Ever find it strange how some Reddit postings seem to rise suddenly on Omeka? You're scrolling when all of a sudden a hardly existing post dominates everyone's feed. Stranger situations have happened, but occasionally this is the workmanship of Reddit upvoting panels, not just chance.
What then is the status of these panels? Imagine a secret team working in unison, maybe humans in darkly lit apartments or machines clicking away in digital stillness. Their target is Flood a post with up votes to ignite it. Social proof takes front stage, and the bandwagon effect runs through: "Wow, look at all those up votes! ought should be worth it. Everyone suddenly is in on the activity.
This is not merely set-it-and-forget-it magic, though. After midnight, some panels seem more like group conversations. Deals come, people grow restless, and if you're unfortunate you will be waiting longer than you would for Friday night pizza delivery. Certain panels move like clockwork, acting together. Others also? You do get what you pay for; occasionally it results in confusion and crickets.
Why would someone wish for this? Simple: pay attention. Sometimes it's a brand, looking for attention on a launch post. Other times it's just someone who wants their joke, photo, or narrative acknowledged more quickly than they would wait for karma to line up. You understand if you have ever looked at a zero-up vote post and yearned for a secret weapon.
The twist is that here is the rub. Reddit is not naive about clever business. Tools available to mods and administrators help them to detect dubious behavior. Accounts linked to unusual vote increases could discover themselves locked out without warning. And another panel appears trying to fly under the radar when one gets busted. One is always playing cat and mouse.
And regarding the entire right or wrong thing? Others remark, "Who cares?" As long as it's nothing dubious, let folks experience their viral moment. Others get enraged, claiming it lessens the very purpose of Reddit's architecture. In either case, it generates discussion.
The reality check is also that false up votes only carry a post at this point. Seasoned Redditors find out fast if the material smells bad. The down votes arrive quickly, and caustic commentary results. Posts trying a fast one are not welcome on Reddit.
In essence: Though they aren't a golden ticket, upvoting panels hang the promise of immediate Reddit glory. You might make it onto the stage, but the audience chooses whether or not you should remain. So perhaps concentrate on posting that ideal meme or wild narrative; Reddit has a way of rewarding the good stuff; no phony boost is needed.