a comment where I said “thanks” when somebody pointed out a formatting error in my comments is now at −1.
That sounds like a pretty low value comment. Is it beneficial to third parties to be able to read it? If not, just make the correction and PM your thanks. Otherwise you’re unnecessarily wasting everyone’s time in the guise of politeness.
Acknowledging that there indeed an error and that you weren’t intentionally doing something is helpful.
If you make the correction and not mention that the comment that points out the issue is right, it will seem to anybody who reads the discussion later as if the comment points out a nonexisting problem.
It is not necessary that the argument I gave be right. All that is necessary for the g’grandparent to be wrong is for there to be a plausible reason why someone would want to downvote such a comment, other than malice.
That sounds like a pretty low value comment. Is it beneficial to third parties to be able to read it? If not, just make the correction and PM your thanks. Otherwise you’re unnecessarily wasting everyone’s time in the guise of politeness.
I think saying thanks is public for corrections contributes to a courteous atmosphere. It encourages third parties to make and accept corrections.
If such thanks were getting to be a drag on discussion, I’d recommend a different policy, but I don’t think we’re at that point.
Acknowledging that there indeed an error and that you weren’t intentionally doing something is helpful.
If you make the correction and not mention that the comment that points out the issue is right, it will seem to anybody who reads the discussion later as if the comment points out a nonexisting problem.
It is not necessary that the argument I gave be right. All that is necessary for the g’grandparent to be wrong is for there to be a plausible reason why someone would want to downvote such a comment, other than malice.