SmackerNews

Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments?

7 points · 9 comments · 16 hours ago · socalgal2

news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49636751

It's obvious that you can not downvote a reply to your own comments but, today I noticed, in a topic I had no comments in, I was only allowed to downvote about 20% of the comments. The rest presented to downvote button. The conspiracy voice in me thought I was only allowed to downvote things the staff at HN wanted downvoted.

What's the actual rule? Why were most comments off limits to downvote?

optionalsquid11 hours ago
You might enjoy this list of undocumented HN features, which includes an answer to your question:
https://github.com/minimaxir/hacker-news-undocumented/blob/m...
ThrowawayR216 hours ago
Comments posted more than 24 hours ago cannot be downvoted.
BLKNSLVR16 hours ago
I can't answer the question, but I've seen it where some comments I can't downvote, but others in the same thread I can. Additionally, some I can't reply to either.
I would lean towards there being a good reason. It also doesn't particularly bother me if I can't register my displeasure. Can be a good thing to be forced not to.
akerl_15 hours ago
This would be way easier to clarify if you’d provided context on which comments you were looking at.
The conspiracy voice in me thought maybe you know this is a benign thing and you’re just hunting for something to be outraged about.
krapp16 hours ago
You can email the staff using the contact link at the bottom of the page.
BoorishBears16 hours ago
I don't think HN staff would ever do that, but what was the topic?

news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49636751

SmackerNews

A placeholder title for loading skeleton

example.com/path/to/article

000 points · username · 0 hours ago

example.com

SmackerNews

Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments?

7 points · 9 comments · 16 hours ago · socalgal2

news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49636751

What's the actual rule? Why were most comments off limits to downvote?

optionalsquid11 hours ago
You might enjoy this list of undocumented HN features, which includes an answer to your question:
https://github.com/minimaxir/hacker-news-undocumented/blob/m...
ThrowawayR216 hours ago
Comments posted more than 24 hours ago cannot be downvoted.
BLKNSLVR16 hours ago
I can't answer the question, but I've seen it where some comments I can't downvote, but others in the same thread I can. Additionally, some I can't reply to either.
I would lean towards there being a good reason. It also doesn't particularly bother me if I can't register my displeasure. Can be a good thing to be forced not to.
akerl_15 hours ago
This would be way easier to clarify if you’d provided context on which comments you were looking at.
The conspiracy voice in me thought maybe you know this is a benign thing and you’re just hunting for something to be outraged about.
krapp16 hours ago
You can email the staff using the contact link at the bottom of the page.
BoorishBears16 hours ago
I don't think HN staff would ever do that, but what was the topic?

news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49636751