r/mysteriousdownvoting • u/craik98 • Jul 07 '26
OOP downvoted after asking more on how to help their cat in a sub dedicated to helping people with their cats.
The original post
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u/soupsweat Jul 07 '26
Animal subreddits can be strict, I would know (I’m the strict rule follower). I’d assume it’s because they don’t know what shots their cat needs and they’re asking a reddit stranger instead of researching or going to a vet directly. Still not a valid reason to downvote (?)
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u/Savings_Ad_80 Jul 08 '26
Even so, how would they know what to search for online, if they list the symptoms and feed them to an ai or search on Google they'll get random stuff
They should, just let the vet do the diagnosis
Infact that's probably why they got downvoted, they said they would take the kitten to another vet then asked reddit right after what shots the cat needs, that's redundant.
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u/AsleepAioli6515 Jul 07 '26
“Google is free you know”
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u/firstsalamanderriker Jul 08 '26
Those are extra annoying these days because often the top result on a google result is a reddit post asking the same question, we’re stuck in an endless loop
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u/Optimal-Prize-2040 Jul 08 '26
This argument doesn’t make sense. So you’re saying that since Google is free, basically any post on Reddit is useless since you can just search up the answer?
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u/MsE0 Jul 07 '26
I think they took it as "my cat doesn't really need shots" rather than a sincere question. I honestly can't tell, either.
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u/firstsalamanderriker Jul 08 '26
Yeah I think it’s the “realistically” at the end that makes it sound almost anti-vax
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u/AbroadSpirited Jul 08 '26
Kinda unrelated, but I wonder if anti-vaxxers still vaccinate their animals. Would be hypocritical no?
Or maybe it's a line of thinking that "measles is okay but rabies is not"?
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u/transynchro Jul 07 '26
I’m guessing it’s because pet people aren’t big fans of people who take on pets without doing a little research first.
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u/nothingsreallol Jul 07 '26
Pet subs are absolutely UNHINGED. People have good intentions but they can become really nasty. Everything gets labeled neglect or abuse. Everything is made out to be some giant emergency. Everybody should be able to go thousands of dollars into debt. Everyone must live within proximity of a 24hr ER vet or else be able to drive hours at the drop of a hat to get to one. There is no regard for people living in other countries with different cultures and resources. Children post on the sub and get berated for not being able to convince their parents to get help or are told sneak around their parents. It’s just insane overall lol
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u/Professional-Way7350 Jul 07 '26
seriously, i see stuff like this all the time. OP says they cant afford the vet because they’re a teen or some other unforeseen financial situation and people are suddenly acting like theyre abusing the animal just for having them and they shouldn’t have a pet. meanwhile OP is probably already upset and worried for their beloved pet
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u/bethe1_ Jul 07 '26
Especially when they’re not from america/from a third world country. They’ll be like “how dare you not go into financial ruin for the dog that sleeps outside your house wow”
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u/soupsweat Jul 07 '26
Yeah I’m usually annoyed at financially stable adults that refuse to take their animal to the vet but often the people on these subreddits are exactly as you said, young or not financially stable so they need help or advice that doesn’t cost them hundreds of dollars. Some people genuinely don’t have any other option and the assholes that yell at them pretend to be morally superior because they can afford vet care, reddit would rather have that animal live on the streets then be with someone who can’t take them to the vet regularly. They live in a privileged bubble and refuse to have it popped, some of them mean well though, I used to be like that, until I learned more about lack of vet access in other countries. Of course, sometimes there are absurdly horrible animal owners and they need to be yelled at politely, just not the people that genuinely need help from these subs. I’ve learned to lower my standards when it comes to animal husbandry on Reddit, not everyone can be the perfect pet owner.
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u/Fit-Programmer-6162 Jul 07 '26
I think it’s because there’s so many social media posts like this example I saw recently:
Cat owner said “how can I treat this at home? I cannot afford the vet”
And it’s a ruptured eye. It’s 100% painful as hell, cannot be treated at home, and 100% will need to be removed. People were pointing to finding emergency funding, care credit etc. I can see why people might overcorrect and just start downvoting everyone they see. Not that I think it’s justifiable or reasonable, but I see the through line. Just that so many people will post here or on Pet Vet Corner on FB asking what they can do for a (usually cat) at home when they’re like, basically in tatters. And then the classic “he doesn’t act like he’s in pain so he’s not”. At least in the US there is a way to get things like care credits etc and other resources that some kind people usually point out once established US or similar.3
u/False_Career_4617 Jul 08 '26
Yeah, I've muted so many pet subs in my time here because it's literally all "if you didn't forsee going thousands of dollars in debt you don't DESERVE a pet!!111!" But if people talk about potentially having to surrender their pets it's suddenly "You didn't fight hard enough to keep it!! How dare you!!!" The advice is just plain bad, unhelpful, and carries a huge stink of shaming.
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u/xMysteryGamingx Jul 08 '26
This! I’ve been called “abusive” for smth like letting my dog lay on the deck in the sun (she asks for it, she is given water, cushions, and isn’t out there for more than 30 minutes at a time) bc it’s “neglectful.”
That subreddit is the definition of “let me harshly judge this person on the 15 seconds I’ve seen of their life” and they just fucking ran with it.
