It's now been long enough since I hid comment scores that we know
what the site will be like without them. Do you prefer the site
now or the way it used to be?
I hid comment scores after tptacek suggested it as a way to reduce
arguments. There was a nasty kind of argument that used to happen,
where people would literally try to score points off one another,
and users voting on the thread became like a mob egging on two
people fighting. I prefer HN without comment scores, because those
fights really disturbed me, and they've practically gone away since
I hid comment scores.
I realize there is another side to the story, though. Lots of
people have complained that without comment scores it's harder to
pick out the good comments. Some say that's better, because now
you have to judge a comment for itself. On the other hand, with
sufficient discipline one could presumably judge a comment for
itself despite seeing the score.
Last time I tried asking this question, the voting was roughly even.
I'm curious if there has been any drift toward a consensus.
I hid comment scores after tptacek suggested it as a way to reduce arguments. There was a nasty kind of argument that used to happen, where people would literally try to score points off one another, and users voting on the thread became like a mob egging on two people fighting. I prefer HN without comment scores, because those fights really disturbed me, and they've practically gone away since I hid comment scores.
I realize there is another side to the story, though. Lots of people have complained that without comment scores it's harder to pick out the good comments. Some say that's better, because now you have to judge a comment for itself. On the other hand, with sufficient discipline one could presumably judge a comment for itself despite seeing the score.
Last time I tried asking this question, the voting was roughly even. I'm curious if there has been any drift toward a consensus.