When I joined Lemmy I used to upvote everything I mild agreed, but then I felt that I couldn’t emphasise the truly good comments because I already upvoted everything else.

So now I only upvote the best comments of a thread or a post (or at least of the ones I get to read).

As for down votes, I kinda hate getting down voted, therefore I don’t usually down vote just because I disagree, I can disagree and still respect one’s opinion (unless it’s something reactionary and/or that trully infuriates me).

If I said something that is factually wrong then by all means, down vote so other people may not be mislead by something I thought it was true. But I don’t think it’ nice to down vote on comments just because you don’t share the same opinion on a topic. Or because your personal experience is different from mine.

I also downvote a lot when posts on “technology” communities have nothing to do with (any new) technology and instead are just advertisements for some corporate product.

I use upvotes as a ‘read’ button. Sometimes when I enjoyed a post, I up it it as well. Rarely do I downvote unless I noticed the post/comment was already negative.

Way back in the Reddit days I used to upvote everything I interacted with and liked or thought was contributing to the conversation.

After the API drama I deleted my account, but I still browsed Reddit anonymously for a while before joining Lemmy. Obviously that meant I couldn’t upvote anything. Unfortunately, I think those habits kinda transferred to my Lemmy account and these days I barely upvote anything and downvote a lot of things I disagree with.

I need to put in the effort to relearn both upvoting things in general and upvoting things I disagree with that are contributing to the conversation. It’s just really annoying to have to do that for every post and comment

I upvote posts I enjoy reading or hearing about. I upvote comments that are intelligent and/or well said. I rarely downvote.

The other day I upvoted a post I agreed with. A reply disagreed with it and made a thoughtful argument against the post I agreed with. I upvoted that too. Thoughtful discussion and insight is always something I appreciate.

I rarely ever downvote unless it’s racist/sexist/bigoted nonsense or complete bullshit/misinformation. I don’t downvote people I merely disagree with.

I upvote clever jokes, insightful comments, and anything I think isn’t pointless. I upvote a lot, haha.

If it seeds division, doesn’t provide a path to discussion, is overtly toxic, is in bad faith, or is flame bait. It gets the downvote.

I mostly just upvote or pass. If someone is adding to the conversation and keeping the Fediverse alive, upvote. Like throwing a thumbs up.

I upvote comments I like that contribute to the conversation; downvote dumb jokes and people just trying to get easy upvotes. And also comments I don’t like/disagree with, though I try avoiding that if I can help it cause it’s bad etiquette (especially if it contributes to the discussion).

If i comment on a post or reply to a comment, I upvote it. Case in point.

If i think a post is in the wrong place, I downvote it. For example, I follow a lot of art communities. In artshare I upvote literally every post because I think creativity should be encouraged, and sharing your creative journey should be encouraged. However, I feel like the traditionalart community is for sharing professional art pieces. I’ve already seen your same piece in 4 other communities,et me have one place for polished art.

Eta: if someone comments on a post I make, I almost always up vote. Unless the comment is complete garbage, im grateful for the engagement.

It depends on where I am: If it’s a funny post in a shitpost com/mag, then I upvote. If it’s a well reasoned argument made in good faith in a discussion, I upvote (even if I don’t necessarily agree with it). If they’re saying something factually incorrect, I downvote. If they’re posting shit that’s not germane to the subject, I downvote. Clearly arguing in bad faith? Downvote. Asshole? Believe it or not, straight to downvote.

I generaly will upvote replies or posts were the commenter is making a sensible point in an argument, (even if it politically may NOT be something I agree with) as I do come to sites like lemmy with the “old school” usenet conversation philosophy.

If I can be a foil that another person can have ideas bounced off (esp. if they are really good ideas) I will jump in, upvote and comment.

I will upvote when someone is showing their artwork and I see a sincere effort and openness to share - that is always nice, even if the person is starting out and the work isn’t very polished. Be it cooking, photography, music, art, carpentry… whatever… people have to start somewhere and I will never tear into someoone’s effort in a destructive way.

I also upvote when someone like on the music comms brings a new artist whose style is something I have not heard before (and at my age, that is a rarity) and is well crafted and complex… Love that esp. so.

I upvote things I like sometimes when I remember. I downvote things that don’t at all belong in the community they are in, get important facts disastrously wrong and then double down, and hateful content.

I upvote if I think other people in the community would want to see the content, and downvote if I think they wouldn’t.

Anything entertaining, or that gives a perspective on their opinion. Anything not outright atrocious or wrong. I have a light finger for likes.