In general, I use my votes as you do (i.e., I will ++ a node I disagree with, if it raises a good point, promotes a useful discussion, etc.). But I think one of the great things about the moderation system here is that everyone uses their moderation votes however they see fit. I'm not even aware of any "official" guidelines about how to use votes. This may cause some ambiguity about what a ++/-- vote or a node's overall reputation actually means (if it means anything at all), but it also allows everyone the freedom to express their opinion in their own way. So anyway, even though I don't usually downvote nodes just because I disagree with them, I think it's fine that others use their votes this way.

-- Mike

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just,my${.02}