The problem is that voting is as easy to do in a "shabby" manner as the posting. There's no control on it — not even social — at present. Voting could as easily be done by roll of the dice as any other method. I think your impression of the voting motivation for people in general is probably needlessly, and unrealistically, optimistic.

One of my major concerns with downvoting is the weight it lends toward getting nodes reaped. If you want to discuss "censorship" in the voting system, I suggest you start there.

If, by the way, you think there aren't people downvoting out of spite, you probably "don't have a clear view of the (world) yet." Not only am I rather firmly convinced of spite as a (not the, but a) primary motivator of human beings, but there's experimental evidence to back up that supposition.

Besides that, I don't particularly see any value in negatively voting anything simply because it runs counter to your assumptions. I, personally, like having my assumptions challenged, as long as it's done in a non-belligerent manner.

As I mentioned before, I'm not worried about getting downvoted, anyway. I like thoughtful discussion. That motivator trumps any concerns about XP, for me.

Thank you for expressing your opinions politely.

- apotheon
CopyWrite Chad Perrin

In reply to Re^2: discouraging vindictiveness by apotheon
in thread discouraging vindictiveness by apotheon

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