It can inhibit participation. A lot of people automatically downvote anyone with a negative score and upvote anyone with a positive score because of the peer pressure or something. It’s how the brigading and triple digit downvotes often get started.
Comment on Especially on Lemmy
Dio@lemy.lol 5 months agoYou care about downvotes?
stoly@lemmy.world 5 months ago
EtherWhack@lemmy.world 5 months ago
To be fair, it could have a negative impact on whether or not new users or lurkers get involved.
1984@lemmy.today 5 months ago
I guess they are a signal of disapproval, but its better to be honest and say what you think then to try and get liked in very post.