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buybuydandavis comments on Downvote stalkers: Driving members away from the LessWrong community? - Less Wrong Discussion

39 Post author: Ander 02 July 2014 12:40AM

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Comment author: buybuydandavis 02 July 2014 03:29:32AM 1 point [-]

I don't think people are entirely on the same page about how karma is "supposed to work". For some, it may be feedback to get people to post better. For others, it may be stifling the posts from who they perceive as a low quality poster.

Karma bombing seems rather jerk faced to me, but do you really need to care? You've got enough karma to post articles. You have good evidence that the karma drop was due to one lone jerk off.

Therefore, what does he matter? Why is this a problem for you?

Comment author: shminux 02 July 2014 03:53:28AM 15 points [-]

Why is this a problem for you?

I suppose if you use comment karma to evaluate how people like what you write, blank downvoting masks the useful signal.

Comment author: bbleeker 02 July 2014 11:23:20AM 9 points [-]

Yes. A while ago I suddenly lost like 50 points (which is a lot for me). The signal that gives isn't 'don't write stuff like this', but 'we don't want you here, go away', and I almost did.

Comment author: buybuydandavis 03 July 2014 12:00:06AM 2 points [-]

But he knows the source of the karma drop, therefore the useful signal has been unmasked.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 02 July 2014 03:37:28PM 11 points [-]

Therefore, what does he matter? Why is this a problem for you?

I don't see the point in telling people that they shouldn't have the emotional reactions that they keep having. It may be possible to fade those reactions out in the long haul, but caring about karma is a typical reaction (and it seems to be at least common), then it's better to take it into account.

Comment author: ThisSpaceAvailable 03 July 2014 02:37:28AM 1 point [-]

If you were mugged, but the cops caught the mugger and you got all your money back, would you not care about the mugging? You seem to be putting results over process.

Comment author: buybuydandavis 03 July 2014 08:36:41PM *  0 points [-]

I would want to see the guy strung up. But I wouldn't refrain from going out of my house because I had once been mugged. I consider that a dysfunctional response. If I knew someone who was "living" that way, I'd encourage them to change.

See previous comment (downvoted into oblivion) on people refraining from posting because people downvoted them. I walk the talk. It just isn't that hard.

http://lesswrong.com/lw/kfj/downvote_stalkers_driving_members_away_from_the/b255