Okay, I really feel like they are not being used correctly.
In the Duke/Carolina exhibition thread, I said something along the lines of "No way the game should be on the NC Central campus; this should take place at the Dome or Cameron!" I got a comment about "Don't be dumb" and hit with points, rather than someone actually engaging in discussion about why that was a dumb thing to say. I would assume that would be the point of the message board, to discuss
Then, when I say that The Onion (which, if you read the article linked on the DBR front page, becomes just another in a long line of publications picking at Duke stereotypes, albeit this time in an attempt to be funny) is really not funny, rather than someone posting "Well I disagree, so on and so forth" I get dinged for another (this time unsigned) negative comment of "Well then don't read it".
I feel like maybe the negative comments are sort of circumventing the actual discussion to be had on a message board. I know it isn't a big deal, but it still feels off. I've rarely used them for anything other than commenting on the TONE of someones post, rather than the actual content... if I disagree with the content of a message I'll usually just post my disagreement.