is to relearn how to be inclusive toward people thoughts and ideas, not divisive of them.
We live in a world that encourages divisiveness for reward - even if the "reward" is stars and hearts.
The old stated reasons of Spam, Plagiarism, Reward Dispute and Abuse. to often now the down vote is used to create divisiveness.
I am still a fan of, use it as you see fit. I would rather people not be boxed in by it and there is plenty of content that shouldn't be rewarded. Part of the "be the change" in the world is also speaking and acting out against the behavior you want to see less of. Of course, people need to also do what they want to see more of, but that is another discussion.
This is where Hive could excel. We can change that and remove divisiveness and replace it with inclusiveness, but Hive as a Social aspect seems to be becoming part of the rest of the online world by rewarding the divisive nature, (made up drama).
As for votes, use it as you see fit has pretty much always been my philosophy also on Hive. I have tried to point out to new users the benefit of voting on other people verse the self vote especially when their vote is dust level, but always as just a suggestion.
I think it is generally from a small percentage of users, who are here for attention, however they can get it. Some people stir the pot looking for reactions that they can feed off, because they don't have anything original to say themselves.
I hope it always stays a small percentage, but it is getting to where I do not even try to look at the recent feed any longer, and am becoming more reliant on a few people I follow that re-blogs things I sometimes find interesting. I am glad of the people I have found to follow and add so few new followers any more, and a couple of them were unfollowed rather quickly.
Pay for click sites (all other social media pretty much) incentivize the behavior, so it proliferates. Here, it doesn't have to be disincentivized, but it doesn't have to be rewarded.
I am glad there are some large accounts that can do just that dis-incentive them. Eventually one would hope they just go away or change their tune.