this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2024
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Downvotes aren't supposed to be used just because you don't like, or personally disagree with something, but regardless, when a post makes the front page you're going to be getting comments from people not subscribed to the community.
See the "fuck cars" community for example.
It's true that there are no official guidelines on the use of upvotes and downvotes, but if they are used to bury comments and posts just because they don't align with your personal opinion, Lemmy is at risk of becoming a circle jerk and an echo chamber and I think that would be a great shame.
Above all else we should be encouraging participation, I don't want to think that there are potentially great posts and comments out there but that people aren't posting them because they're worried about downvotes. The freedom of expression means that on occasion you might have to read things that make you uncomfortable and that's OK.
Maybe I'm only speaking for myself, but as far as I'm aware my opinion isn't unique and I'm absolutely not here for a circle jerk or an echo chamber, they were my least favourite things about Reddit.
I'm aware of how people use downvotes in reality as opposed to how they would use them ideally in my opinion, I just think it would be a bit of a shame to end up where we left off if we have the opportunity to improve, especially if it means that new or controversial ideas are shared more freely and debate is a lot more open.
I accept that Lemmy is very similar to Reddit, that is why I'm here, but that I do think we have an opportunity to make it even better, even though that's just my opinion.
For me, not trying to be an active part of making Lemmy as best as it can be for everyone would be like leaving the US for the UK because of Trump and then voting for the Tories.
I'm not really asking people to be "nice" with their downvotes, just to restrict them to comments that are off topic, against the community rules, hateful, misleading etc.