this site.
If I find a comment that I disagree with, and post a reply explaining why I disagree with it, can I also down-vote that comment or is it considered petty to do both? What if someone if someone posts a reply to one of my comments disagreeing with me, and I am not swayed and still think they are wrong, do I down-vote them or does only have the effect of punishing disagreement?
Not a question of much significance, but this is probably the most appropriate place to ask.
No clue about a general answer, so I’ll give you mine. I figure if enough people do that, a general answer may emerge.
I consider the two independent. That is, I’ll downvote if I think it’s worth downvoting, and I’ll reply if I think it’s worth replying, and I’ll do both if I think both. I don’t think that’s petty.
I endorse adding an explanation of the downvote when i do both, although I don’t always actually do it.
As for when to downvote; the rule of thumb is “downvote what you want less of; upvote what you want more of.”
Beyond that, well, individual preferences differ. For my own part, I don’t want less disagreement per se so I don’t downvote things I disagree with, although many things I downvote I also disagree with. But some people do.
I agree.
I agree.
I generally hold off on downvoting any posting I’m publicly engaging with. It feels too much like discussion as a fight, in which I am armed not only with the Broadsword of Argument, but also the Flintlock of Karma.
When I downvote anything, it’s for more than just simple disagreement, but something beyond that: insults, persistence in refusing to read background information, etc. I’ve even upvoted things I disagreed with, for making an argument that was worth making, if only to see it refuted, and I’ve downvoted things I agreed with, on grounds such as triviality or irrelevance.
ETA: I also never mention any specific up or downvotes.
In general, I will only downvote a comment in a thread that I have commented in if the comment is egregiously wrong or rude. I don’t feel any similar restraint against upvoting comments that seem correct even if they agree with me. I also will upvote comments that disagree with me if they make good points even if I think they are overall wrong. I don’t know how common this approach is.
My take: if it is a conversation with several people or is a first-level comment, it is fair game. If it is a two-person conversation, it generally bad form.