For me, it’s equivalent to a statement that “I would like to see more of something like this”. That sometimes means upvoting things that I don’t agree with, yet very often I’ll pass over things that I do (such as “^This” - I agree, but don’t want to see more of it:-). Often I’ll upvote nearly every comment in a thread, to signal hopes for increased participation. To me it’s a signal for health and vibrancy of a community to see such.

But other people I guess use it as an “I agree” or “like” button? If that’s you, do you use it sparingly? What’s the rationale there - that when it is delivered, it means more? But with Lemmy so small, why not deliver it more often to help it grow? I mean you feel free to do you, I’m just curious. Maybe you feel it could encourage “karma farming”?

I’d even like to ask lurkers what they think, although I suppose that literally by definition I cannot:-). Then again, I recently became a lurker myself by watching the embedded Loops videos at https://tesseract.dubvee.org/c/loops@midwest.social, and I really miss being able to comment or vote on videos to help guide others to which ones I feel are most/least worthwhile to watch. It feels like a finger is missing - I reach out to do my normal activity and it’s gone.:-) So perhaps if someone was recently a lurker, what are your thoughts too?

  • macniel@feddit.orgEnglish
    41·
    8 days ago

    I may not come from the US, but have upvoted a post and or comment once.

    I upvote when I agree with someone else, or when its at least a neutral reply to my own post/comment. I downvote when I don’t agree, or even disagree with the content of that post or comment. And I report when it’s outright heinous and or violates that posts community rules.

    Btw why is this in AskUSA when it’s not even USA specific?

    • OpenStars@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      2·
      8 days ago

      Could it have gone somewhere else? Yes. But it could also go here - it’s not required to be “specific”, just “relevant”.

      Also, USA cultural values do legitimately tend to differ from others - e.g. we say “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” when we mean merely “great” (oh wait, no, that’s the other country that starts with a U…:-P), or in general try to “spin” things in a more positive light. Which is not always good. But it does feel welcoming, if that makes any sense?

      I have an idea for an experiment: would you like to crosspost this somewhere else, perhaps AskLemmy, and we can see how the results may differ there?

      I feel like the regular community members - FAR more so than mere mods and even admins - are the ones who create a sense of “community”. Upvotes and comments make it what it is, regardless of the rules, e.g. just try saying that you like a Mac (or worse, WINDOZE) in a Linux community.:-P (Theoretically someone can like whatever they like according to the “rules”? But in practice, downvotes and angry responses will chase those people away - good riddance!?! - while upvotes and and positive comments will reinforce the echo chamber effect sense of “community”).

      • macniel@feddit.orgEnglish
        3·
        8 days ago

        I have no idea what country you are talking about nor what you were trying to say in that needlessly long response.

        But as a Linux user you’ve offended me slightly, which I blow out of off proportion now.

        So as a non us citizen, European actually, and Linux user I wish you good night, sir!