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A user just got stripped of all his points and levels for downvoting. I disagree with this policy but lets see what poal has to say.

A user just got stripped of all his points and levels for downvoting. I disagree with this policy but lets see what poal has to say.

Yes. The current policy is best. Leave as is.
No. The current policy is gay. Allow downvoting
Fuck You!

(post is archived)

[–] [deleted] 15 pts

Downvoting is the gayest shit ever. It has no real life social equivalent. Imagine being in a social setting and you say something someone disagrees with. What would a "downvote" be? It's not a "fuck you", because downvotes are technically anonymous. It's not getting up and leaving, because that wouldn't leave some kind of impact or impose any penalty.

Downvotes exist solely to bunker online sperg faggots from contradictory views. It's for reddit-tier faggots who can't handle reality. I agree with this site's policy.

[–] [deleted] 15 pts

Imagine being in a social setting and you say something someone disagrees with. What would a "downvote" be?

That subtle dissenting visual cue that the crowd gives to an obnoxious drunk that lets him realise that his humour is unwelcome.

[–] 13 pts

You simply cannot have free speech and policed speech simultaneously.

The policy restricts free speech as the down vote is one of the most basic forms of speech.

Either accept POAL is NOT about free speech, or remove the policy.

Right now it is utter hypocrisy.

[–] [deleted] 7 pts

might want to reconsider relabeling the downvote button. Trusting people to use it only for spam and also punishing users that overuse it doesn't work well when the user base grows. How can he expect to police 100,000 users? Simply changing the downvote button to something more like saidit's "humor" button might be a better path forward.

Change the button and reduce your stress, Boobs.

[–] 2 pts

I would agree except I'm unclear of what getting downvoted does when you get enough of them. If getting downvoted can lead to bans or your content is hidden or whatever then it is not really speech, you're taking action against someone.

So if downvoting only affected your downvote count and nothing else then I'm all for it. If not then it will be abused by those that want to silence you.

Don't yell at me

[–] [deleted] 2 pts

What the fuck are you talking about. If you disagree, say it you fucking homo

By downvoting, you're technically policing speech? Isn't that right you disgusting kike?

[–] 0 pt

You got your libertarianism all jumbled up... Free Speech doesn't mean its free from criticism, it means its free from censorship. If people don't have cues that they are presenting in an unwelcome fashion, it forces in the long run an increase in unwanted behavior; in general lowering the level of discourse.

Not everyone has time to write out a reasoned dissertation on something when 100 people just saying its shit will suffice. Social enforcement is not the same thing as top-down censorship. (and ironically punishing people for downvoting is effectively top-down censorship of the smallest voices)

[–] 8 pts

Yeah that, and never responding to your messages, constantly changing the subject when you talk about something, not inviting you to parties, social events etc. The loss of interest in you, lessening of chances to get hired for a job based on your answers to interview questions, etc etc. LOTS of real life equivalents.

[–] [deleted] 10 pts

Are you guys stupid?

So if we're having a discussion and I say, "I disagree with open borders", you're going to uninvite me to the party we're already at, and reduce my chances of getting a job?

You're overthinking the concept. Downvotes are a pussy way out of direct confrontation or an argument. They allow people to circumvent any sort of discourse or challenge in favour of suppressing dissenting opinions without any recourse.

They're for extremely cowardly people and no one else.

[–] [deleted] 4 pts

So being that weakling that won't just tell the drunk to shut the fuck up?

You must be fun at parties.

Did I say anything about a drunk person being stupid?

[–] [deleted] 3 pts

Did I say anything about a drunk person being stupid?

Yes, when you asked for an example of what a downvote looks like in real life.

[–] 3 pts

imagine someone at a party was an uninvited lying nigger, you'd go an tell everyone individually that this guy is a piece of shit and not to believe what he says. that's a downvote.

[–] 3 pts

Level 6+ can access the voting [details] option (available under post's title or comments) to see who downvoted a post or comment

https://poal.co/welcome

Downvotes don't change the ability for a user to comment/post

[–] [deleted] 2 pts

In any case downvotes are for fags. Just argue or ignore the person. What does downvoting accomplish other than validating your own sperg ego?

[–] [deleted] 3 pts

People intuitively use the downvote system to show dissent.

What does downvoting accomplish other than validating your own sperg ego?

Metrics mostly

[–] 2 pts

It is a form of speech.

It is restricted.

POAL IS NOT ABOUT FREE SPEECH.

[–] 0 pt

For spam, is the only good use I can think of. IDK how much automated can prevent spam. I've seen some on ConsumeProduct. Although so far, it seems this and that forum have avoided being taken over

[–] 3 pts

We should've probably just gotten rid of the button altogether. But then again, if I'm cruising through the new feed and I see 2 downvotes on a post I know it's spam.

[–] [deleted] 3 pts

That would make much more sense to me or just have a 'mark spam' button. Every other place on the internet a down arrow is a downvote.

This is nonsense. Voaters were a bunch of fags that would downvote anything they didn't agree with, which would then censor those people and prevent them from expressing their views. Fuck these Voat homos

[–] 1 pt

It does seem like what they're asking for here is the ability to brigade. Some cite examples of possible abuse, like if you can't downvote you're gonna have a bunch of flat earthers and 5G conspiracy shills that overrun the place. But that doesn't seem to be a real problem at present.

[–] 1 pt

So what's the real life equivalent of an up vote button? Or of writing something then hours later a person responds and you get a flag telling you you were responded to?

I don't get comparing this to real life to justify that the downvote feature sucks.

And if it's such a damn problem why even have it? Or at least why not state what it's intended purpose is?

It's a spergy way to get out of arguing. You have a problem with something someone says but instead of addressing it or ignoring it, you add a gay -1 next to the post.

Worst case is also some fags and their 90 alts mass downvote your entire comment history because you said Trump is zogged.

[–] 1 pt

Ok then why have the button at all?

[–] 1 pt

I don’t think anyone is in favor of downvote spamming with alts. Hell, even at voat people got banned for that

The evolution of the internet says you're wrong.

You mean socially retarded spergs finally getting a platform and a voice, without being laughed at or bullied into submission?

Spend 10 minutes on reddit, you'll be downvoted to the point where your posting quota is so long it's impossible to maintain any reasonable conversation. No one argues with you, no one proves you wrong, they just downvote you and run away, pretending you never existed.

[–] 2 pts

If you claim to be for free speech, then complain when people shout you down, you are not about free speech. You are about protected speech.

[–] [deleted] 2 pts

The majority of those downvotes are bots, power mods and chinks. Not the same thing.