Earnest question- what is it supposed to be used for? I don’t downvote people very often, but I think I’ve only ever seen it used express approval or disapproval so that the score reflects community sentiment
In addition to what others said, in comments the down vote is meant to be used on comments that don’t further discussion in good faith.
I used to subscribe to that idea, but I’ve since changed my mind. If the far majority use upvotes to mean agreement, then me upvoting a controversial, but well structured, opinion will likely be viewed as agreement as well.
It’s a nice idea to think the voting system is meant to promote discussion, instead of homogenise opinions in a community.
Yeah, that’s kind of the nature of communication I think, and ultimately votes are a form of communication :/
If people understand them to mean agreement or disagreement, that’s the message they’ll recieve regardless of whether it was the message that you were trying to send.
I guess if I wanna convey I appreciate someone’s contribution even though I don’t share their perspective I can always leave a comment; that seems like something I’d appreciate seeing in my inbox so maybe it’s worthwhile for me to make that a habit
Yeah that’s something I do sometimes as well. I usually just don’t vote on a comment as a third option for when I disagree with them, but don’t want to punish having a different viewpoint ^^
I guess that’s usually also the basis on which I disagree with someone 😅 most of the time if I’m downvoting someone it’s because I think they’re being unkind, which I consider being inappropriate
Earnest question- what is it supposed to be used for? I don’t downvote people very often, but I think I’ve only ever seen it used express approval or disapproval so that the score reflects community sentiment
How is it supposed to be used?
However you want to use it.
Ok but even if its for something else everyone else is still using it for that. And on another note, why shouldnt i use it to show disapproval?
In addition to what others said, in comments the down vote is meant to be used on comments that don’t further discussion in good faith.
I used to subscribe to that idea, but I’ve since changed my mind. If the far majority use upvotes to mean agreement, then me upvoting a controversial, but well structured, opinion will likely be viewed as agreement as well.
It’s a nice idea to think the voting system is meant to promote discussion, instead of homogenise opinions in a community.
Yeah, that’s kind of the nature of communication I think, and ultimately votes are a form of communication :/
If people understand them to mean agreement or disagreement, that’s the message they’ll recieve regardless of whether it was the message that you were trying to send.
I guess if I wanna convey I appreciate someone’s contribution even though I don’t share their perspective I can always leave a comment; that seems like something I’d appreciate seeing in my inbox so maybe it’s worthwhile for me to make that a habit
Yeah that’s something I do sometimes as well. I usually just don’t vote on a comment as a third option for when I disagree with them, but don’t want to punish having a different viewpoint ^^
when a post doesn’t fit the community purpose or is generally inappropriate
Isn’t that where you use the report functionality?
I guess that’s usually also the basis on which I disagree with someone 😅 most of the time if I’m downvoting someone it’s because I think they’re being unkind, which I consider being inappropriate
Thanks for sharing your perspective with me :)