There are upvotes for posts and upvotes for comments but on lemmy you’re not reminded of an overall running karma total. The lack of this count makes me feel like there’s a lot less pressure for every post or comment to be an absolute banger, witty, smart or something along those lines.
On reddit I would lurk a lot because I was none of those things but I feel like I can engage more now.
What do you think? Do you think it’s a good thing, a bad thing or perhaps do you feel indifferent?
I completely understand your sentiment. On platforms like Reddit, where there is a visible karma system that accumulates from both posts and comments, there can be a certain pressure to constantly strive for popular or highly upvoted content. This can create a sense of competition and make individuals feel like they need to constantly deliver exceptional or witty contributions to gain recognition…
In contrast, Lemmy’s approach of not displaying an overall running karma total does create a more relaxed and less pressurized environment. Without a visible count, the focus shifts more towards meaningful discussions and engaging with the community rather than constantly worrying about the number of upvotes or downvotes received :)
I’m hoping it’ll make people more likely to engage in discussions where they might not have on reddit. Of course thre’s no pressure to engage but I’m optimistic that some people might give it a go and the ones who did previously, I hope they can relax in this space. :D