Lemmy is too small for it to make sense. I can easily read through all threads all the way through the controversial posts and still run out of content daily.

It made sense on Reddit, where accounts could be worth money and/or used for advertising, or some people thought karma points was worth it, or that posts there had influence, which they did for a while. The Unidan affair was only about votes, and showed how a single user manipulated the majority of readers into something that was WRONG ON THE INTERNET, which should be a crime.

Finally there's also people who view everything as a competition and just want the high score in that imaginary game. Endorphins or something. I'll admit that I have a longer streak than necessary in some apps too, but I'm no cheater. I wouldn't get my high off that anyway.

I rarely downvote, but then again, every upvote is like downvoting everyone else, and I surely don't want to upvote everything.