Remove the ability to downvote on accounts that have a negative number of phuks given.

We could just remove voting altogether

And while we're at it, we can remove users too. Yeah, we could do better as an image board wouldn't we? :p

Now for realz, this won't solve anything. People will just have one account to post and another account to downvote

[–] InnocentBystander [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

We could just remove voting altogether

Well, if you can't figure out how to fix it, then that might be better.
I mean that would be stupid, but not as stupid as doing nothing.

People will just have one account to post and another account to downvote

One of us is confused. Because that statement doesn't make sense to me.
How would having two accounts change anything?

this won't solve anything

It will prevent someone from having negative votes.

[–] Polsaker 2 points (+2|-0)

Well, if you can't figure out how to fix it, then that might be better.

I will decide the score for each post and comment from now on. I hereby declare that your last comment will have 7 upvotes and 1 downvote.

How would having two accounts change anything?

If I can't downvote with one account because I have negative score, there's nothing stopping me from creating an alt to downvote? I'd keep using the account with negative score to comment and the alt to downvote

It will prevent someone from having negative votes.

See above

[–] InnocentBystander [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

I'd keep using the account with negative score to comment and the alt to downvote

Ok, it's you that's confused, not me.
How would they downvote? They could make a million accounts, they still can not downvote anything unless the upvote.

See above

See above.
It will prevent someone from having negative votes.

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[–] Polsaker 1 points (+1|-0)

I just implemented this

[–] Owlchemy 1 points (+1|-0)

I've never put a lot of stick in this whole up vote/down vote thing in general. Sure, it has a purpose, I suppose, but down votes in particular IMHO are a bad concept. I occasionally down vote, but very rarely, but generally up vote anything that I consider decent content, mostly to encourage others to post. All that being said, I still see little value in the system itself, but some get so bent out of shape over worthless internet points, it's unbelievable - LOL. When I can use them to buy a cup of coffee, maybe then I'll care.

I do have one idea I've tossed out on different forums though, but it has never gotten traction. My solution would be to record the user names of those who down vote in each thread (you could do it with up votes, too, but there's less point to that). To add to this, also require a comment be added by the down voter on the reason they've done so. Down voters are generally gutless wonders or trolls. Record their user names and all will see who they are. Make them comment and you'd see why they did so, maybe. If you really do feel strong enough against something to down vote, let your name be known and comment ...

[–] InnocentBystander [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

I've had some similar thoughts. Unfortunately votes are kind of a 'one-size-fits-all' solution to a few very different problems.
Votes can do a great job of sorting out spam and inappropriate content.
In theory it might also act as reasonable moderation for and by users, but in reality it only works when there are no abusers.

The whole thing breaks down once users start to actively manipulate it, and it is highly vulnerable to manipulation.
The adding a comment may curtail some of the conversational abuses, but it complicates the other aspects. Nobody wants to see a long chain of comments saying 'spam'.

Voting seems like Democracy in general. Great in theory, deeply flawed in reality, but still better than the alternatives.

[–] Owlchemy 3 points (+3|-0)

Voting seems like Democracy in general. Great in theory, deeply flawed in reality, but still better than the alternatives.

Agree. And you're right, my comment for a down vote will just turn into everyone who down votes putting in snarky remarks that add up to a long list of nothing burgers.

I agree that down votes do help with spam and trolling, but otherwise are useless and used more by the bad guys to piss off those they wish to tweak. The best solution is likely just to ignore them and build your own good vibes so their effect is minimal at best.

[–] smallpond 1 points (+2|-1)

Sure it would probably slow them down, but could also induce undesirable effects like alt-creation with circlejerks. I would rather not create rules with unclear benefits.

If someone wants to use their one account to downvote what they don't like, and not upvote much at all - I don't see a real problem with that. If they create a bucket-load of alts and start downvoting things, that's a problem: one that becomes more likely if we casually start restricting the freedoms of some accounts.

[–] InnocentBystander [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

could also induce undesirable effects like alt-creation

Can't create a problem that already exists.

not create rules with unclear benefits.

What's 'unclear'?
The inability to downvote when in the negatives has a pretty clear benefit.

If someone wants to use their one account to downvote what they don't like, and not upvote much at all - I don't see a real problem with that.

You're probably alone there.

If they create a bucket-load of alts and start downvoting things, that's a problem

What do you think is happening? And if you've no idea, then why are you talking?

if we casually start restricting the freedoms of some accounts.

Do you really think locking a negative account from more downvotes is 'casually .. restricting the freedoms'?
I think you're just being contrarian.

[–] smallpond 1 points (+1|-0)

could also induce undesirable effects like alt-creation

Can't create a problem that already exists.

Problems are not just things that exist in binary states, they can be minimized by smart behavior or exacerbated by dumb choices.

not create rules with unclear benefits.

What's 'unclear'? The inability to downvote when in the negatives has a pretty clear benefit.

You're not very convincing.

feature added Remove the ability to downvote on accounts that have a negative number of phuks given.

13 comments

/s/ideasforphuks