[root_axis]

Downvotes aren't "suppression of dissenting views", they most often come from snarky and hostile comments or clearly incorrect information stated as fact. I've been on this site for more than a decade across different accounts and from my perspective things are mostly the same. A thoughtfully articulated comment or one that strikes a cadence of open discussion and humility is pretty much never downvoted.

[quantified]

It quite depends. A review of downvoting I've been part of includes "I don't like your view" and "you're demonstrably wrong" together.

I appreciate the "you're demonstrably wrong" commentary, which downvoting doesn't provide.

[lowmagnet]

I think a lot of us are used to the "bullshit asymmetry principle" and would rather disengage than engage in a handful of fruitless and repeated arguments.

[pfannkuchen]

I believe that principle only holds when the "bullshit" generation is tactical, as opposed to stemming from either confusion, a different sampling of existing facts, or different values. It seems against the spirit of HN to assume the first option?

[smitty1e]

Figures against whom at fatwa has been pronounced, e.g. Clarence Thomas, are defended at peril.

[foogazi]

I’d be interested in how someone would (care to) defend Clarence Thomas

Seems like an odd pick for a “provocative or speculative” topic

[version_five]

I don't know why it would come up in HN (though apparently it did though this discussion). But he has lots of supporters, your comment represents exactly the kind of narrow view people are talking about. It's not a given that everyone would hate a sitting supreme court judge, an elected politician, etc.

[foogazi]

> your comment represents exactly the kind of narrow view people are talking about.

my comment expresses no view - I’m asking why Thomas would be topical on HN

[smitty1e]

Q.E.D., for a look at my OP.

[pfannkuchen]

I'm not sure if this is off topic, but I live under a rock and I've missed what the beef is with Thomas. As an apparent anti-Thomasite, would you mind briefly bringing me up to speed? People here are usually a little bit more level headed than the media, so I expect your opinion is likely to be more grounded than a MSM article might be (hence why I'm asking instead of Googling).

[foogazi]

> As an apparent anti-Thomasite, would you

I have expressed no view on Thomas. I don’t follow the supremes. Gp said they couldn’t defend him - I didn’t know he had or needed fan club

I could speculate but want to give gp a chance to answer

[pfannkuchen]

Oh I misread, I thought you were saying that you didn't think anyone sensible could possibly defend him given what he has said/done.

Carry on!