[ChrisMarshallNY]

I don't like to "just leave them out there." If I can figure out why they are disliked, I may be able to fix them.

Here's an example: A couple of days ago, Antirez made this excellent post[0].

I could completely relate. I have been through the same kind of thing. I have created a project for free that is becoming a worldwide standard, but is tiny, and rather pathetic, compared to redis.

But I could still relate to what he wrote, and I made a post, saying that. I pointed to my own little project.

It immediately started getting downvoted. They were coming fast and furious, so I deleted it.

On reflection, I see that it was perceived as being "small-time loser compares himself to tech god."

I didn't mean it that way, but I'm a bit "on the spectrum," and aren't always too aware of how I come across.

I considered it a lost cause. I nuked it, and wrote a quick "thanks!" post, like everyone else.

The fox just wasn't worth the chase.

[0] http://antirez.com/news/133

[yesenadam]

Isn't that a little pathetic to write a comment then keep staring at the voting on it?! And then delete it if it gets negative? Be a man, like Eleanor Roosevelt. Write the best comment you can and walk away. Life's too short to obsess over HN voting like that.

> They were coming fast and furious

All 4 of them? You know can only possibly lose 4 points, right?

Also, I noticed that on some topics I know more about than most, the best comments on the page are initially downvoted, then return to the black fairly soon.[0] You may just be penalizing yourself with the panicky deletions. And I'd much rather your comments stay here, if you meant what you said, and what you said and how you said it seemed good to you. Well, maybe you are a real bastard and frequently write horrible comments that should be deleted, but I doubt it. :-)

[0] Maybe/probably this happens with every topic, just I can only see it on topics I know best, where I can clearly see which are the good comments and which are plain wrong/ignorant.

[ChrisMarshallNY]

I appreciate your point of view, but we do see things differently.

For example, I have learned that there's very often many different aspects to others, beyond my shallow "first reaction." Although social media (and media, in general) encourages us to think of others as 1-dimensional "avatars," it has been my experience that every person is a marvelously complex being, with many different facets.

Sometimes, it's best for me to just keep my mouth/keyboard shut. Retroactive deletion is not the ideal approach, but I believe that it is better than leaving clearly unsuitable material out there, and I suffer from an overwhelming urge to participate in society, despite my challenges.

It might be a good exercise to consider the possibility that I could also have interests in life beyond HN. In fact, I often delete stuff, because it just isn't really important to me that I be heard. I don't live and die by the opinions of others, but it's important to be a member of society, and that means interacting with others in a respectful manner. If what I write does nothing but cause trouble, and I don't really care whether or not anyone likes it, then maybe the world would be a better place without my "wisdom."

I see that you also have many interests beyond the technical, so I have to assume that there was some point that you wanted to make, other than what appears to be a rather flaccid insult.

I must tender an apology. I don't think I have the capacity to understand your point.

[yesenadam]

> It might be a good exercise to consider the possibility that I could also have interests in life beyond HN.

I'm not sure what you're trying to say there or why. Just sounds condescending. That you do? We all do, I guess.

> I have to assume that there was some point that you wanted to make, other than what appears to be a rather flaccid insult.

That feels a bit rude, you could have just asked what my point is. I was offering what I hoped helpful advice. Wasn't meant to be insulting at all, sorry. (I assume you meant "a little pathetic"? My comment was meant in a "you can do better than that!" way, trying to lift up, not put down. "Be a man, like Eleanor Roosevelt" is I think a Simpsons quote, I should have put it in " "s)

I didn't write the comment when I first read yours, thinking it wasn't necessary to reply, but an hour later I thought of it again, so came back here to comment. It was apparently something I really wanted to say, which is one good test of whether to comment, I guess.

[jiveturkey]

> If I can figure out why they are disliked, I may be able to fix them.

fix? why would you want to become part of the echo chamber? i do understand the desire to not receive a downvote. Your specific example was indeed perhaps out of place and the downvotes were maybe "correct" and thus you were right to reflect and delete the post.

but more often than not, with contentious topics like donald trump downvotes are merely "i disagree". the pushback you're getting here is about that kind of downvote, and I agree. there's nothing to "fix". HN tries to make sure such topics don't even make it here for discussion, but the filter is steep so plenty get through.

[ChrisMarshallNY]

If you don't understand, I can't explain, but I have spent my entire life, trying to measure the reactions of others to my words and actions.