People say that as if Reddit is bad or undesireable. IME, Reddit's discussions are usually pretty good, as long as you're in a sub-Reddit that lends itself to good discussions (e.g. "programming") and not "wtf" or "pics" or something where stupidity is guaranteed and desired.

With /r/programming quickly becoming a mirror of HN I've reason to believe it is just redditors coming to HN. This in turn is leading to more joke/pun comments (something I haven't seen on HN in a long time) and the more liberal applying of downmods.

Edit: I say "quickly becoming", it's been like that for a while actually.

No, the problem with replying to a downvote is that it's no-win. If I state something I know should be -- and is -- obvious based on my own experience and knowledge yet it gets a downvote, how does arguing with an anonymous idiot accomplish anything for me or entice people to keep reading that thread? Better to move on.

"Why are you here, soldier?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHY8NKj3RKs