Both meanings would be equally unproductive. If your post deserves up or downvotes, let it stand on it's merit. Anything else is an attempt to game the system and adds nothing to the discussion.
I was ok with it. It's just the HN equivalent of "Yep, I know I'm going to get lambasted, egged, heckled but so be it bring it on" type of thing.
From the HN Guidelines:
> Please don't bait other users by inviting them to downmod you.
That was my meaning -- I'm not really attached to my karma score. I use it as a barometer of what kinds of feedback is valued on HN. I've been greatly disappointed by the amount of downvotes volleyed against "let's have a frank discussion about sexism" comments.