It's no surprise that this would be common, especially in some subverses. But those that are supposed to be serious and for discussion often get poisoned by this. Up-votes and down-votes can make things rather one-sided and into a hive-mind of sorts.
How can we, mods or the community at large prevent hive mind mentality? Even if people don't downvote comments or posts that go against their beliefs they are less inclined to upvote than someone that agrees and makes other good points. Doesn't this foster some sort of hive mentality and where is it a good thing and where is it a bad thing? If I don't have an opinion yet about a topic and the highest comments are all about x is really y does this mean that it is right?
Does this promote conformity and stifle discussion indirectly?
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[–] FiftyShadesOfBlack ago (edited ago)
I doubt it can be avoided. The algorithm (threaded comments, up/down votes, showing the comments with the most upvotes first, hiding the comments with more downvotes (does Voat do that?)) inherently leads to a hivemind.
The best way to resist is not to care about the imaginary Voat-points.
[–] Port-Chrome ago
But the points you have on a comment determine how much it is seen...
[–] FiftyShadesOfBlack 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Yeah, that's why the algorithm leads to a hivemind.
Basically, it's hard to fight the algorithm.