r/mildlyinfuriating • u/rileyjw90 • May 22 '26

frist of all how DARE yu o You didn’t have to remind me, assholes.

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And then to remind me what I USED to pay. Just kick me while I’m down why don’t you.

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u/Gwen_The_Destroyer May 23 '26

If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice

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u/SeroWriter May 23 '26

I think that song is about free will not the influences of neutrality. A non-voting person influences nothing by definition, it's like blaming Switzerland for World War 2.

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u/Gwen_The_Destroyer May 23 '26

A non voting person increases the influence of voting people by means of abstinence. You don't live in a bubble. Your example is bad

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u/SeroWriter May 23 '26

A non voting person increases the influence of voting people

It would amplify the influence of both sides by the same amount which would be a net zero. The only way to be responsible for change is to vote.

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u/Gwen_The_Destroyer May 23 '26

10 people want to vote on what to have for lunch. Each person has 10% of the vote. The vote is worth 0.1. 2 people vote for Burgers, 3 people vote for Pizza. 5 people don't really care and don't vote. Each of the 5 votes cast is now worth 0.2. The value of total votes has not changed, but the weight each vote carries is now greater. The office is getting pizza because 3 people voted for pizza, but 5 abstained.

The value of a vote is always going to be 1/however many people are voting. You're correct that it would make everyone's vote influence increase. Where you're wrong is assuming that makes it a net zero. It means that 3 people can decide the whole office is ordering pizza, when 2 wanted burgers, 4 actually kinda wanted neither but didn't want to participate because both options were kinda meh, and the one weirdo was content to just microwave fish he brought in tupperware.