[radicaledward]

Before I start, I want to make it clear that I am smiling as I type this. I think this discussion is valuable, and your opinions are valuable. While I disagree with you on many points, I am not trying to insult you. :-)

Responses to your responses:

1 and 2) I guess I'm trying to say that maybe the differences do not matter as much as you think they do. The virtual world is encroaching on the physical world more and more, but in the same way, our lives are sliding into the virtual just as much. Not only does this seem to be inevitable to me, but it also seems like a positive development.

3) I would certainly be a different person! I don't think we can really know which approach was better, but I know that I am enjoying life as I am. I fear that less freedom as a child would have turned me into a bitter, broken adult.

5) It is a cool social experiment! I'm not sick of it though :-)

I might not respond again for a while. There is work to be done!

(edited for formatting)

[sdegutis]

In short, we totally disagree about everything.

Not surprising, given the # of downvotes I'm getting on here all the time.

Perhaps it's time I break up with HN.

[nkurz]

No, stick around. It might help if you wrote slightly longer comments and better explained your perspective, but looking at your comment history, you appear to be an asset to the community (genuine, no sarcasm). It's good on both sides to see truly different perspectives and be reminded that some of the things we take for granted are not universally held.

[scott_karana]

> No, stick around

I second this, I find sdegutis's comments to be very useful, if only to provide a fresh (and entirely valid) perspective. Contrast is so so needed in our community...

[sdegutis]

The purpose of downvoting is not clearly defined. Until it's clearly defined, people can and do downvote because they disagree.

The result of downvoting is not simply a karma thing. It actually effects visibility of comments. Downvoted comments do not get any discussion.

Therefore, writing a comment that gets downvoted is a one-way communication channel. There's no benefit in it for me when there is no discussion.

My time is too precious to give away for free. Your time is too precious to waste reading downvoted comments.

So it's in everyone's best interest for people who don't share popular opinion to stop commenting.

That includes me.

[Intermernet]

I have "showdead" turned on in my HN profile purely to be able to read constructive comments that have been downvoted to death. I agree with others in this thread that there isn't enough variety of opinion in many discussions on HN, and I'm of the opinion that if you are polite, and especially, if you are erudite (as you seem to be) you are most welcome.

I'm saving my downvotes for those who are rude or insulting to others.

[waterlesscloud]

You've just had a lengthy, interesting discussion contrasting your unpopular viewpoint with HN's popular viewpoint. So it's not like it can't happen.

[sdegutis]

This was an exception. My comments generally get downvoted to oblivion and ignored.

[Moru]

This is exactly why some of us value this page over most other news sites.

[chroma]

To me, it seems that the main points of disagreement stem from your religious views. So when you do disagree with others on HN, your choices are:

1. State your disagreement and justify it with religious reasons. Good luck avoiding downvotes.

2. State your disagreement without justifying your reasoning. This comes across as over-assuming and somewhat rude. Also, many people recognize your username and fill in the blanks.

For you, the only way to win is not to play.

[sdegutis]

Good point.

[tripzilch]

> Perhaps it's time I break up with HN.

Please do stick around. I do not downvote things I disagree with, not if they're written in the measured and sensible manner that you do it. Many people on HN are like that. Instead they will reply (as they have done here in this thread) with polite replies explaining their own viewpoints.

The only reason to leave is if you actually don't care about reading those.