I started typing a reply to agree with you, in that it would possibly motivate people to post things that were personally interesting or meaningful, rather than relying on cliched tropes to drive engagement (much like the movie industry).

But on the other hand, there are so many other platforms where karma or a karma equivalent isn’t recorded (e.g. YouTube comments, Facebook comments), but uninspired, recycled messages still somehow regularly make their way to the top. I guess the dopamine from any perceived engagement that comes from an up or down arrow is too difficult to resist. So I don’t think anything will change either way.

Either that or I’m old and cranky.