How to Use Downvotes
{quoted} At the top of the post, to the left of the posters name and the title of the post, is a number between two up and down chevron shaped arrows. (At time of writing, it had a 4 there.)
If you click the upward pointing arrow, then you upvote the post (ideally because you think it's interesting and contributes to discussion).
Clicking the downward arrow, downvotes, and should usually only be done if you think that the post legitimately won't create interesting conversations (it shouldn't be used just because you don't like what they're saying - but if what they're saying is against the rules, then there's a 'report' button at the bottom of their post).
Downvotes are a tool for hiding replies and posts that don't create discussion. They are not used for disagreement. If you would like to disagree with a post, state your disagreement in the comments and give your own viewpoint. Using downvotes to hide legitimate viewpoints just stifles discussion and allows all the people with the majority opinions to agree with each other while any dissenting opinions never get any light. To a casual reader, it would seem as if those opinions don't exist, because they'll be so far down the page that it would take considerable effort to find them. Only the majority opinion is heard and all other opinions are hidden if downvotes are used to disagree. This isn't the right if we are trying to use the Boards for legitimate discussion of League of Legends. Using downvotes to show disagreement can also deter people from posting their opinions in the first place. Generally, someone knows when he or she has an unpopular opinion, so that person might not even post his or her opinion in fear of those downvotes. Why post a reply or a discussion when you know that you'll get downvoted, feel badly about the downvotes, and get no visibility unless someone disagrees with you in a reply and brings your downvoted reply to the top of the discussion for all to see and downvote (while upvoting the disagreeing statement)? When people do post their "unpopular" opinions, they often feel like they need to preface it with "This will be downvoted to hell, but..." or "[UNPOPULAR OPINION] I actually like [thing]" or something of the like. People shouldn't feel the need to preface with these statements, because it shows that they fear downvotes for their opinions, even though that shouldn't be a fear because people should be using downvotes correctly. The League of Legends Boards should feel like a safe-place for everyone's opinions. Using downvotes to squelch them is not right if a discussion can come out of their expression.
#What should be downvoted: #* Replies and Discussions that do not contribute to discussion.
#What should not be downvoted: #* Replies and Discussions that contribute to discussion (however unpopular they may be).
#What should be reported: #* Replies and Discussions that break the Universal Rules.
##Remember, if we want to make the Boards a better place, then we need to do it together. Let's stop the abuse of downvotes to hide unpopular opinions.
