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Many people don't use the upvote/downvote buttons properly. (self.unpopularopinion)

submitted 3 weeks ago by over_clox to c/unpopularopinion

43 comments fedilink hide all child comments

It's kind of disappointing how people tend to use the upvote/downvote buttons. Sure, if it's an opinion you don't like, then downvote it to hell.

But if OP is posting a link to a legit article. That's not an opinion, that's facts. Downvoting facts makes them less likely to be seen by others.

Use those buttons wisely. I don't like it any more than many others, but I'm gonna tap that upvote in hopes it might help more people see the news!

Downvote me if you want, IDGAF.

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[-] Riccosuave 29 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

But if OP is posting a link to a legit article. That's not an opinion, that's facts.

Something can be a legitimate news article from a reputable source, and still be full of horseshit and misinformation. So, I fail to see your point. Also, I'm not sure that downvoting really matters on Lemmy because it doesn't hide content or comments the way it does on Reddit, so who cares?

[-] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

The votes still order or rank the posts that are there. You are seeing higher vote posts first. So it does matter albeit not as much as on reddit.

[-] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago

Not if you sort by new/newest comment.

[-] over_clox -5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Very true. I have no dispute with that.

But when Microsoft announced they're gonna start recording screen captures every 3 seconds in Windows 11 (real shit now), then people shouldn't be hitting the downvote button...

Edit: Just because people don't like facts, doesn't mean they should downvote facts.

[-] Riccosuave 4 points 3 weeks ago

I'm not sure what the Microsoft screen capture thing has to do with anything in this conversation. I wasn't aware of that, but I will look into since you mentioned it though.

[-] over_clox -5 points 3 weeks ago

Hope this saves you a bit on research..

https://youtube.com/watch?v=00q7yVhpkVo

[-] over_clox -5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I only mentioned that because it's another actual fact that some people downvote, because they don't like it.

They should upvote it though, to help spread the news. As much as it sucks, people need to know..

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

When bad company announces bad thing, people shouldn’t downvote.

LOL good luck with that.

[-] over_clox 1 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah yeah, I hear ya.

More often than not, the upvote/downvote buttons tend to be similar to the like/dislike buttons, but when you get down to it, it's a somewhat different concept.

I liked your comment actually, so I up voted your thought/opinion. But when the post/comment turns out to be factual and relevant, then even if I don't actually like the information, if the information checks out, I'll tap the upvote.

In that sort of case, that means I feel that more people should see/hear the information posted.

I learned today that Kbin actually has a Boost button just for this sort of uncertainty, where you neither have to upvote nor downvote, but still think others should see it.

I dunno, I don't have a Kbin account, just a Lemmy account, and apparently Lemmy hasn't implemented any such Boost feature. 🤷‍♂️

Anyways, have a good day.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

If you want to post shitty news, you need some light editorializing to indicate you’re not actually supporting the shitty thing.

[-] over_clox 2 points 3 weeks ago

Indeed, generally speaking, you're right.

But what if the actual source of the information is coming straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak?

The example I've mentioned in this thread, that Windows 11 will soon be recording screen captures every 3 seconds, was announced by Microsoft themselves.

Obviously I do not support that concept at all, but I still tap upvote, because I think anyone that's ever used any sort of technology should be aware of this.

[-] NeoNachtwaechter 18 points 3 weeks ago

Instructions:

How to use a button properly:

Press the button

[-] MrJameGumb 18 points 3 weeks ago

Define what you mean by "legit article" please. I've downvoted plenty of links that just went to "news articles" that were pure fiction.

Upvotes and downvotes can also be heavily influenced by the tone of the person who posted the link. For example, if someone posts a link to an article about abortions being banned and they frame their post as if they think that is somehow wonderful news, then I will absolutely downvote them regardless of the legitimacy of the article.

[+] over_clox -12 points 3 weeks ago

Copy/pasted from another comment I posted earlier.

This is an example (and a very important one) that's actually true, yet many people will hit the downvote button because they don't like it.

