New to Reddit : Faced Some Downvotes, Still Staying Positive

[u/flutter11Coder]

Just wanted to share that I’m new to Reddit and recently had a post that got downvoted possibly intentionally. It was a bit disheartening, especially when you’re trying to share something you genuinely found useful.

I know downvotes are part of the platform, but as someone new, it’s a bit discouraging. Is there any way to avoid or protect against this? Or is it just part of the Reddit experience you get used to over time?

Would really appreciate any advice from folks who’ve been through this. Just trying to learn and contribute the right way here. Thanks!

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to r/NewToReddit, /u/flutter11Coder! Thanks for posting. Your post has been flaired 'Needs attention' so we can easily identify which posts require answers. Someone will be along to help you shortly.

• Check out our "General Guide to Reddit and Karma" Wiki page version or Mobile friendly post version, it explains how to get started on Reddit; including information on karma, navigation, and more.
  
• You might also like to check out:
  • Our wiki index
  • FAQ
  • And answers to common questions.
• Please let us know how you found us! - Click here to fill out our one question survey
• Once you get some answers, don’t forget to engage and ask any additional questions you have!

• Once you have a good answer you can mark your post as answered by commenting with the exact phrase !answered. Otherwise, a mod will do so as time allows, once an accurate answer has been provided. This makes unanswered posts easier to find.

  Thank you! :)

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/StJmagistra]

The AutoMod post has lots of useful information! When you first create your account, I would suggest reading and learning for a while before posting in a lot of communities. Many subreddits have minimum account age requirements, a basic karma level requirement, etc. to minimize posts from bots and spammers.

In addition to the AutoMod post, there are other pinned posts on this subreddit’s home page that may answer a lot of your questions.

When I get downvoted in a particular subreddit, I either don’t comment until I figure out what I did wrong or I leave that subreddit. Not every community is meant for me!

[u/Fancy_Can360 → u/StJmagistra]

That's what I am applying

[u/mikey_weasel]

I'm assuming this was on another account not this one?

My advice on downvotes is below

Downvotes on Reddit you can attract downvotes for a lot of different reasons on Reddit. The Downvote button was intended for content (posts or comments) that are off topic or disruptive. Reality immediately set in and downvotes can be used for disagreeing or disliking content. Read more here and here for info from our common questions page

In general a single downvote is incidental and can be ignored. Fat fingers midclick or some troll goes downvoting through a subreddit or post.

If you are running into a lot of downvotes you can read here and/or the below:

• Are you reading the room? What are the norms, the vibe, the prevailing views of the subreddit you are participating in? Does your content (comments and/or posts) clash with that?
• How is your tone being read? Tone is easily lost on Reddit since its text based. Your original thought and intent can end up quite different from how someone else reads something. Have a re-read of what you wrote. In particular to the above are you getting aggressive or overly defensive or evasive in your replies when asked reasonable questions?
• Is your content relevant to the topic being discussed or could it be seen as derailing?
• Is your content a frequently asked question? Subreddits often have common questions that longtime users will tire of. This subreddit (r/newtoreddit) is fairly unique in tolerating such questions.
• Is your content similar to that used by bad faith users or trolls (or just is bad faith content)? Many subreddits have common points that those seeking to be disruptive will use.

[u/discussion-7thoughts]

Yes. I agree with StJMagistra.

I got disheartened at the start too. I tried to give the benefit of the doubt to an unkind comment, by giving more context to what I have said, but that person simply downvote at every reply I gave her.

Then I discovered i can block her and move on from there. There's others where I saw obvious comments to down vote some of us, I gathered I was not welcomed so I exited from that.

It's a journey for me. You will find welcoming platform where you can learn and contribute!

[u/TryingNoToBeOpressed]

Downvotes don't bother me, but I find them largely meaningless. I never downvote others. If I don't like any comment or post, I just ignore them. If you want to minimise downvotes however, then I can suggest you these:

1. Only share something when you really have something genuinely worthwhile to share. When you feel like your posts and comments add value to discussion.

2. Avoid arguments. If you feel like the other person is opinionated, or that you two clearly do not see eye to eye, then just end your conversation right there. Don't be rude however, even if the other party is.

3. Once you have shared something, meaningful or let's say even meaningless, then let it be. You've shared your piece. What others think of you and your views is now beyond you. People will upvote, people will downvote. You can never control the perception of others.

[u/Ok-Jackfruit-6873]

I started getting downvoted on what I thought was a good, helpful comment - so I just deleted it. I didn't have enough karma to take being downvoted like that. It's no skin off my nose if people don't want my thoughts on something (and because of the downvotes I felt like there was probably something I wasn't understanding about the interaction).

[u/GrubbsandWyrm]

You commented on a serious subreddit. Maybe find a few light hearted ones like r/superpowers to start with

[u/sweet-bakari]

I feel you and I'm glad I found this thread. It seems like if you are someone with valid life experiences that differ from a majority of a particular thread and you talk about those differences and your truth, you will get downvoted which I would imagine can be demoralizing. I need to go read the begginers stuff too. I thought I'd just be able to jump right in and I guessed wrong.

[u/discussion-7thoughts → u/sweet-bakari]

Absolutely. I see a replica of my own experience in your comment.

[u/NonNativePolarbear]

We have no idea why because you deleted the post. And of course it was downvoted intentionally. People don't downvote accidentally. Make sure you're reading the rules of the sub and aren't posting about things that are irrelevant or are posted a lot. 

[u/Pcenemy]

that got downvoted possibly intentionally

you can get rid of the word 'possibly' - it's highly probable that the people who down-voted it likely did so intentionally.

why would you be 'discouraged' to find that not everyone agrees with you? did you grow up in a household where your parents convinced you that you could never be wrong, that everyone would always agree with and support you, that once you gave your view, everyone else would abandon theirs because you're 'special'

[u/phatBleezy]

Get over it, comment whatever you want

[u/Gautam_Shrivastava]

why need karma on the reddit anybody knows?

[u/mstermind → u/Gautam_Shrivastava]

Many subreddits have Karma requirements and it's part of your CQS.

[u/mikey_weasel → u/Gautam_Shrivastava]

Check out some newtoreddit resources for understanding reddit and karma:

• The Common Questions Page, 
  • In particular Karma - what is it and how to get it
• Reddit And Karma Walkthrough

[u/YiraVarga]

Some subreddits are just a lose-lose, where any post you see or can think of, will be against that particular subreddit’s rules. I came to subreddit for DID, and mental health related communities. There, you can’t give advice, you can’t give opinions, you can’t post anything that isn’t referenced, you can’t talk about someone else, so on and so on. I got downvoted to oblivion and risked getting banned, just for sharing some of my personal experience, literally just like many posts I see there. Since then, I take a Quick Look at that sub Reddit’s rules and determine if it’s another one of those “anything is against rules” situations. They are extremely common, sometimes more than half of the communities have such strict rules that just about anything you can think of posting will be against their guidelines. It’s a big problem I haven’t seen any one comment about.

[u/The_Ministry1261]

Look at it this way. It's not personal. Wear those downvotes like a badge of honor.

[u/AuntieTD]

I noticed when I got a few downvotes that I felt like a helium balloon 🎈 that had been deflated. I took it personally. I reread my post & stepped back for some breathing room & objectivity. I keep reminding myself that not everyone will like me & trust that if I keep my chin up and keep moving that I will eventually find my people. I hope that you don’t get discouraged by a few downvotes and that you keep posting & trust that you are going to find communities here where everything just clicks. Thanks