[quesera]

Green usernames are new accounts.

Only users with 500 karma can downvote.

Both are mechanisms to dull the potency of new users until they have a chance to learn how HN is expected to work.

This might sound gatekeeping, and it literally is, but consider than HN signup is open and takes 15 seconds with no verification. HN likes the way HN works and these provide simple rate-limits on destructive or oblivious change.

[Terretta]

> this might sound gatekeeping, and it literally is

That term presumes unkept gates are preferable.

I grew up farming. One keeps one's gates or both wildlife and livestock run amuck.

[Izkata]

> Green usernames are new accounts.

It made sense to me almost immediately, so since people aren't making the connection: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/eng...

>5 (informal) (of a person) young and without experience

> The new trainees are still very green.