• FlakesBongler [they/them]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    Short version: Jerks were using them to harass trans users so we got rid of them and then banned everyone who came out to complain about getting rid of them

  • OgdenTO [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    Honestly I was skeptical when downvotes were removed, but gosh darn it they’re nonexistance has made the site culture way better. It’s weird now with federation going to other instances and seeing downvotes. It sucks, actually, to be able to just furtively cast your disapproval on whatever you like. I think it causes a real anxiety to posting that doesn’t need to be there. Hail TC69 thought!

      • DoiDoi [comrade/them, he/him]@hexbear.net
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        1 year ago

        You have to explain yourself here and can’t just be a lurker who still influences the conversations. If someone makes a bad post instead of just being downvoted they’ll be met with a wall of mockery mixed in with explanations of why it’s wrong. Downvotes are for cowards and can’t add anything to a discussion - they can only take away.

      • OgdenTO [he/him]@hexbear.net
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        1 year ago

        Yeah, what DoiDoi said. Downvotes existing make every reading of a comment or post combative. It promotes “well ackshually” culture and disincentives thought and conversation.

        Like if I didn’t like your question I could just downvotes it and move on, knowing that I have voiced my disapproval without having to even think about why. This way, unless I want your question to remain as the end of the thread I must reply – and I will, because I read your question in good faith and did not come at it from a place of combat.

  • WhyEssEff [she/her]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    the short-term answer is that we basically had lurkers and stealth users trying to suppress marginalized content/viewpoints with them, and we decided to see what would happen if we just nixed them

    the long-term answer is because downvotes are thought-terminating and harsh the vibe, and it’s funnier when like 5 people jump down someone’s throat for posting an awful take rather than just seeing a negative number next to the comment

  • showmustgo [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    I just downvoted your comment.

    #FAQ

    #What does this mean?

    The amount of points on your comment and Hexbear account has decreased by one.

    #Why did you do this?

    There are several reasons I may deem a comment to be unworthy of positive or neutral karma. These include, but are not limited to:

    • ⁠Rudeness towards other Hexbears

    • ⁠Spreading incorrect information

    • ⁠Sarcasm not correctly flagged with a /s.

    #Am I banned from the Hexbear?

    No - not yet. But you should refrain from making comments like this in the future. Otherwise I will be forced to issue an additional downvote, which may put your commenting and posting privileges in jeopardy.

    #I don’t believe my comment deserved a downvote. Can you un-downvote it?

    Sure, mistakes happen. But only in exceedingly rare circumstances will I undo a downvote. If you would like to issue an appeal, shoot me a private message explaining what I got wrong. I tend to respond to Hexbear PMs within several minutes. Do note, however, that over 99.9% of downvote appeals are rejected, and yours is likely no exception.

    #How can I prevent this from happening in the future?

    Accept the downvote and move on. But learn from this mistake: your behavior will not be tolerated on Hexbear.net. I will continue to issue downvotes until you improve your conduct. Remember: Hexbear is a privilege, not a right.

  • DoiDoi [comrade/them, he/him]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    Downvotes are just a way to influence opinion and silence people without having to having to offer a counter argument. They pretty much exclusively benefit the libs because they are more numerous, but we are more well read.

    • ComradeLuz [none/use name]@hexbear.netOP
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      1 year ago

      Honestly, I only use downvotes either when I am too tired for a counter argument or when someone is acting like a lost cause and not caring about anything that I say.

      What have you been doing with reactionary comments until today? Do you just report them?

  • PorkrollPosadist [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.netM
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    1 year ago

    Not many people know this, but Mao Zedong’s famous pamphlet, Combat Liberalism, was actually a treatise on why the downvote should be removed from all social media platforms. mao-wave

    To indulge in irresponsible criticism in private instead of actively putting forward one’s suggestions to the organization. To say nothing to people to their faces but to gossip behind their backs, or to say nothing at a meeting but to gossip afterwards. To show no regard at all for the principles of collective life but to follow one’s own inclination. This is a second type.

    To hear incorrect views without rebutting them and even to hear counter-revolutionary remarks without reporting them, but instead to take them calmly as if nothing had happened. This is a sixth type.

    To see someone harming the interests of the masses and yet not feel indignant, or dissuade or stop him or reason with him, but to allow him to continue. This is an eighth type.

  • Dudewitbow@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Downvotes tend to exacerbate echo chambers, as its used to silence more contrevertial opinions (which is not the same as bad opinions, one has a lot of upvotes and downvotes, the other has just downvotes)

  • roux [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    When y’all first federated I didn’t know that there were no downvotes over here and was super confused about all the struggle sessions where y’all were just dolling out raw theory against chuds and libs but never downvoting lol.