[–] Camels-n-Miller ago
In reality the entire concept of /r/ and /v/ with the "Top" or "Hot" is the internet equivalent of an oxymoron.
We as users come here for content. Be it news, cat pictures, controversy, what have you. We are by default looking at the most popular items of said content based on other users "voats". Ideally that content should be the best, and most relevant to our need for stimuli.
Transversely our desire to see the particular content we desire impels us to up and down voat these submissions accordingly. In the desire to see the most relevant content to our personal desires we succumb to need to "fit in". If everyone else likes something we should inherently be interested and see what there is to like about it.
Some of that "everyone else likes it" comes down to social stigma, and need for acceptance that is a part of human nature. That need is greatest in the younger generations, and documented with the general concept of peer-pressure.
Emerging technologies and means of communication inherently attract the most technologically astute, and with the advancement of technology moving as fast as it has over the past 20 years shows the youth are the first to adopt new ways. Along with that new adoption comes new social norms. Those inherently cause behavior changes, and the eventual need for acceptance. That need for acceptance is what promotes and reproduces the "hive mind".
I'm not trying to say /r/ and /v/ are terrible, or anything like that. I want to suggest any successful collection on individuals on the internet is going to inevitably fall back to the social norm. Even adults still seek to be accepted in the normal state.
Avoiding the "hive mind"? It happens outside of the internet, and to even more extreme extents than being in negative karma or banned. It results in war, murder, and all manner of human suffering. We may idealize the concept of utopia on the internet, and it is a noble concept. Human nature shows though that it is really unobtainable. There will always be "karma-whores" in real life, and here. There will always be people that follow the flock (notice how many terms in the English language refer to this concept). If we really are in the Matrix then agent Smith's "Inevitability" would be quite different.
[–] thebestjohn ago
The only thing to prevent a hive mind is to think for yourself. Don't only visit subverses and news sites which support your opinion, read news from different sources and be critical of all of them.
I think being civil while disagreeing would prevent dissenting opinions from not talking.
And having karma reset to 0 every 6 months or so would also help.
[–] SexySexySkeletor ago
I think both upvotes and downvotes (and unique child commentors) should contribute to a comments visibility. So a comment with 10 upvotes and 10 downvotes should be higher in the comment thred than one with 10 upvotes. This will encourage intellectual debate and discourage people from giving trolls negative attention.
[–] newoldwave ago
The true purpose of PC is to stifle dissent and promote conformity. I think the "hive mind" is the group that all agree with each other and try to silence anyone who doesn't agree with them.
[–] RipSteakface 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
By not downvoating comments you disagree with. Use your downvoat to sort relevance. If you disagree with something, reply to the comment. Have a conversation, maybe see their point of view and why they believe what they believe. Otherwise, the top comments will always be a circlejerk of the most politically correct thing to say, and any real depth in controversial questions is lost.
[–] vudu 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Upvoat things you disagree with!!! As long as it creates conversation