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Speaking of which, I spent 45 minutes writing an impassioned critique of the unrec feature and then realized each and every argument could apply to the rec feature with only one exception. That being that rec is a positive and if used correctly, something that helps in community building and good feelings and unrec does the opposite. Since we are at a strange place on DU these days, keeping it positive is a good thing, you know?
You mentioned that in almost every case it isn't difficult to figure out why people are doing it. I think you're wrong. Certainly, in many cases it's a no-brainer but in many cases, people with usernames far more recognizable than mine, have highly devoted fans and also enemies. I think there are people using the unrec based on the person rather than the content of the post. Or are using it to try to suppress views they disagree with (though I haven't seen that work - usually if a post has merit, the unrecs are quickly overshadowed).
If we instead showed all recs and all unrecs (or thumbs up, thumbs down. Whatever), I think there might be less of a vacuum in which conspiracy theories can fester. And if the admins notice that X always unrecs Y, it might be helpful in figuring out if there is more going on than people simply deciding if a post has merit and should be seen by more eyes.
But really, I think we need to have a conversation about how we want the Greatest Page to be utilized and how to help our fellow community members understand how they can help make it into what they hopefully want it to be - a salon of fascinating thought.
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