Plus there are a lot of subs that lend themselves to people who believe they're mega informed experts in a given topic. Being challenged on that topic triggers them and they're already online where they can quickly start googling random articles and shit that support their arguments
Not completely, but it may be a factor ("may" being the operative word here, of course). But yeah, site culture also has something to do with it and maybe the adminship as well.
I serously think the site design has psychological effects that we don't know about.
Upvotes and downvotes put you into a competitive mode of interaction, I think.
Downvotes are extra harsh on this, because it's a miniature equivalent of being booed on stage.
Plus there are a lot of subs that lend themselves to people who believe they're mega informed experts in a given topic. Being challenged on that topic triggers them and they're already online where they can quickly start googling random articles and shit that support their arguments
Yes, almost certainly. But other site designs don't prevent awful behavior either so I don't think it's completely down to site design.
Not completely, but it may be a factor ("may" being the operative word here, of course). But yeah, site culture also has something to do with it and maybe the adminship as well.