Welcome to Microsoft Spyware OS...

https://youtube.com/watch?v=00q7yVhpkVo

[-] MrJameGumb 11 points 3 weeks ago

See, you've given us a perfect example! I'm downvoting your reply not because of any issue with the content of the video, but because you completely ignored everything I said and just copy/pasted something that seemingly has nothing to do with either point I was trying to make!

Well done! 👍

[+] over_clox -13 points 3 weeks ago

I don't give a flying fuck if you upvote or downvote me. Do whatever you wanna do. The votes don't really matter anyways, right? Right?

Still, when M$ announced they're gonna start recording your screen every 3 seconds, and it's an actual fact, then how do you vote on that?

Are you gonna do the right thing and share this information about M$ with your friends? Dare you share this factual information with the company you work for?

Or are you just gonna tap downvote, because you don't like what you read, and just take the future fucking everyone in the ass because they still like Windows 11 spyware?

[-] MrJameGumb 6 points 3 weeks ago

To be completely honest I probably wouldn't click on it at all because it's not really something I have any kind of knowledge about. I guess if I was upset that Microsoft was spying on people I would probably upvote the article since it's alerting me about something important.

That's not really addressing anything about my reply to your original question though. You stated people were "using downvotes wrong", but you gave only one very specific example which you keep bringing up.

I tried to give a thoughtful response to your question where I gave pretty broad examples about how voting on posts is pretty objective and could be effected by a variety of factors that you never even mentioned.

You, for some reason, seem determined to ignore everything I've said and keep coming back to this specific issue with Microsoft. It makes it seem like you weren't really interested in having a conversation about the validity of up/downvoting at all which is frustrating because I feel like I made some valid points about it.

Thus I'm downvoting your reply because you keep replying without adding anything useful to the conversation.

Perhaps you should have posted in a community about I.T. or internet security, or even just current events instead?

☆º°˚☆ Have a ηice ϑay ☆º°˚☆

[+] over_clox -6 points 3 weeks ago

Sorry that I picked one particular example. There are zillions of examples out there. Figured I'd stick to one recent and relevant topic as the example.

Same thoughts apply to other posts as well. What about the Baltimore bridge collapse? Did you tap like or dislike?

I don't like that it happened, but I do like when proper information is shared.

So again, back to my original question.. How do you use those buttons?..

Anyways, have a good day.

[-] MrJameGumb 8 points 3 weeks ago

I've told you how I use them several times and you keep ignoring everything I say, so I'm not sure what else to tell you at this point.

You clearly came here with some kind of agenda, possibly because someone downvoted a post you made somewhere else. I'm sorry someone didn't like the link you posted in another community, but I don't think there's a specific "correct" answer that covers every contingency of why people downvote "legitimate" news articles.

Opinions are a nebulous topic that can be influenced by a variety of factors. Maybe the person downvoted you because they didn't understand the article? Or maybe they just didn't like the tone you used when you posted about it? Maybe they've seen 10 other people post it already and are sick of hearing about it? Maybe you got downvoted by a troll who just wants to see you get upset about it? Maybe it was someone who works for Microsoft? Maybe government agents really are trying to suppress your free speech? Maybe someone was just having a bad day and decided to take it out on you?

People can vote however they want. Unless there are specific rules about how to use up/downvotes that could somehow actually be enforced, then people can downvote anything they feel like, and unless they tell you why then you'll just never know.

[-] over_clox -1 points 3 weeks ago

Of course people can vote however they want. But in some cases, many people will have a knee jerk reaction to downvote actual facts that most everyone should know and should be shared, which just makes it less likely to be seen by others.

It has absolutely nothing to do with how anyone has voted on any of my comments or silly posts, I'm referring to actual factual news posts.

[-] [email protected] 15 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Downvoting facts makes them less likely to be seen by others.

Yeah, that's the point!

There is many reasons for downvoting an article. It could be a bad article or just a bad source in general. It could be irrelevant to the community, outdated or paywalled, just to name a few.

