[DanBC]

> as an "easy out" substitute instead of a comment for something one disagrees with,

That's a good thing. I don't want to read the same tiresome spats everyday. I would far rather some people just downvoted comments and moved on.

[19eightyfour]

Sure.....but then I think everyone ought to be able to down vote. Or only the mods. If it's a tool, it's either a tool for all, or a tool only wielded by the ones who define community standards, work to enforce them and act basically objectively in line with those principles anyway.

If it's not that objective tool, then it's a tool for everyone to wield subjectively. That's what I'd prefer.

I know others may feel differently. This is how I feel about it.