Downvotes... are they a good thing for #steem or not?
Downvotes... are they a good thing for #steem or not?
I've been thinking a lot about the free downvotes that were introduced with HF21.
I made up my mind and I don't like them, because the potential for misuse is high and we can see such toxic usage of downvotes with people targeting others for different reasons from the safety of non-posting accounts that are just registered for downvote usage.
Upvoting and leaving comments on content that we don't like is more than enough to show opposing belief, disgust or any other critique.
What I was concerned about has materialized in little projects even like downvotecontrol for instance.They target SBI (steem basic income) users because they think "Vote trading circles are worse than bidbots, downvoting posts upvoted by SBI farm, upvotebuilders etc ..."
So, what do you think! Are the downvotes a good thing or do they make #steem more toxic?
- Downvotes are good for #steem!
- Downvotes are bad for #steem!
Answer the question at dpoll.xyz.
My opinion is they are a necessary evil. :) We need them, the free ones are fine too.
While I don't appreciate the reward police crew and those who attack success, each of us can only allocate what we own or control through delegation.
While I really dislike how some are using them I have to remember it is just an annoyance and not real damage.
I'm not answering the poll, because I think there are pros and cons with the free downvotes and I think this phase will pass.
I don't like negative votes either, I think that when I started on this network, if you didn't like something you didn't vote for it and if it bothered you a lot, you would comment on it and make your point of view clear. But now it turns out that I have several negative votes simply because it occurred to me to enter the SBI a bit.
Thus, without explanation or right to defend myself, I will constantly receive negative votes from bot accounts that only issue these negative votes, without those accounts ever having a publication or burning steem for the benefit of the network. They are simple zombie accounts that are used to attack others without giving them truce or opportunity to dialogue.
I would like that if an account emits only negative votes, at least the same blockchain forces you to write a brief comment when you vote, verifying that it is not a text repeated to infinity, to at least complicate the life of the bots and make them People explain what bothers them so much about what is written in the accounts that they vote all the time in negative.
Hello @pedrobrito2004,
yes, maybe raising thebar a little in terms of the downvote policies would do the trick of ensuring a more fair and transparent handling of downvotes.
Cheers!
Lucky
Voted for
Negative curation is a healthy part of the ecosystem. The problem I see is some people have a hard time w criticism. If a post is overvalued, why not adjust it to what is reasonable and leave constructive feedback?
Because very often it is not constructive and not objective and based on nothing but an opinion.
It is also part of the platform and needed but many have a long long way to go before they reach constructive.
This is true.
A lot of them seem more or less arbitrary as they will often not bother leaving a comment. I can imagine folks frustration.
But even taking the time to leave a thoughtful comment w constructive criticism, it's a toss up whether the user is going to take it into consideration or worse, they take it personally.
When there is at least one comment that explains it can be assumed that it is not a systematic attempt to harm anyone, but when the votes come from accounts that only cast negative votes and do not publish anything, they can no longer be given the "benefit of doubt"
If downvotes were limited to active accounts that post and comment I would be fine with them I guess!
But being downvoted by dedicated "downvote accounts", sometimes with no stake "in the game", simply seems wrong to me.
majority of the time there is no criticism, and there is no explanation, its just bots or whales downvoting for no explicit reason.
Voted for
I would say it definitely depends on the circumstances. If a spam post is getting downvoted so they don't get rewards for doing nothing, that is good. If it is just "getting a downvote from a random account for no reason" or "downvoted because I disagree with this person or don't like them" that is bad.
Thanks for your comment and your vote! 🙏
So it will stay a dilemma, right?
If there's no chance to actually quantify and qualify the good and the bad we'll maybe just have to live with the dilemma, right?
To me the individual reason for someone downvoting content of others would be interesting to know but every reason is fair game to me!
I don't like the sneaky type of downvotes distribution via anon or bot accounts.
I would prefer that downvote capabilities must be earned by engaging with the community or by actively posting.
That way at least some of the misuse if steem voting
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The current downvote system is a crap that is destroying Steem. It looks like a desert now. I have to say no.
Downvotes shouldn't be free 'coz people abuse them to wage personal wars. Downvotes should cost real steem so that morons don't abuse them.
Thanks for your comment and vote!
I agree with you! This would be one way to fight the pandemic of downvotes from anon accounts.
Accounts like this one here just serve the purpose of downvoting others content and comments.
Cheers!
Lucky
Voted for
Not when they allow people to bully others for pleasure.
Thanks for your comment and vote!
Hmh... hard to say when it is bullying and when it is for "legit" reasons.
Like the ones I mentioned in my recent articles around downvoting. They think SBI is bad and therefor they target SBI users with their downvotes. They found their reason to do this but they try to force their beliefs onto others by their downvotes I feel.
Other's motives stay completely unclear like this fellow here...
He downvoted this dpoll article but I have no idea why. One thing is for sure this is no user accoount for posting content or engaging with the community on here. It must be an alt of an fellow steemian who's probably a too big coward to use his main account.
He can shoot with downvotes without having to worry about any repercussions/consequences.
Cheers!
Lucky
You're not alone. Ihihihih!
Hahaha! This was rather cool tho! Brahaha!
Voted for
The concept itself is a positive aspect.
But as it is currently configured, it is not functional for the community.
the policies should be modified
Thanks for your comment and vote!🙏
Hmh... so what would be adequate policies?
Tie downvote capabilities to active users (actively posting/commenting) or other criteria?
Cheers!
Lucky
I will continue to support the possibility of adding a comment justifying the vote. The voter should make a check accepting terms and conditions, which must be presented on screen before allowing to cast a negative vote.
Perhaps this procedure gives a legitimacy and seriousness to the whole process and thus is not taken lightly.
Thanks for your comment and vote!
Yep, this could raise the bar a little!
Cheers!
Lucky
This is a downvote strategy that I could get behind, if you do not like something I am doing tell me or I do not know what I have done wrong. This would help noobs and might not scare them away.
I always prefer postitive interactions.
Certainly, I also think it could work.
Nice to meet you.
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🙏
Voted for
Thanks for your vote! 🙏