There was a thread long ago about this for those that are interested: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=147098

(And rokhayakebe, I agree, responding is infinitely more useful than anonymous downmodding, provided the response is civil.)

I see plenty of pointless, off-topic comments that deserved to be downvoted without explanation. But I agree that if you want to downvote just because you disagree, you should probably state your case why. Or upvote someone who already has.

A new feature, perhaps? non-anonymous down-voting?