For 99%+ of people, "doing their thing" includes looking away when someone is being beaten because that is how the reward system is designed (not saying it was done on purpose but that is what we have in Oct 2021). Speaking up for a stranger is rare enough on its own (because it paints target on your back even in a fair environment). Should someone be stubborn enough to do it on Hive, the "downvote countering" is a really expensive hobby due to the huge discrepancy in upvote and downvote treatment.
The current environment is toxic. It is not because of a few toxic people in it. That happens everywhere. It is because the Hive rulebook keeps them safe.
Is Hive a community? I do not care. The environment remains toxic whatever your POV on community existence is. Semantics cannot keep Titanic afloat.
I would love to contribute by proposing a fix to make upvotes and downvotes more equal in treatment. Should I post it at Medium? You know, it is easier to find cryptofinally's 2020 Hive posts than fresh posts of mine. You won't see them outside your Following feed. You won't be notified if I tag you. However, all that is just a marginal frontend techniciality because Hive is a true cheap speech solution (for those who read blocks rather than apps).
@ecosaint
I would read that medium article! If there is a way to make a healthier environment in such a world where toxicity exists, I am interested (although not really 'in charge' of anything).
And it is probably cliche - you can set up your own front end to read your content or set your own blacklist (like not blacklisting negative rep users) - but such an app does not exist.
dang it I'm multi accounting....