Nice :) I am most certainly a purist :) I understand there are a variety of ways to look at this but for me it's quite simple. I do feel like it's cheating. On a personal level, if I cheat I stench up my conscience, which is my only backup when it comes to spiritual or moral strength. And I feel that applies on a community level - if you are happy to upvote yourself then you're happy to steal from someone else who may be more deserving than you. I hate greed out in the world, I hate how the public commons has been raped by private corporations and the damage they have wrought. I think something similar occurs here on a digital level.

Perhaps I've overthought this, and maybe I sound a little puritanical and wanky about it, I dunno. All I know is that I can't do that shit cos I'll feel bad about myself. Others can do it cos they are greedy or selfish or don't get the repercussions. What can you do?