Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments?

Posted by socalgal2 on Wednesday September 09, 2026 @08:44PM
from the ask-hn dept.

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 | 4 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments? by ThrowawayR2 on Wednesday September 09, 2026 @09:00PM (#49636887)

Comments posted more than 24 hours ago cannot be downvoted.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments? by socalgal2 on Wednesday September 09, 2026 @09:48PM (#49637317)

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

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments? by gus_massa on Thursday September 10, 2026 @08:55AM (#49642965)

You can go to https://news.ycombinator.com/news and find recent posts. I like when the discussion is still small.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments? by BLKNSLVR on Wednesday September 09, 2026 @08:59PM (#49636877)

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.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments? by akerl_ on Wednesday September 09, 2026 @09:16PM (#49637028)

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.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments? by krapp on Wednesday September 09, 2026 @08:59PM (#49636875)

You can email the staff using the contact link at the bottom of the page.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments? by BoorishBears on Wednesday September 09, 2026 @08:56PM (#49636847)

I don't think HN staff would ever do that, but what was the topic?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments? by optionalsquid on Thursday September 10, 2026 @01:31AM (#49638792)

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...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Why can I only downvote select comments? by philipportner on Thursday September 10, 2026 @05:04AM (#49640649)

Wasn't aware of all of those, thanks for sharing.

[ Parent | on HN ]