[sumitviii]

Its because in real conversations, you talk to 1-2 other people and not a million. If a lot of people are discussing something (as they do in parliaments) people have a way of upvoting (by banging tables) or downvoting (booing) others.

[unabst]

When I post I may be putting it out there, but if anyone replies, I'd like to think we are having a conversation. Or like now, I'd like to think this reply is to you, and not to a million people. More people may be reading, but we're not really talking until they join the conversation.

In real life, I would never throw a tomato at someone I overheard saying something I disagree with to someone else -- but that is HN. By design, I assume, but still.