| HN Mirror

    It already is suitable for those things.

Suitableness is not binary.

    Downvoting in lieu of wrestling pigs in mud puddles is, in my experience
    is one reason why.

Downvoting is often used on controversial comments. That blocks controversial discussion.

I think we should not block a controversial discussion if it's serious, rational and constructive.

    Complaining about karma and its mechanisms is a dead end from
    both a metaphysical and literary point of view.

Here you are overstating. It depends on the participants.

You can avoid that from happening by being constructive, respectful and serious, and stoping the discussion if the other is not.

    Downvotes avoid turning disagreements into excuses to accuse
    other people of character flaws, as in your comments toward me.

I see more options than either

(1) to downvote to disagree or

(2) to accuse other people of character flaws.

The attitude of thinking of other people one disagrees with as "fucking morons" is problematic independently on whether one downvotes for disagreement or not. It's not accusing a character flaw, it's simply criticizing one specific attitude.

I think you should be told. So, if nobody else would have said it, I would have done it anyway.