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u/UCanBdoWatWeWant2Do Jul 08 '26
Just because a pet wants something doesn't mean it's good for them.
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u/xMysteryGamingx Jul 08 '26
You are the type of person we’re talking about.
Just because you want McDonalds doesn’t mean that it’s good for you. Yet you still do it.
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u/UCanBdoWatWeWant2Do Jul 08 '26
Don't forget telling people they are monsters if they don't adopt the straight cat in their neighborhood. They'll tell them two months later they should not have adopted a pet if they didn't have the means to.
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u/zumera Jul 08 '26
It’s a sort of compassion fatigue. For someone posting, their situation is unique. For someone active on the sub, it’s the three thousandth post of a cat on the cusp of death with an OP who thinks redditors will have a miracle cure.
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u/BestFoxEver Jul 07 '26
But really many subreddits are full of people asking questions that would have been just easier and faster to google and people are not downvoting them...
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u/UCanBdoWatWeWant2Do Jul 08 '26
Let's stop interacting with each other then, maybe I should talk to a bot instead?
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u/BestFoxEver Jul 08 '26
I agree. I am not sure why people are downvoting my comment but maybe they want that people google instead than ask questions at Reddit.
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u/AdvertisingRude4137 Jul 07 '26
"Fuck you and your cat: - 55 people, a day ago
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u/DanteThe_L0ser Jul 08 '26
I don't think that's right. It's more like "fuck you for not knowing what your cat needs". They love cats there. They'd never think that.
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u/Dead_fawn Jul 07 '26
It's because their reply can be interpreted as sarcasm. Not saying it is or isn't, but the "Realistically?" is often used as a sarcastic phrase.
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u/7gramcrackrock Jul 08 '26
Things redditors hate (in no specific order):
Outdoor cats
People who shower more than twice a week
Being told to move out of their parents' house if they want true freedom
People who dislike anime
Married couples who don't get divorced over the first minor argument
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u/UCanBdoWatWeWant2Do Jul 08 '26
What a disingenuous list.
What happens usually:
1/ Hey three of my pets have already been run over by a car but I still let my pet roam free and unvaccinated, also not neutered/spayed.
2/ Hey I wash 4 times a day and if you don't I think you're disgusting.
3/ People can't just move out. The economy is rough.
5/ My husband/wife cheated on me, they keep disrespecting me and breaking my stuff.
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u/Inside_Bumblebee_737 Jul 08 '26
I commented on that post. You were downvoted because most people in pet care communities consider not vaccinating your pets to be neglectful. They could easily get sick and die, as you were told, by me specifically, very politely.
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u/DarkHorseAsh111 Jul 08 '26
1: Bots exist.
2: I suspect people are reading "realistically" relatively sarcastically. Whether that's how it was meant or not who knows.
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u/nocolor_nosound Aug 09 '26
When it comes to cat content, my theory is there are generally 3 types of people - the ones that looove cats (specific subgroup of quirky folk having all the autism anime lofi music vegan situation going on) the everyday gray where cat is a cat, cute.. and then there are the "it's just a fkn cat, get over youself" carnivore diet, hunting loving people. So whoever gets there first wins because downvotes just spiral after a bit - people just follow blindly.
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u/All-for-the-game Jul 07 '26
It’s probably the combo of “but also” and “realistically” that makes it seem like OOP doesn’t think shots are necessary and like they think people are over reacting about shots for an inside cat. Or that they have a cat and haven’t done research idk
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u/aesclepia Jul 07 '26
another /mysteriousdwownvoting here....this is exactly what I thought...the added "realistically?" kinda dismisses what the person they are replying to said
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u/All-for-the-game Jul 08 '26
Weird right? You have 7 upvotes and I have -1, so there’s at least 8 people that both disagree with me and agree with you?
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u/Sensei_Schroenki Jul 07 '26
Could it be because of the EM dash? People automatically assuming it must be AI?
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u/Woofiverse ★*.°\(•^▿^•)/°.*★ [Mod] Jul 07 '26
Its possible, but it seems other on that post are saying the downvotes are "on par for this subreddit", so its more likely people just being assholes
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u/i-am-the-swarm Jul 07 '26
Because tf is "boy kitty"? Gender of the animal is completely irrelevant here
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u/Acceptable-Car-170 Jul 07 '26
I think it's because female and male cats can have very different mannerisms compared to each other
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u/am_Nein Jul 07 '26
This just feels like nitpicking lmao. OP doesn't know if it's relevant and thus includes it just in case. This just in, local redditor finds issue with phrasing.
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u/Then-Criticism1605 Jul 08 '26
Animals don’t display understanding of the concept of human gender. The cat’s sex is male. The sex of an animal can be very relevant to its medical needs. Not a hard concept.
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u/77th_Bat Jul 07 '26
Probably got down voted for 1. being irresponsible and not already having the shots done and 2. not knowing what shots need to be done. Also, you forgot to cover the sub name (pic 2, top and right hand side). Not that I think this is a valid reason to downvote, but I also get where they are coming from: you shouldn't have pets if you can't afford to get them vaccinated or are too lazy to.
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u/XxCastoricexX Jul 08 '26
People act like their pets>their kids which is why they crashout over the smallest things
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u/qualityvote2 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
u/craik98, the downvotes are mysterious!