The opportunity to feel like an late Roman Empire emperor deciding whether a man should live or die with a hand gesture, usually pointing the thumb downwards (downvote) mimicking a stab with an edge, because a murder always boosts ratings, or pointing it upwards, mimicking an erected figure denoting life (for only a living being can stand on its own feet) if the gladiator is too cute to kill.

The purpose of up-/downvoting is to possibly enrage the content creator and feel like you really did something there. The system is based on subjective judgment, so it doesn't really matter. Some people are affected by the qualitative nature of this system, and are deeply hurt by dislike of what they like, so they dislike back, which sucks them into a maelström of thumbing up and down, in a quasi-imperial inside power struggle within the confines of a digital coliseum, tirelessly standing for two co-rulers in an empire falling apart, fighting against each other for....... nothing.
The upvote/downvote dynamic really kicked off last night for King Louis XVI. Will heads roll? Will wigs pile up one atop another?
by Fanny P. Ack June 30, 2019
Get the upvote/downvote mug.
Basically a post, article, comment or anything that can be liked or disliked that will tell you to flip a coin. If it is heads you upvote it, tails is downvote or some other variation that only has 2 outcomes. The idea is it is a social experiment that wants you to be honest, and theoretically should always remain high in upvotes (if the website has a low rated post or page deletion system.) An example is SCP-7K-J, a joke scp which fits exactly this definition.
Hi I'm Chippy.

See this definition on Urban Dictionary? Flip a coin. If you got head, like this definition; if not, dislike. Don't listen to how good or shit this post is. Just do it. Use...
The upvote/downvote coin!
by Chippythefurry0w0 April 18, 2023
Get the The upvote/downvote coin mug.