Comment by JKCalhoun
1 day ago
A good point.
I handle the downvoted comments by 1) upvoting (but of course) but then also 2) adding a comment to the effect of "Hey, I upvoted you because ...".
We've all seen the downvoted comment start to "fade back in" by doing this.
Heck, I frequently even upvote greyed out comments I disagree with because I kind of root for the underdog anyway. Or, kind of as you say, think it is unfair (at least when the downvoted comment was sincere and not troll-bait or whatever).
Personally I try to avoid downvoting a comment if I am unwilling to leave a comment as to why. This open the doors to my getting downvotes as well if I am off base.
Regardless, watching my own comments get downvoted has been a good lesson for me. Sometimes I rethink my position ("Am I missing something here?") or, if nothing else, I rethink the tone I used ("Guess I need to make a better case next time — not come across so antagonistic.").
(Corny examples, but you get the idea.)
Getting downvoted constantly on Reddit for asking or answering technical questions in my field just made me not want to use it.
Thankfully, HN is a little cooler than that, I think.