Lemmy probably feels like Reddit when it first started, all warm cuddly and friendly to newcomers eager to discuss and collaborate around central topics.
I joined reddit on the tailwind, so it was all echo chamber, we hate newcomers, gatekeeping, automod frenzy, too many rulebreakers, too many rules, etc I could be wrong, but thats what I imagine it used to be like.
I'm not sure, i made a comment on the controversy over linus tech tips, basically there may have been miscommunication and we should wait and see before demonising anyone. But people took what i said the wrong way and downvoted me to eternity. It was quite depressing. I didn't say anyone was wrong or anyone was right. Just stated i'd been in a position before where people misunderstood my intentions so i understand how easily it can happen.
The lemmyverse, is rife with sock puppets. It's very easy to make a bunch of accounts for down voting. And brigading is easy here too, let's not forget we have a general population, we don't have specialized pockets really. So if something's generally unpopular, but is technically correct, it will get downvoted regardless because the general people outweigh the individuals.
Overtime we might have communities that require community reputation to post in, or vote in, like we saw on Reddit.
I just want to say waiting for more data is always the right thing to do, especially with any new internet drama, so I respect your position
Happend to me too. I've asked on a Post about modern slavery in London why they don't just go to the Police because I was really just curious. I was sure there was a reason why this was not an option but I couldn't think of any. And then I just got insulted and downvoted. After a few hours and a post asking why I get downvoted later, the tide turned and it got balanced out. But people can be real POS over here too. The Account insulting me was deleted after i reported him. Im not sure if He was just a Troll or an genuine ass.