I promised I'd put this fairly unusual thread up a few days back but life has been hectic, apologies.
Essentially, I would like to make downvoting for reasons of "I like it but don't think it should be SCP-X000" malicious downvoting.
During the x000 contests it is not uncommon to see comments made (or opinions privately expressed), that a user likes an article… but not for an x000 slot, and have downvoted solely to prevent it from being the winner of the contest. Not infrequently, this is followed up by a feeble promise to upvote after the contest is over.
I believe this damages the integrity of contests. My desire is for people to be voting solely on the individual quality of a contest entry, as they are supposed to with any piece submitted to the site.
Additionally, I have heard from previous entrants, who have recieved such commentary and votes, that this behavior is extremely disheartening.
My position as Contests head does not give me any powers to address this behavior myself, nor do I see any reasonable powers that could be given to me to do same, hence this request of Disciplinary Committee. In a previous discussion a member of disciplinary agreed with me this was likely malicious downvoting.
As a postscript, I'll say that I do not feel this needs to be punished as severely as most cases of malicious downvoting currently are, but I do feel it does need to be somehow punished. The final decision, of course, is for the Disciplinary Committee to make.
