If people are doing this lots, it’s not clear how pruning productive discussion is a good thing other than from something like an urge for tidiness. I see no reason to assume it will spring up elsewhere.
(shrug) If encouraging people to read downvoted-to-oblivion comments is a minus, then there’s a non-tidy benefit. Clearly, people differ in terms of how much they believe it is.
As for the same discussion springing up elsewhere… again, (shrug). If the convention of not having interesting discussions on hidden branches takes hold, and I want to respond to something on a hidden branch, I can respond on an open thread instead. But you’re right that I might not do so.
If people are doing this lots, it’s not clear how pruning productive discussion is a good thing other than from something like an urge for tidiness. I see no reason to assume it will spring up elsewhere.
(shrug) If encouraging people to read downvoted-to-oblivion comments is a minus, then there’s a non-tidy benefit. Clearly, people differ in terms of how much they believe it is.
As for the same discussion springing up elsewhere… again, (shrug). If the convention of not having interesting discussions on hidden branches takes hold, and I want to respond to something on a hidden branch, I can respond on an open thread instead. But you’re right that I might not do so.
By the way, I’m enjoying the irony here.