I would love some policy experimentation with downvoting because downvotes are demotivating and reduce engagement and discussion bandwidth. I think downvoting amplifies herding behavior.
I propose only giving the right to downvote after a comment reply is posted because as commenter a -3 value doesn't contain any information about the comment itself.
HN does have some policy around downvoting - you have to have ~600 "karma" before you can do it.
Reddit doesn't any restrictions at all, and of course that's a massive echo-chamber. But Facebook and Instagram only have upvotes (likes) and the communities are either massive hugboxes or ghettoes.
That’s what not requiring comments prevents: useless comments that are just posted so people can downvote. So now your comment section is flooded by “I disagree” comments and you can’t downvote those without leaving a comment as well. It’s a self-serving cycle.
It's all in our heads. Human species is obsessed with the opinions of others and they define us more than what we actually do. So ignoring downvotes (and upvotes!) is actually a good mental exercise.
I propose only giving the right to downvote after a comment reply is posted because as commenter a -3 value doesn't contain any information about the comment itself.