I can’t say I never downvote anyone but I get into these comment chains from time to time where really no matter what I post whoever I’m talking to downvotes every response but I generally shy away from downvoting even things I dislike. I don’t want to fall into an echo chamber where all I see are only the things I agree with.
You’re supposed to downvote. If something is off topic especially, but also if something is toxic or against the rules.
If there was a community where the joke was “you can only reply PANTS” and then someone started to comment about the downfall of capitalism, you downvote that shit into oblivion even if you agree with it out of context.
Off topic tends to be used very subjectively, particularly if someone just dislikes the comment. Particularly when someone takes one line from a comment that’s on topic to say the comment is off topic. Not always of course but it’s rare so far as I’ve seen.
Now as for breaking rules or just being verbally violent, most definitely.
Commenting “as a man” in a women’s only community will get you downvoted even if it’s on topic.
Yeah human error got me on that one. I did apologize to everyone. I would have added an apology to the comment but I can’t 😕. Thankfully the mod was understanding I goofed.
I don’t think off topic is very subjective that often, and if you’re not sure just don’t vote. I gave an example of off topic behavior and, you know, it was too help you out. So you wouldn’t feel so bad about down voting. And then you tried to bicker with me about the details.