[-] over_clox -1 points 3 weeks ago

'It could be irrelevant to the community, outdated or paywalled...'

Yeah, all those reasons make perfect sense to downvote. I'm mostly referring to the kneejerk reaction case, where the post is totally valid, factual, and relevant, yet the person downvotes the post because they dislike the information they just read or watched.

[-] [email protected] 13 points 3 weeks ago

Downvoting because this is a popular opinion.

[-] over_clox 2 points 3 weeks ago

Cool! Hope you have/had a good day.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

Likewise.

[-] Clent -1 points 3 weeks ago

I downvoted because it encouraged people to down vote opinions they don't like. That is how we all end up bubbles.

If they wanted to truly take an unpopular stance they would be against opinion based voting on comments.

Being against downvotes on posts is simply misunderstanding how communities form.

[-] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

But if OP is posting a link to a legit article. That’s not an opinion, that’s facts. Downvoting facts makes them less likely to be seen by others.

Articles can be full of shit too. If someone posts an article from OANN, a news outlet that makes Fox News look like Reuters by comparison, would you not expect downvotes?

[-] over_clox -2 points 3 weeks ago

Of course, if supposed information turns out to be bullshit, yes indeed downvote into oblivion.

My whole point though is that if the information actually checks out, don't downvote it just because you don't like the information. That only serves to help bury the information and make it less likely to be seen by others.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

um isn't it reversed in this community. if we downvote we agree with you.

[-] over_clox 2 points 3 weeks ago

I think so, something like that anyways 😂

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

What would be a better way to use those buttons?

[-] over_clox -3 points 3 weeks ago

This is a wonderful question!

The more I think about it, I believe the best idea just might be to not tap either upvote nor downvote when uncertain.

But when it's important, share the link with friends and others that should understand.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

I’ve been thinking about these buttons, what they do, and what do I want to convey when using them. Just using them to convey what I agree or disagree with comes quite naturally, but I don’t think that’s the best way to do it.

IMO a better way would be to upvote when I believe that more people should see this post or comment, and downvote, when the society as a whole would benefit if fewer people saw this stuff. I may personally disagree with something, but still believe that this stuff is good for other people to see. It’s all highly subjective, so clearly right or wrong answers in this regard are bit rare.

[-] over_clox 2 points 3 weeks ago

I fully agree with you actually. You've articulated my exact thoughts, in your own words, quite coherently. Thank you. 👍

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Wow, thanks for telling me how to run my life, Mr. Prescriptivist

[-] over_clox 0 points 3 weeks ago

Look what community you're on. This is Unpopular Opinion.

One might speculate that with all the downvotes I've gotten, that this might actually be a popular opinion.. 🤔

🤷‍♂️

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

That’s why there is a boost button. Or is it only on kbin?

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

also downvotes aren't federated to kbin so you wont see downvotes from other instances and because downvotes are public here you're less likely to see them in general. it's an overall much better experience.

[-] over_clox 0 points 3 weeks ago

Huh, never knew that. Must only be a Kbin thing.

Well today I learned a thing I guess. 🤷‍♂️

[-] Son_of_dad -2 points 3 weeks ago

Nobody does. Mods here are also way worse here than Reddit. They'll ban you without even telling you why, and usually it's because your opinion differed from theirs. And because the mods here have zero checks and balances, they can act like fascists at the slightest hint of power.

[-] JonsJava 6 points 3 weeks ago

He likely only got the job because he's black so it evens out

That's one reason you received a ban from [email protected] (Racism, as noted in the ban message).

Ate shit like you said. Tasted like your mother's pussy.

That's another reason you had a comment removed. Reason given: "Civility"

My address is your mum's bedroom

That one caused a ban from [email protected] (reason given: "First rule of the community is Be Kind. Come back later and try again.")

Your entire Modlog is on display, so don't say "They'll ban you without even telling you why"

Fascist: a far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement, characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation and/or race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

Yeah. Removing content that is offensive is being fascist...

this post was submitted on 23 May 2024

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Unpopular Opinion

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