Yeah this is definitely true. Probably more so for smaller platforms too. Blåhaj doesn't have downvotes enabled and you couldn't even if you wanted to (which I basically never do anyway). But after checking out an instance with them enabled for a while, I'm not all that impressed with how they're used around here. They probably get used like that on Reddit too but you barely notice it there.

And I'm of the camp where yeah, they're imaginary internet points but it's also something built into the platform for a little fun and also to boost quality content. I like upvoting basically everyone that has a decent conversation with me, for example. To me it feels like it's giving just a little extra acknowledgement, like an "I see you". And it's fun. Or should be. I'm a pretty gloomy person but not that cynical. This place is in a weird in between where people want it to be like a '90s forum site but also they want their 'agree' and 'disagree' buttons to mash.

I dunno, I'm over the event itself but I still have the bad taste in my mouth and a different impression of things and certain people now.

For what it's worth, even though you don't care lol, you're one of the people that I always enjoy seeing around here. I actually tried checking out your Pixelfed, couldn't figure out how to view it from my instance, wasn't in the mood to look up FAQs and shit, and haven't been back since lol.