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Should scores be hidden by default? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by X_Cli@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Lemmy implements a scoring system allowing people to upvote or downvote posts. You know that since you are using Lemmy :)

Score can be used to increase or lower visibility of posts, in particular when using some sorting algorithms (active, hot, top).

This can be used to increase the visibility of good quality posts, and lower that of low quality or irrelevant posts.

Yet, from what I observe, the tool is mostly used for communities to self-administer filter bubble. Some communities seem to behave like a hive mind, massively upvoting or downvoting until either the dissident is assimilated in a very Borg way, or excommunicated.

Also, scores seem to be used often to convey cheap moral judgement, without having the need to expose oneself to criticism by providing arguments to sustain their opinion.

Overall, I think scores are more toxic than useful, and I would be in favor of hiding them by default, so that new comers are not put out by them.

What is your opinion about this? What are the advantages of having the score visible by default?

Just a clarification: the question is not "should scores exist or not?". If people find value in scores, good for them. I'm not one to dictate other people preferences. :)

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[–] MadScientist@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

this is a pretty interesting system. if this was the intended usage, Reddit did an absolutely terrible UX job, because any sane person would assume that downvotes are of equivalent value to upvotes, are the opposite of upvotes, and that if you are not upvoting you should probably downvote. if lemmy would like to encourage this type of usage, it should make that evident in its ux by putting downvotes in a menu, making the icon more scary/violent, or forcing you to confirm them. i would personally prefer the second idea, but it would also be the hardest to implement as you'd need to spend a lot of time designing a good symbol, whereas the others are just a very simple ui tweak.

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.de 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I think downvote is just "disagree" and intended like that. Also what up and downvote means is different in every community, like in a community like "terrible memes" upvote would mean yes, it's a terrible meme.

[–] MadScientist@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 years ago

i think upvote in any community means "good and relevant post". because both good and relevant are subjective, they're different for each community, but the same voting style can still be used in each

as for your first point, idk 🤷‍♂️ that's why i said "if that was the intended usage" and "if lemmy wants the same". my preferred way of using votes would be that downvote is indeed the opposite of upvote, but both should only be used in cases of stronger conviction. like if you REALLY like a post, upvote it, and vice versa. this would be conveyed in the ui by putting the options for both in a menu and making them triple arrows, so you don't vote willy nilly, and are not tempted to vote on everything. this makes it so mostly only developed opinions influence post rating, and for most posts you can clear a part of your mind and just focus on the content.