The main function of downvotes in LW is NOT to re-educate the offender. Its main function is to make the content which has been sufficiently downvoted effectively invisible.
If you eliminate the downvotes, what will replace them to prune the bad content?
Well, if this is really the goal, then maybe disentangle downvotes from both post/comment karma and personal karma while leaving the invisibility rules in place? Make it more of a “mark as non-constructive” button that if enough people hit it, the post becomes invisible. If we want to make it more comprehensive, it could be made to weigh these votes against upvotes to make the show/hide decision.
The main function of downvotes in LW is NOT to re-educate the offender. Its main function is to make the content which has been sufficiently downvoted effectively invisible.
I am aware of the concept. What exactly do you mean?
The above study is sufficient evidence for me
It says “This paper investigates how ratings on a piece of content affect its author’s future behavior.” I don’t think LW should be in the business of re-educating its users to become good ’net citizens. I’m more interested in effective filtering of trolling, stupidity, aggression, drama, dick waving, drive-by character assassination, etc. etc.
It’s not like the observation that downvoting a troll does not magically convert him into a hobbit is news.
The main function of downvotes in LW is NOT to re-educate the offender. Its main function is to make the content which has been sufficiently downvoted effectively invisible.
If you eliminate the downvotes, what will replace them to prune the bad content?
Well, if this is really the goal, then maybe disentangle downvotes from both post/comment karma and personal karma while leaving the invisibility rules in place? Make it more of a “mark as non-constructive” button that if enough people hit it, the post becomes invisible. If we want to make it more comprehensive, it could be made to weigh these votes against upvotes to make the show/hide decision.
Could be done, though it makes karma even more irrelevant to anything.
Negative externalities.
Something else? The above study is sufficient evidence for me (and hopefully others) to start finding another solution.
I am aware of the concept. What exactly do you mean?
It says “This paper investigates how ratings on a piece of content affect its author’s future behavior.” I don’t think LW should be in the business of re-educating its users to become good ’net citizens. I’m more interested in effective filtering of trolling, stupidity, aggression, drama, dick waving, drive-by character assassination, etc. etc.
It’s not like the observation that downvoting a troll does not magically convert him into a hobbit is news.