It is the same here as everywhere else - if people even think you don't follow their reasoning, you get downvotes. This makes no sense and I think the feature should be removed. Especially as people can hide behind the anonymity of downvotes and don't need to think about it.

I am not sure people even try to understand what is written either, because downvotes happen (to everyone) even when they are saying the same thing from a different angle.

This is not how discourse or democracy work. If I can't have an opinion that's different from yours, then there is no point in talking at all. If you don't agree with me (or others) just don't upvote. Simple as that. By downvoting you are saying "your opinion isn't valued." Maybe that is what people want to say when they downvote. I don't know. Unless it is hate speech in any form or direct attack on someone, I don't see a reason to even think about using that feature.

If you happen to disagree, or you don't understand what is said, reply and explain or ask, please. I've seen people getting downvotes just for asking a question wrong or expressing some frustration.

My opinion is disregarded in the offline world often enough, I do not need people letting me think my opinion is worthless in places like this. It causes anxiety and confusion when I don't even understand why there would be downvotes to begin with. And I am certainly not the only one fearful of expressing opinions. Probably just the only one to say something openly, because that's me, expressing my opinions even when they aren't that popular. And I'm not pretending, like others might, that I am not affected by things.

So I won't be posting anymore unless it is in a book forum. And I know hardly anyone cares because you don't know me, or you will downvote this post because in your imagination this is somehow some sort of attention grabbing, or rage post or whatever. It is not. I'm frustrated, tired and disappointed, hurt and confused, as so often, and I think I have a reason to say so.

I hope eventually downvotes will be removed so everyone can talk without fear of being devalued.

I was talking to a coworker about books and we got on the topic of lgbtq books because I was recommending him some, and he asked me if I had any books where the main character is trans and that made me realize that even tho I have many books on many different topics and genres I only have like... one single book where the main character is trans. but even then the book I'm thinking of has a nonbinary main character and I think he was meaning a book with a trans man or woman. I do have books with trans characters, but none of them are the main characters. I tried reading Hell Followed With Us but the writing and plot weren't vibing with me. I don't normally read contemporary or literary fiction but I'm still open to recs of that genre. i do mainly prefer fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. any and all recommendations are more then welcome!

I've been thinking about this lately bc I'm in the habit of writing my first and last name inside the cover of the books I own. I started as a kid because a lot of my books were retired from my mom's classroom, and they had our last name written in them/on the spines so they didn't disappear at school somewhere. Naturally, I just assumed this is standard practice for book ownership, and started doing the same inside the covers. I also buy a lot of used books and I always love to find dedications, names, and annotations in a book and write mine alongside them. I think about the people who will hopefully one day pick up my copies and add their names to the list.

On the other hand, I feel a little weird about writing my name in books sometimes because it feels very, well, possessive, and I love the idea of letting books come and go from my personal library in a more free-flowing exchange between friends. Getting to pass on a book I loved to someone I love is so gratifying and fun, and receiving a well loved copy from a friend feels like a precious gift. As much as this system appeals to me, I just sometimes struggle to part with a beloved book once I've read and reread and annotated it to the point that it feels more like a memento than a mass market paperback.

Basically what I'm saying is I have way too many thoughts about this and I can't make up my mind...what do y'all think?

Murderbots relationship with ratthi is really one of my faves, they are truly besties who just get each other 🥺