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This has been an ever-present problem on aggregate sites like Phuks, Reddit, Voat, and others.

When you see a post that says something you disagree with, even if you think it's terribly thought out and really gets your blood boiling, you shouldn't just downvote it and keep scrolling.

Why?

Because downvotes ultimately limit the exposure of content. This is a good thing when it allows the user base to address the guy spamming us with Indian massage deals, but someone with opinions you don't like doesn't belong in the same category as that.

When we start organizing the exposure of opinionated posts, especially political ones, based on how we feel about those opinions, we are on track to become a close-minded group-think site like Voat. Politics on Phuks has been pretty mild anyway, but if that were to change, the same thing can easily happen here and ruin the atmosphere we all enjoy about this place. We shouldn't want to discourage posters from having discussions here in the same way we discourage people from posting spam.

So instead of using downvote as a disagree button, use the one that says 'Submit comment', and then either upvote or abstain. If you downvote, you are not doing any favors to Phuks as a platform for discussion. You are engaging in group censorship.

This has been an ever-present problem on aggregate sites like Phuks, Reddit, Voat, and others. When you see a post that says something you disagree with, even if you think it's terribly thought out and really gets your blood boiling, you shouldn't just downvote it and keep scrolling. Why? Because downvotes ultimately limit the exposure of content. This is a good thing when it allows the user base to address the guy spamming us with Indian massage deals, but someone with opinions you don't like doesn't belong in the same category as that. When we start organizing the exposure of opinionated posts, especially political ones, based on how we feel about those opinions, we are on track to become a close-minded group-think site like Voat. Politics on Phuks has been pretty mild anyway, but if that were to change, the same thing can easily happen here and ruin the atmosphere we all enjoy about this place. We shouldn't want to discourage posters from having discussions here in the same way we discourage people from posting spam. So instead of using downvote as a disagree button, use the one that says 'Submit comment', and then either upvote or abstain. If you downvote, you are not doing any favors to Phuks as a platform for discussion. You are engaging in group censorship.

11 comments

[–] PMYA 7 points (+7|-0)

Kind of agree, but if someone is being borderline retarded, I'm going to downvote them.

[–] Mattvision [OP] 4 points (+4|-0)

Well of course that's an exception. I'm just against the kneejerk reaction that people seem to have.

@ohphukimintrouble's post earlier was coherent enough that it souldn't have been getting downvoted like that. There were a lot of problems and dumb arguments, but nothing I would call borderline retarded. He clearly put thought into what he was arguing and it warranted discussion.

[–] PMYA 4 points (+4|-0)

Honestly I disagree with that particular example. I know him well enough to know when he's being an edgelord. This was one of those occasions.

[–] Butler_crosley 3 points (+3|-0)

This might be the first time I've seen a logical argument behind not downvoting past "it isn't a dislike button"

[–] xyzzy 3 points (+3|-0)

It's not a disagree but a disaproove. It's so spam and trolls won't get ranked high.

[–] PhuksMulder 2 points (+2|-0)

I feel ya man. Post a video of a muslim immigrant destroying a virgin mary statue downvoted. Post an article about the white guy behind the "punish a muslim day" letters and it's likely going to be ignored. It's weird how everyone expects some agenda but the reality is I just hate all shit heads. I suspect the same person downvoted the news story on a pair of baby rapists b/c they happen to be black. I dare say I don't give a shit about the race of a baby rapist. They should all be executed.

[–] Mattvision [OP] 3 points (+3|-0)

I guess everyone here's a bit on edge after all the deliberate race-baiting that happened on Voat. I usually just steer clear of those posts you've mentioned, but I didn't know they were getting downvoted. It's a damn shame.

[–] KillBill 1 points (+1|-0)

I also felt the power of a single malicious downVoat with my recent thread here: https://phuks.co/s/funny/48368

One push of a button and the truth was buried forever.

[–] Owlchemy 1 points (+1|-0)

I agree with a couple of caveats. Agree w@PMYA, there are those (and very few) who earn them. And I also down vote ad spam, when that's all a user is on the site to spread. Otherwise, rather than down vote, I ignore and don't vote one way or the other.