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Ask HN: Any Ways to Disable Karma?

10 points by lm28469 ↗ HN
I was wondering if there is a way to disable karma and its visual effects (greyed downvoted posts, karma count displayed).

I don't care much about it but I find it strangely addictive. I'd like to be able to discuss opinions without being influenced by arbitrary numbers, especially since it often interferes with discussions (nobody replies to heavily downvoted comments, even though it's often the ones which needs to get exposed to other point of views).

Maybe a browser plugin ? custom CSS ?

9 comments

[ 4.7 ms ] story [ 28.6 ms ] thread
jim-jim-jim
I'd be interested in this as well. I hate the concept of voting on comments. I'll always upvote anything gray I see, even if it's something I disagree with.
willio58
As a platform grows there has to be a way to filter through the spam. Voting is a great way to do this
lm28469
If voting was used as it should, sure. Right now it feels like it's used to burry comments you don't agree with, without even explaining why; like "this guy is dumb, and I won't even take the time to explain why I think so"

I'd much rather discuss with people having a counter opinion than scroll through comments of like minded people regurgitating the same thing.

AnimalMuppet
If I disagree with it, but it's a reasonable position expressed reasonably, sure. If it's trolling or a personal attack or even just being nasty, leave it downvoted.
keithnz
I think it's a pretty lightweight mechanisim that helps guide what is acceptable and what isn't, especially for people coming from other online communities. Sure sometimes it's used to express dislike for an opposite opinion, but a lot of the time its used on comments of the form "lol, this is so funny". But I will also upvote what I think is a legitimate comment that takes an opposing view even if I don't agree. So hopefully things are reasonably self correcting.
[dead] ltmi600
The backlash against comment judging has begun!