Actions speak louder than words. This happens as a direct result of HN's design, which has downvotes and which downvotes are designed to suppress comments. This has never changed as far as I know, hence they do not care about this pattern of behaviour. And yes, I am aware that we are not to discuss the voting of comments. It may have been OK before when the community was smaller and more mature, but now it's a real turn off and so I think it's fair to bring it up.

In his reply above dang also refers to "flamewars" and "flamewar commments", which is a disappointing generalisation, not far from victim blaming because all and any comments and users are targeted simply for putting forward a different point of view.