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?

  • Dr. Wesker@lemmy.sdf.org
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    8 days ago

    I upvote if something is funny, creative, interesting, or if a poster is passionate about what they’re posting and I want to send them some silent encouragement.

    I virtually never downvote, because I think it’s a lame function that armchair losers primarily employ to discourage others.

    • OpenStars@piefed.socialOP
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      8 days ago

      Tis better to give than to receive… and people who downvote are encouraging the critical nature inside their own heads that turns back and aims at themselves sometimes.

      Or something.

    • Baggins@beehaw.org
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      8 days ago

      That’s why I use Beehaw. And there’s (usually) a better class of clientele.