Asklemmy

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What is the 'downvote' button? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 4 years ago* (last edited 4 years ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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What should I use it for?
In case of posts - should I downvote things that I don't agree with? Or things that I don't want to see in my feed (posts with low amount of votes fell more to the bottom)? Or things that I consider harmful/stupid/younameit?

In case of comments - should I downvote something that I don't agree with? When should I use this button in case of comments. Or maybe I should not - cause what's the point, actually?

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 years ago (1 children)

Haven't had much need for it here.

On Reddit, I use it on those things that actively take away from the conversation. Trolling, pushing obviously wrong information, blatant racism/sexism/other-ism.

But, as little as I do use it, I find it supremely important to have. Trolls get downvoted out of the conversation. It's a way to fight brigading. It's the only easy/consistent way to give input as to what content doesn't fit into a particular sub. Downvoting can be problematic, but it's less problematic than those sites that try to be all warm/fuzzy and only allow positive input.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 years ago* (last edited 4 years ago)

I see websites that only allow positive votes as a form of censoring dissenting opinion. They want to make it hard to disagree with a post and as a result the supporters reign supreme.

My personal theory is this is the reason Facebook is such a cesspool of far right content, conspiracy/antivax content, multilevel marketing, and general stupidity.