I've seen them in local news comments section (Disqus backed) and they seemed to reduce the surly replies a lot- ppl could just downvote and see their name in the hover and feel they'd registered their discontent w whatever recurring culture wars topic
most comments would get a few to many upvotes and no downvotes, some minor controversies would get a few downvotes, and occasionally some nasty comment would get a lot of downvotes
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Reply · May 29, 2023I've seen it on a local news Disqus forum where it seems fine... most posts get zero downvotes, one user downvotes everything posted by another user…Reply · Feb 23, 2022@StefanFSchubert I like public downvotes on a local news site that allows them- serve as a shorthand for "I strongly disagree" without starting a…Reply · Feb 23, 2022@StefanFSchubert Though maybe more important on a site where local politicians & staff are known to read the comments... Feels good to see 20…Reply · Apr 18, 2023how so? that's how I've used them on arlnow (news site w disqus below) - like maybe one downvote every day or two usually