On: What were Einstein and Gödel talking about? (2005)

[max_]

Why do some comments like this one turn grey?

[gumby → max_]

It was downvoted.

[sharmajai → max_]

Downvoting.

[cgvgffyv → max_]

The person who wrote it is deemed to be an idiot, according to the hivemind.

[swiley → cgvgffyv]

I really like what Scott Adams says: it's something like "People aren't idiots, they just experience bouts of idiocy (some more often than others)."

[ebcode → cgvgffyv]

Yeah, I get your point about the hivemind, but I think it's less damaging to see downvoting as being about the comment, not the person. iow, don't take it personally.

[sctb → cgvgffyv]

We don't need such inflammatory and obviously unfair comments like this on Hacker News.