[dmix]

Downvotes are not for disagreeing or disliking a comment. Only if it doesn't add to the discussion. At least thats how it used to be, before HN traffic exploded and became redditized a while back. This should be communicated better.

[Fuzzwah]

I can only paraphrase PG because I don't want to spend any time digging for the actual comment, but he's basically said:

People can use downvotes however they want.

There is no guideline to communicate.

I can personally see the pros and cons of this stance. The cons are pretty obvious, but the big pro is that there shouldn't be discussions like you and I are having now.