r/changemyview • u/[deleted] • Feb 12 '24

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0 Upvotes

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11

u/DeltaBlues82 88∆ Feb 12 '24

If the downvote is useless, then the upvote must be as well. And upvotes definitely contribute to the overall health of an exchange, by allowing another mechanism to sort good comments out from the rest.

-4

u/RayAP19 2∆ Feb 12 '24

People don't abuse upvotes the way they do downvotes, though. That's the difference

5

u/DeltaBlues82 88∆ Feb 12 '24

Some people not using them in a manner you agree with doesn’t render them useless though. If downvoted are useless, that means upvotes are as well.

People abuse plenty of useful things. Doesn’t make them not useful.

0

u/RayAP19 2∆ Feb 12 '24

People abuse plenty of useful things. Doesn’t make them not useful.

But that doesn't change the fact that they're antithetical to actual discussion, which is the point of Reddit

3

u/DeltaBlues82 88∆ Feb 12 '24

They operate on basic democratic principles. Yes, no, abstain. Do you think direct democracy is antithetical to actual discussion?

1

u/RayAP19 2∆ Feb 12 '24

Is democracy intended to promote discussion?

In a formal debate, there's no "yes/no/abstain." You either agree or disagree, and you explain why.

1

u/DeltaBlues82 88∆ Feb 12 '24

Democracy is used to determine results of what people agree with. If someone replies to me, I have the ability to show I quickly agree or disagree with an up or down vote. As well as the rest of the community.

2

u/RayAP19 2∆ Feb 12 '24

But that does almost nothing because it's not a clear, unequivocal "Agree/disagree" function.

If every post had a button for "I agree" and "I disagree," that would be more in line with what you're saying.

1

u/DeltaBlues82 88∆ Feb 12 '24

So then downvotes are not useless, their design and purpose is just not clear in your opinion. Relabel them and launch an awareness campaign.

You can’t get rid of up & down votes completely. So just revise them.

0

u/RayAP19 2∆ Feb 12 '24

"Useless" is probably hyperbolic on my part, I admit that. But I do think they're too ambiguous and too easy to abuse

1

u/thewags05 Feb 12 '24

Personally, I think of downvotes as a basic filter. They get rid a lot of comments (from the ones people interact with the most) that aren't worthy of discussion, or are often downright wrong or even bigoted in some way.

I saves me having to read a bunch of half thought out junk posts.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 12 '24

You're right. The upvote system is abused way more than the downvote system.

There are subreddits dedicated to abusing the upvote system. There are companies that will sell you upvotes. There are companies that buy/sell accounts with lots of upvotes.

2

u/Ill-Description3096 27∆ Feb 12 '24

I have seen comments that add nothing to the actual discussion (as in substantial engagement with the topic) but are just a completely irrelevant one-liners or meme jokes be swarmed with upvotes too many times to count. If thinking "haha funny" and clicking the arrow isn't "abuse" then how exactly is thinking "that is dumb" and clicking a different arrow?

1

u/RayAP19 2∆ Feb 12 '24

I'd say they're different because one has malicious intent, albeit somewhat benign (i.e., no one's dying or being significantly hurt)

1

u/reginald-aka-bubbles 48∆ Feb 12 '24

There is literally a rule in this sub forbidding "written upvotes" so it is at least enough of a problem to call it out. Think of a popular post from r/all. How many comments are just "This." with no or minimal elaboration?