I think that a site like HN works best if you do what you think is right and ignore what PG wants on a case-by-case basis. If <i>overall</i> your actions are getting downvoted, then clearly there is a fit problem between you and HN, and either you must change, HN must change, or you should go elsewhere.<p>However if overall you are getting positive karma, then overall there is a good fit and don't worry about the odd bit of behaviour that gets negative karma. Unless it's something specifically discouraged, I think you should let it slide.<p>FWIW, I don't think karma reflects utility for something like this. I just saw someone post "[2005]" as a comment on another post, and it got some upmods. Obviously that's helpful in a certain way, but I didn't bother to upmod it myself. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate it.<p>So... tl;dr; version: <i>Rock on!</i>