Would HN be better if downvoting required justification?

Question

Long time lurker, I always enjoyed the technical discussions here but lately I feel the need to comment more.Usually, the experience is positive but there are instances where the discussion seems to settle, I have a few points on some comments, then come back a few hours or a day later and my comments are downvoted into negative numbers without any new replies.1) This doesn't feel like organic traffic. Normal votes (both up and down) come in steadily, the downvotes come in all at once, sometimes they appear even after just an hour or two.2) I feel like they devalue discussions into a popularity contest. If you disagree with me, that's fine but you should be able to articulate the disagreement. If people just disagree and feel the need to let me know, they should have to process what I wrote in their brain sufficiently to form a coherent reason.

theGeatZhopa · Accepted Answer

I don't like down voting. too. But have to accept that - where agreement is sought, there also a disagreement is possible. What I don't like is when something has been down voted, but not told why. That's a bad style from down voters. So, a thing like "no down without why" could be a solution. But as said, up votes do not need a why, so should down votes, too, be possible without a why. That's free willy in my eyes. One can't be forced to talk :)

martin-t · Answer

To be clear, I don't expect anything to change, AFAIK the site hasn't changed in any major way for years.I also wonder if there are discussion sites where this is the case. It's certainly not any of the major ones.

zzo38computer · Answer

I think that up voting should require a reason, too, and that a chronological mode should be added (even if it is not the default setting).

k310 · Answer

Another forum I frequent has only "recommendations" and the rare flagging that goes to a jury. Replies push an OP to the top of the most recently replied posts list.
It also allows self-deletion and post-deletion, no time limit.
So, while there is a visible change log, there is none for deletion, and one can take the context away from a troll post-facto.
No downvotes, only flagging for cause (there's an itemized list ) and jury. So, the jury knows why.
Obscurity is the "penalty" in most cases for lack of interest. Flame wars just refresh the most recently replied date.

spudlyo · Answer

At least people can't see vote counts, on Reddit it encourages groupthink.

Borg3 · Answer

I think people do not understand what the voting system is for. Its 3-state system.
1) Good content, you like it, you upvote it.
2) Bad content, harmful, misleading, downvote it.
3) Good or ok content, you dont like it, you do NOT downvote it.
The 3th point is most importand. You have right do disagree with someone as someone has right to express his opinion. As long as its not harmful or abusive, you do NOT touch it.

throwaway843 · Answer

Be more resilient.HN pussy foots enough. That pussy footing is what causes pent-up voting - its trend followers and "i agree/disagree with this"ers not having the gall to cast first vote.Justifying this will make it even worse, as a wall of text will be needed before anyone does anything. Then you'll get downvoted by the trend followers citing the wall of text dissenter rather than thinking still.

leakycap · Answer

> I have a few points on some comments, then come back a few hours or a day later and my comments are downvoted into negative numbers without any new replies.
The issue here is caring about points. Just enjoy the site, actually take in the content and ideas here, and you will be so much better served than caring about points.
The most interesting/thought provoking comments are the prize for you, not the number by your handle