Free speech can’t flourish online — Social media is an outrage machine, not a forum for sharing ideas and getting at the truth::Social media is an outrage machine, not a forum for sharing ideas and getting at the truth

  • cosmic_slate@dmv.social
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    1 year ago

    I mostly agree but with the caveat that it really depends on the topic and the community. Some communities handle (at least what seems like good faith!) disagreement far worse than others.

    Even if it’s not yelling at each other, downvotes are quickly becoming a “I disagree” button and not a “this comment provides no value” button. Not limited to politics either.

    • kambusha@feddit.ch
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      1 year ago

      Yeah, I’ve noticed any “capitalism vs communism” comment or post gets a TON of engagement, and it almost always goes down a negative slippery slope. I guess that’s why a lot of people prefer to filter out politics related stuff.

      That being said, even the worst arguments I’ve seen here are nothing like I’ve seen on other platforms, where you think it might spill into someone getting hurt in real life.

    • BlanketsWithSmallpox@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Upvotes and downvotes have always been agree and disagree buttons. Reddit trying to pretend they were ever anything else was folly.

      Hell, even calling them upvote and downvotes is a misnomer if all you’re trying to do is promote discussion. Even then, it’s silly to think that most up or downvoted to oblivion comments aren’t there for a reason. More often than not it just tells you what that community’s and parent comments biases are lol.