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  • radixius
    +5

    I don't know why anyone would want the downvote functionality removed, anyway. It either means what you wrote as a comment or posted as a snap was either unnecessary or incendiary. It's not like it publicly shows up anywhere, and while your rep can go down, you'd have to actively try to go below 65% rep with how welcoming and accepting this community is.

    • eilyra
      +2

      True, I think it's useful functionality that has way more positives currently than negatives. I believe the worry is that as the site grows, the culture & usage habits of the downvote become diluted and it starts getting used as a dislike button which it isn't meant for. That's why many suggestions seem to be around changing how the button is presented, so as to not be as strongly associated with the upvote (which does basically work as a like, along with being a "good contribution" button).

      • radixius
        +3

        I suppose that makes sense, but on the other hand, the people that would engage in egregious behavior with a downvote button will just find other ways to be obnoxious, anyway. This seems like the least awful way of going about it, at least in my opinion.

        • eilyra
          +3

          True, a downvote isn't a overly awful way of being obnoxious. Other ways would seem to have a tendency of being more accountable though (e.g. making a angry rant in the comments is visible to everyone, being hateful in private messages can probably be reported to the admins somehow). But if downvotes end up being more commonplace (hopefully not), they are probably the easiest of those to ignore.