Downvotes on Lemmy do virtually nothing, as demonstrated by how much traffic this post is still getting. They’re basically a placebo that allows people to feel as of they’ve engaged, without having to actually engage.
Yeah, it doesn’t actually matter. It kind of fills the same roll as a weird look or awkward silence would in real life.
Which is good, on the old forums you’d see someone post something insane (like actually trolling or insane, not just unpopular or against the jerk like this one), and since there was no cue it hadn’t been taken seriously, the whole thread would derail into arguments about it.
Admittedly, I enjoy that format. I think it requires more investment in the community, by both users and moderation staff. Said as someone who used to administrate a forums.
Downvotes on Lemmy do virtually nothing, as demonstrated by how much traffic this post is still getting. They’re basically a placebo that allows people to feel as of they’ve engaged, without having to actually engage.
CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 8 hours ago
Yeah, it doesn’t actually matter. It kind of fills the same roll as a weird look or awkward silence would in real life.
Which is good, on the old forums you’d see someone post something insane (like actually trolling or insane, not just unpopular or against the jerk like this one), and since there was no cue it hadn’t been taken seriously, the whole thread would derail into arguments about it.
Admittedly, I enjoy that format. I think it requires more investment in the community, by both users and moderation staff. Said as someone who used to administrate a forums.