this post was submitted on 23 May 2024
-62 points (17.7% liked)

Unpopular Opinion

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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.

all 44 comments
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[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

I think so, something like that anyways 😂

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months 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] -2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months 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...

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

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?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 5 months 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] 1 points 5 months ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago

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

Well today I learned a thing I guess. 🤷‍♂️

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months 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.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 months ago

Instructions:

How to use a button properly:

  1. Press the button
[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 months 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] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

What would be a better way to use those buttons?

[–] [email protected] -3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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 5 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

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 5 months ago (1 children)

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 5 months ago (1 children)

Not if you sort by new/newest comment.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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

LOL good luck with that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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 5 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months 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] -5 points 5 months ago

Hope this saves you a bit on research..

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

[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Downvoting because this is a popular opinion.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 months 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] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Cool! Hope you have/had a good day.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago