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Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments?

1 points by socalgal2 ↗ HN
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?

9 comments

[ 0.29 ms ] story [ 11.5 ms ] thread
BoorishBears
I don't think HN staff would ever do that, but what was the topic?
krapp
You can email the staff using the contact link at the bottom of the page.
BLKNSLVR
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.

ThrowawayR2
[delayed]
socalgal2
Thanks! I think this is it. Even though it was on the front page I think I didn't realize the topic was old enough to have 24hr old comments as it was not on the front page 10hrs earlier
akerl_
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.