https://www.reddit.com/r/TheoryOfReddit/comments/1hvf3bj/should_downvoters_have_to_explain/
created by jchusker on 07/01/2025 at 00:53 UTC
0 upvotes, 13 top-level comments (showing 13)
Would it be feasible for Reddit to make downvoters explain their reason for downvoting? My thought is when someone downvotes, a prompt should come up where you have to comment your reason. Then the comment would show up as a reply to the downvoted post or comment. This would imo limit undeserved downvoting. I'm not tech savvy so idk how hard it would be to set up. Thoughts?
Comment by Retrogamer5421 at 07/01/2025 at 00:57 UTC
16 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I don't think users should have to give a reason every time they downvote something, but I think that Reddit should show upvotes and downvotes as separate numbers. This way, user opinions of posts and comments are more accurately represented.
Comment by DoTheDew at 07/01/2025 at 01:54 UTC
6 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Do you really want to be insulted every time someone downvotes you?
Reason for downvote: because fuck you.
Comment by neuroticsmurf at 07/01/2025 at 01:10 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Frankly, you’ e obviously already given the downvote more thought and energy than it deserves.
Comment by percypersimmon at 07/01/2025 at 01:03 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Why would this be any more necessary than making ppl explain their upvotes?
You already have to do this when reporting a comment.
Also, it’s really pretty rare that something gets a bunch of “undeserved” downvotes. It’s not really a problem outside of organized vote brigading (reportable) or someone systematically downvoting another user’s comments across the site (also reportable)
Comment by beachsunflower at 07/01/2025 at 01:34 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Who would it be for?
I think you'd have to see the benefit from the organization perspective, in this case reddit.
There might be a marketing case to prompt like once a session on your voting habits, maybe mid scroll or right after pressing, kinda like tiktok when it asks you if you've seen a particular ad or if you like your new feed preferences.
In the end there has to be a value associated with it. If users leave because its intrusive, there's no reason to design it.
If user retention is neglible after adding something like this and then you're able to sell this data? Maybe I dunno.
But if it's just cause you're salty someone didn't like what you wrote, then absolutely no.
Comment by CyberBot129 at 07/01/2025 at 04:14 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Explanation: Asdfghj
Comment by hlazlo at 07/01/2025 at 01:02 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
While I can understand the motivation, as downvoting a post solely on the basis of disagreeing with or disliking it is against the rettiquette rules, there's no way anyone's going to go for this.
Comment by DDB- at 07/01/2025 at 01:05 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Reddiquette actually already mentions this by saying:
**Consider posting constructive criticism / an explanation when you downvote something,** and do so carefully and tactfully
I agree it would be beneficial, especially for comments, so that the person knows why they weren't contributing to the discussion and why their comment is not beneficial.
However, we are long past the days of this, and if you required people to do this, people would just stop engaging with Reddit altogether. It could perhaps work on some highly moderated and smaller communities where the number of comments needing downvotes is minimal, but I suspect it would not be popular anywhere.
Comment by 17291 at 07/01/2025 at 01:10 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Trolls thrive off of attention. Requiring a comment before downvoting would give them exactly what they want.
Comment by FunnelV at 08/01/2025 at 00:07 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
IMHO the answer is just to not display downvote scores and have downvoted comments go to a moderation filter which is then okayed or perma-deleted. To me that would balance out the issue of people using downvotes as an easy way to hurt someone they disagree with/don't like and the idea of using downvotes to help moderate the site.
Comment by FBI-Watchlist at 09/01/2025 at 14:43 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Nah. Downvoted.
Comment by Equivalent-Cap501 at 14/01/2025 at 03:15 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
That would be nice, especially since enough downvotes becomes the rationale for certain trigger-happy mods to ban someone from some subreddits.
Comment by juzwunderin at 07/01/2025 at 02:13 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I am not opposed to some explanation... to often it seems downvoters do it just to do it.. since there is no exposure.