[DanBC]

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=117171

PG said:

> I think it's ok to use the up and down arrows to express agreement. Obviously the uparrows aren't only for applauding politeness, so it seems reasonable that the downarrows aren't only for booing rudeness.

It's a bit weird to impose your own (admittedly popular) purpose of the vote buttons, claiming that your view is the true spirit and intent of the site, when there's a quote from the guy who set up the site directly contradicting you.

[yellowapple]

I'd agree with that assessment if the downvote button didn't have the direct result of fading the comment into invisibility. Dissenting commentary can still be conducive to an informed discussion and thus worth reading, and the idea that disagreement is meant to be treated as something to be silenced is incredibly disturbing, especially in the context of this post.

[sesutton]

Voting systems like HN inevitably lead to an echo chamber when used to signal agreement or disagreement. HN already largely is one, but its a shame to see that this is officially endorsed.