Off Topic Discussion Megathread

[Rilifane]

I was on a forum that had a downvote button for a little while. It just encouraged people to downvote people they didn't like, whether they'd actually read the post or not. The button was removed in less than a week.

What I dislike about downvote buttons is that they are an easy way out to disagree with someone or trying to make their input look worthless without ever owning up to it.
Upvote is fine because if you agree with someone, the opinion has already been stated and the reasons for it aswell (usually). But if you disagree with someone, I feel like you're in a position of "having to deliver". You have to give a reason why you think differently, because a simple "You're wrong" is about as useful as a downvote or saying nothing at all.
It adds nothing of value.
But if you have to write an actual reply to something you disagree with you're putting yourself out there, the opinion has a name attached to it and it doesn't matter that it's only a forum name. That alone serves as a barrier that discourages many people from writing that they disagree without giving a reason for it.
But pushing a downvote button is easy and anonymous.

[ItMe]

snip

That is a keen observation, and one I haven't heard before.
I think you're totally spot on.