What are your criteria for upvoting/downvoting?

I hate that I always compare Lemmy to Reddit, but Reddit used to have (not sure if they still do) guidelines called “Reddiquette” that included guidelines about upvoting and downvoting. I don’t remember the specifics (and sending too much of my browser traffic to Reddit makes me feel dirty) but one of the guidelines was not to upvote/downvote on the basis of agreement/disagreement with the content.

On Lemmy, I’m honestly a bit lax about upvoting and downvoting at all. (I’m trying to be better about it.) Buy when I do upvote/downvote, I try to do so on the basis of whether the comment/post “adds to” or “subtracts from” the community or conversation. I can disagree with one comment’s take on some subject but still upvote them if they’ve given me a more nuanced perspective on the issue. If they’re just parrotting well-known talking points and not being thoughtful with their posts, I may downvote them evren if I agree with their ultimate stance.

I’m just mostly wondering how folks on Lemmy think about upvotes/downvotes and what implications that has for the content here.

Gallardo994,

I generally don’t downvote anything. I, however, upvote stuff other people might want to see first. Easy as that.

simple, (edited )

Upvoting: I like this post or it adds to the discussion/community (I want to see more of this)

Downvoting: This is spam, off topic, etc. or the poster is being an arse (in general, I want to see less of this)

Simple as.

SamsonSeinfelder, (edited )

Up: Time was worth reading

Down: Time wasted reading (I want my time back!)

Erasmus,
@Erasmus@lemmy.world avatar

I tend to agree about the down cote it if you disagree with it. I tend to just leave the thread or try not to comment to avoid silly online arguments.

However, if I read something posted that is obviously misleading or someone is just outright lying, then downvote away!

Godnroc,

If I like it, I upvote. If I dislike it, I downvote. If I have no strong feelings, I do nothing. If I commented and it got a lot of upvotes, I return the favor and upvote the post and any decent comments.

OddFed,
@OddFed@feddit.de avatar

I’m afraid it’s the same algorithm I use to answer the question whether I need a receipt.

Nemo,

If it contributed to the conversation, I upvote. Especially if it’s well-written and informative.

If it’s off-topic, incorrect, or repetitive, I downvote.

If it’s banal or uninteresting but not actually deleterious to discourse or distracting from the topic, I don’t vote.

I upvote almost all replies to my comments, including those disagreeing with me, unless they clearly didn’t take the time to read and understand my comment.

I vote on almost all comments I reply to, as well.

Alatarius, (edited )

I use this method as well but I also use the criteria that if I learned something new that is interesting or useful in my life I will upvote. If it’s useless drivel or based on conspiracy theories then I downvote.

noride,

Downvotes are for off topic or inflammatory comments, not for things you disagree with, in my opinion.

scytale,

I neither upvote nor downvote stuff.

roguetrick, (edited )

I let lurkers do the upvoting or downvoting unless it's really good or really bad Downvotes don't federate from or to kbin anyway.

rhythmisaprancer,
@rhythmisaprancer@kbin.social avatar

I didn't know about the down votes, thanks for sharing.

xkforce,

Upvote: contributes positively to the discussion, hasnt been said before in the same thread, well researched/high effort

Downvote: trolling, obvious/overdone, bad/disingenuous reasoning, spreads misinformation, bigotry/sexism

cobysev,

I tend to upvote if someone brings something unique to the discussion. If you’re just giving a quick generic response to OP or parroting the same opinion a dozen other people in the thread have already posted, then I’m gonna read your comment and keep going. But if you provide thoughtful content that promotes discussion, provides a unique perspective, or at least had a lot of thought put into it, I’m likely to upvote it. Same goes for the post itself.

I generally avoid downvoting, even if I disagree with the comment. But if someone is factually wrong, misleading, posting in bad faith, or just being a troll, I’ll downvote their comments in a thread and upvote anyone who attempts to be reasonable with them. If two people are just bickering back and forth, they both get downvotes. And as always, any comments that distract from the discussion or are off-topic will get a downvote.

rhythmisaprancer,
@rhythmisaprancer@kbin.social avatar

If two people are just bickering back and forth, they both get downvotes.

You made me think of this:

scene from blues brothers with nun

sentient_loom, (edited )
@sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works avatar

I downvote if it’s cringe, or incorrect, or the opinion is disgusting. Usually it’s a quality issue rather than an opinion/moral issue.

I upvote if it’s useful info, or if it’s funny or cool or impressive.

The_Picard_Maneuver,
@The_Picard_Maneuver@startrek.website avatar

I try to upvote most things I see, especially if someone took the time to comment under one of my posts.

If I downvote, it’s usually because I see someone is actively being rude or is trying to steer something light into something controversial to bait arguments.

Lord_ToRA, (edited )
@Lord_ToRA@lemmy.world avatar

I’ve found that the Risa community very much uses downvotes to disagree. I made a harmless joke and got dogpiled on, including a very toxic and rude comment from Stamets.

Since you are a highly respected member there, and really all of Lemmy, I think it would be greatly beneficial for you to openly advocate for people sticking to your logic when it comes to downvotes.

The_Picard_Maneuver,
@The_Picard_Maneuver@startrek.website avatar

Thank you, and I’m sorry if people dogpiled on you about something. I just want everybody to be cool to each other and have fun.

Lord_ToRA,
@Lord_ToRA@lemmy.world avatar

Thanks. I appreciate the sentiment. It is the internet after all so I basically always expect toxicity to some extent, but I was just surprised at the extreme disproportion of the response. Also, I expected more from Lemmy and in particular Risa, but I guess that’s on me.

The_Picard_Maneuver,
@The_Picard_Maneuver@startrek.website avatar

I’ve found that Lemmy tends to be about 50% more chill than reddit, but it definitely has some similar challenges. I try to be positive on a personal level and try to support others who I see doing the same.

In my experience so far (just a few months) Risa has been one of the most friendly places on lemmy - maybe it was just a full moon or something? Whatever the case, I say positive people are always welcome.

Rentlar,

My personal rules

Up = Like it, interesting novel take (even if I disagree), funny and clever

No vote with comment = disagree but worthwhile discussing, unintentional but incorrect and/or misleading info.

Down = Spam, low effort to the point it’s insulting (clearly not reading beyond the title), flaming and flamebaiting (this is a big one on forums like this everywhere), trolling, intentionally incorrect or misleading information, off-topic/irrelevant stuff.

Report = hate speech, violence against members of our communities, incessant trolling or flaming or flamebaiting (more than twice in a row).

KinNectar,
@KinNectar@kbin.run avatar

@Rentlar This, this is it. I nominate this list for the official Fediquette !

@TootSweet

Rentlar,

Thanks for the endorsement! If i run my own server them’s’ll be the rules.

I agree having a general ettiquite/cross-Fediverse rules of conduct that won’t get you banned on most servers. But (within the boundaries of law) I don’t mind if other servers want to impose more or fewer restrictions in keeping with such an ettiquite and how strict it’s enforced. Servers like Hexbear can go and do their silly thing so long as the “trolling the libs” kind of conduct is kept there.

rhythmisaprancer,
@rhythmisaprancer@kbin.social avatar

I was never a reddit member and so may miss some of that nuance, but I vote for things I enjoyed reading or for folks I enjoyed interacting with. I thought about down voting one thing, but then leaned that group didn't work that way. The whole point was to say something that was against the grain.

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