In one of Hunter's meta-diaries, he went over the proper use of the recently-christened Hide Rate button.
He also mentioned that some people had their ratings abilities yanked during the tumultuous primary season. This was probably a good idea, as many people apparently aren't aware of exactly how those little buttons should be used during such a time as this.
So, I figured I'd write a guide to help out. Consider it my little contribution to primary season. Feel free to quote from it liberally.
There really isn't so much a comprehensive list of rules as there is an overarching philosophy about HR-ing during primary season. That philosophy can easily be explained with the following syllogism:
Major premise: This one commenter is being critical of my candidate!
Minor premise: He must be an asshole.
Conclusion: Fuck him. {Hide Rate}
And there it is. That's really all you need to know about Hide Rating during primary season. I'm sure there are subtleties involved in some instances, but when you're locked into a rigid mentality of retribution, wreaking vengeance upon the heads and shoulders of those who disparaged your precious god, it's easy to ignore them.
For example, if you happen to be an Obama supporter and you see someone being critical about his healthcare plan, the answer is to Hide rate that critical comment and, if possible the comments of any who uprated it. You have to show that you're willing to have your candidate's back, no matter what odds you face. Don't fall for "conventional wisdom" or get bogged down in "rational debate." Only assholes don't like your candidate, and you should never shy away from Hide Rating an asshole.
Another example would be if you support Clinton. Let's say someone starts questioning her recent campaign strategies and wonders if she shouldn't make a more concerted push in all of the states. After you Hide Rate that jerk, she might come back and say something like, "That's ratings abuse!" Don't worry, she's bluffing. Hide Rate her again, show her you're serious in your commitment to Clinton.
If you follow this strategy, the odds are very good that you will eventually run into so-called "Hide Rating Cops," walking their self-appointed beat and generally sticking their noses into your business. Your best bet isn't to try and explain to them how righteous you were in your actions as they won't understand such lofty nobility. Just Hide Rate one of their comments in an unrelated thread, sort of a proverbial horse's head under the bedcovers. They'll know you're all business and not to be trifled with.
The only problem with this strategy is that you only have 5 Hide Ratings per day. Luckily, after abou3-4 hours, you can always go back and remove a couple of your earlier Hide Rates and reuse them! After a few hours, many people don't worry about their past comments and besides, you made your point. Reusing HRs is known as "recycling," a practice which is not only good for the environment but also lets you get around that inconvenient "5-per-day" rule.
Remember, when in doubt just ask yourself: "Is this person being an asshole?"
Trust me, they probably are.