Hello @foryoubtc09 

I have enjoyed your writing style but on this particular instance I tend to disagree with your opinion and I feel that we should be able to have differences of opinion and express them - the vote buttons are essentially that, they actually support free speech because if you don't like something you have the choice to use the downvote button or not, very similar to being in a discussion with a person and being able to say

"No, I actually do not agree and I don't like this conversation" - this happens all the time in real life. 

I personally feel that this is something that Facebook, Instagram and even YouTube now are pushing - that you are only allowed to express an opinion if it is supporting and positive, if it opposes someone or could potentially make someone take offence, then you essentially need to CENSOR YOURSELF instead of being able to healthily express an opposing opinion/feeling or line of thought. That is very skewed. I have been downvoted and I don't say anything about it - that person is expressing and exercising their right to not like my content for whatever reason. 

It is not going to prevent me from creating content and I know that what I write is not going to appeal to every person, I'm not expecting it to and I'm not trying to write for everyone on Hive, I'm writing for me and sharing it, those that like it will respond and gravitate towards me and possibly upvote me, those that don't will move away from me and possibly downvote me. That's life and that's perfectly OK in my opinion. 

I really liked this post initially and yes, it's ok to do fiction if you call it out to be fiction. I'm more interested in the participation and creativity someone shows. 

Just on the downvote/reward thing. 

Rewards are not a right and I think no one should expect them (here on Hive or anywhere else.) Here though, they are given by the user reading the post and it's freedom of choice that allows them to give it or not. 

Your text below:
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![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/galenkp/23tGbr2HYtNHSB9TrKyWXMUnkwX89wibQ7qmwWzh4PLTFSitQEBcWQqRUeqHFzQ2xeP18.png)

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/galenkp/23tbPXsaLmTcfGqUU9esgFYJ2SgMuLU1sNp5cBm9JpecBpAzH2BM1C7DvG3YgQVFpkQqp.png)

***
Downvotes are not censorship at all. Downvotes are people expressing their freedom of choice to do as they please on a decentralised blockchain.

If I downvoted this post for instance...*The text is still there, so how has it been censored?* Censorship is (very loosely) taking away or editing something that someone says or writes. The downvote doesn't take that away, it simply adjusts potential rewards which *are not the users until the 7 day window closes anyway!* 

Downvotes don't *silence you* as you comment in the text I have screen captured above.

Whinging about the lack of rewards and receiving downvotes won't get you rewards and upvotes. It'll do the opposite. Now, I know you said this is fiction, but you also said the below, so I feel I can address you non-fictionally.

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/galenkp/23tGa9Bm1fYVvZVWpkHPjEcjcDa1kUV4TpAi958cV9H9eoKzZjsXqx8w4nC6N2JhqhR9w.png)
***

When I started reading this post I thought it was nice and then it twisted into something different and it didn't feel so nice anymore. That will affect the value of vote you get. That's me exercising my right to vote according to my own thoughts and opinions. That's what people do when they downvote also. 

In life people are not always going to agree and you're not always going to get your way. But here's the thing...You have the power to affect that, to do something about it. Let me demonstrate:

- Someone in real life treats you in a manner in which you disagree with: *You can walk away.*

- You don't like Hive: You can walk away.*

See how easy it is? 

I'm not suggesting you walk away from Hive though, just making a point. 

If you blame downvotes for what you haven't got then you'll not magically receive what you want. 

People demonise the downvote but in truth, they need to look in the mirror and say, *what can I do to improve my situation, gain more upvotes from bigger accounts and those around me I value. How can I improve my work, build better relationships. 

Let me assure you, complaining and whinging about downvotes will only ever see you gravitate towards others who do the same. If that's what you want then fine. If you want something different, *do something differently.*
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***

You may see this comment as helpful or a hindrance, it matters not to me. It is meant as a helpful comment though. 

I think you need to shift your paradigm slightly. Had you continued with your initial text and not got stuck in the *downvote quagmire text* I would have dropped a 20% vote on it and curangeled this. As it is, you'll get a 5% vote and I'll move on. 

If you disagree with this comment, don't like it, hate me for being open and honest, *please downvote it and every single post I make*. It is your right to do so.

(Now, I'm off to see how many downvotes you have received, what values, and potentially why.)

<center>![WE THX IM.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/galenkp/23vrrsxyizM3PP7e3nM3nrszusQdmHHWN36hGrRm7Gv7JYA6dV6G333G1pa7Qb9uTCpqH.png)</center>

<center>Thank you for supporting the original #weekend-engagement initiative conceived by @galenkp and featured in ***<a href="https://peakd.com/c/hive-168869/created">THE WEEKEND community</a>***</center>

<center><sub><sub>The image belongs to @galenkp</sub></sub></center>

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To support your work, I also upvoted your post!


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