https://www.reddit.com/r/TheoryOfReddit/comments/1ivtb2k/is_op_backlash_a_thing/
created by Possible-External-33 on 22/02/2025 at 21:16 UTC
25 upvotes, 8 top-level comments (showing 8)
For some reason, I have noticed that commentors get a lot more upvotes than posters do sometimes (unless its a popular post). And OPs when they reply to their own posts get downvoted often (especially in big subs). I have seen this a lot.
Then if the OP responds to comments in any way, not even negatively (lets say someone made a joke or something and the OP responds in kind) people upvote the commentor and downvote the OP.
Do people just have some sort of innate dislike for the OP?
For example I myself recently made a post in a big subreddit, asking an innocent question. Got some replies in the comments, replied to one with "lmao" because it was funny. Then that person got upvoted and I got downvotes. Completely innocent...
But I have seen this play out quite a lot in random scenarios and other OPs werent being a doosh or anything, but still got downvoted seemingly just for being the OP...what gives?
Comment by LoverOfGayContent at 23/02/2025 at 02:59 UTC
26 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I think people get annoyed if they perceive the OP to be talking back in anyway. My personal opinion is that a lot of people get online reddit when they are not happy. So, they are more likely to interpret things negatively. Even if you say something positively, they may read it as passive-aggressive.
Yes, I think there is OP backlash. I don't think it's universal. But I think it's generally related to a sense of, "you need to shut up and accept my opinion of you."
Comment by gnuoyedonig at 22/02/2025 at 21:41 UTC
14 upvotes, 5 direct replies
How much did your “lmao” add to the discussion?
Stop thinking of votes as some kind of approval. Even if some misuse it that way.
What did it add. That’s the lens to think about votes with.
Comment by TheSubtleSaiyan at 23/02/2025 at 04:57 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
The original post is massively upvoted because it is exceptionally cool, funny, fascinating in some way. People have a positive opinion of the post and OP for the contribution. Then OP ruins everything and breaks the illusion of their excellent post with a lame and uninspired comment in an attempt to take a victory lap and get more attention. This demands a downvote to condition OP to refrain from such behaviors.
There are less common examples of OPs that continue their winning streak in the comments with new clever or funny content e.g. “with rice” guy.
Comment by CupBeEmpty at 23/02/2025 at 05:36 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Heh, this is pretty much par for the course.
I got super heavy downvotes today by responding to a shitpost as a mod on a local sub.
I didn’t take down the post. I pointed out it was really low effort. It was political but I didn’t join in any of the politics. I still was sitting at about -50 votes for almost all my comments.
I’ve been modding that sub for close to two decades. So it’s kind of hilarious when people ask me to step down because I didn’t agree with their particular shitposting.
Comment by Buck_Thorn at 22/02/2025 at 23:39 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I've seen quite the opposite. I've made a number of posts in various subs where the post not only got a lot of comments, and my replies also got upvoted in general, but the posts themselves got downvoted to 0, even though they were just asking straightforward, simple questions. Personally, I think its the phases of the moon.
Comment by gogybo at 23/02/2025 at 11:24 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I've noticed that too. If as OP you dare to push back even mildly on what someone is saying you'll likely get downvoted, even if that person is wrong. It's like you have to act pathetically grateful that people are even responding to your post in the first place and God help you if you disagree with any of the responses.
Comment by I_Like_Slug at 23/02/2025 at 19:31 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
OP backlash is definitely a thing.
Sometimes I'll see the OP clarify something in the comments because the sub doesn't allow editing posts, and they always get downvoted.
And sometimes the OP will be asking for advice in a post, and someone comments giving them advice, but the advice won't work for the OP so they reply saying so. As an example, let's say the post asks for help with something related to a computer, and someone gives them a solution that works on Linux, but OP uses Windows so they reply to the commenter and say they are on Windows. And they get downvoted.
And sometimes the OP will make a really good post but it doesn't get many upvotes, so they comment on their post saying something like "Why no upvotes" and get downvoted a ton.
Comment by swaggylongbottom at 24/02/2025 at 03:25 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
IMO, as a newer active user of reddit (<3yrs) , the whole up/downvote system encourages tribalism and echo chambers for the reasons a lot have already stated above.
Low effort users are exactly that. They want posts spoon fed to them. They will scan their feed and see a post title that looks interesting for one reason or another, make an assumption by merely skimming the post and never digesting the content, and head straight to the comments. Then this group is separated further between those who will make a abrasive comment because their lack of comprehension of the post led to them being triggered by the post, and the second group who can't even be bothered to share a thought.
Both of these groups think on a very shallow level: they come into a post with linear thinking and rush to the assumption that anything to the contrary is wrong. To make matters worse, these are often the types with nothing better to do that to troll reddit day in and day out; karma is their rush, the thrill they live for. The dopamine from upvotes keeps them going. And they seek out communities where their view is considered accepted and gets them those upvotes.
It's human conditioning. And for OP's, once you see a few of these comments pop up, your post is almost doomed, as the more other low effort (or thought) users piggyback on each other and l protect their hive mind, the more your post gets bombed, even if they are all missing a huge component.
And let's not get started on downvote stalking... users who are so petty they follow other users with multiple accounts solely to wait for that user to post so they can bomb them with downvotes to keep their content buried.
The downvote button is worthless. I think having only an upvote button is enough, as the best content will rise to the top anyway. The downvote button is only used as a weapon by most users these days.