@FusRohDracarys, great reply overall, thanks for clarifying and, as always, being civil.
I do not like the thought of this place turning into a reddit, with the all too prevalent "Edit: Why the thumbs down???"
I hear what you're saying. There have been many times on this forum when I've seen, "Why the angry react?" But usually people are good enough to answer. I think it's a valid question: "Why did you respond this way?"
I recognize that sometimes folks don't like being questioned, I seem to be a rarity in that I value people questioning me, and I say so, and I respond. That's not me putting myself on a pedestal, I had to work for that, and it's served me well to overcome defensiveness, to feel stronger in the ability to ask questions, and to really live how much I think questioning everything is valuable. If I can't take being questioned, then I can't in good conscience question others.
By "crapping on other people's opinions," I simply mean the culture of silencing whatever we disagree with. If someone wishes to do that, then they should feel empowered to use the ignore button as liberally as they wish. However, making people who already feel bad about themselves feel worse for having their own thoughts and feelings seems like it warrants more than just a "silently judging you" thumbs down.*
I hear you, but at the same time, I hear my own thoughts, too. I don't often see on the forum that people get judged for having their own thoughts or feelings, it's highly prized here because we who consider suicide get judged and thumbs down irl all the time. Opinions and bad information, however, do get argued against (and sometimes get angry reacts). I've actually observed that arguing, doubting, dissenting, and questioning on this forum get shamed and silenced.
I also personally think it's dangerous to tiptoe around everyone's potentially hurt feelings and therefore not disagree, not reason, and not say when they sense an aroma of bovine excrement in the air. We're all adults here, and we're responsible for our own feelings, thoughts, and reactions to others when it's not at the level of trolling, but if something crosses the line, that's what mods are for. I've personally reported hmpf! reacts that were meant solely to provoke or to abuse, and the mods have always deleted them.
The laugh react was removed because some people were abusing it for sarcasm. Hmpf! reacts can be inflammatory but the mods are managing them. I still feel like a thumbs down is rather benign and emotionless, and gives a voice just as much as a like does.
And taking it a bit further, thumbs down reacts could be used if ever again there are power factions on the forum, but like and love reacts can and have been used in the same way, and that's when the forum turns into a social media popularity and power play platform rather than a suicide discussion platform. (If you disagree with my point of view, that's cool, but can I get props for all that alliteration?)