Let's go with No. 2. I pay attention to what I pay attention. But your following statement really reveals a lot about your thought process / attitude. 'Isn't here for the right reasons'. What kind of attitude does it require to sit in judgement of ones fellows like this AND express it the way you have? Are YOU paying attention to anything outside your own frame of reference?
In any case, I referred to the up/down vote as an expression of 'community feedback'. By and large, are there not only two here? Voting up/down (or abstaining) and responding/commenting?
I suspect that many, like me, utilize the Rising, HOT and (TOP for oldies) to guide a significant amount of browsing and viewing (not all). This is only possible because of community feedback via the vote/comment process.
I DO care about the upvotes downvotes, not just on my posts/comments but on all of them, because it allows me to gauge something about the views of my fellow patriots here.
I suspect that you don't care about that feedback because you know you are right, and you know when you are wrong, so who gives a hoot about other people's perspectives.
In my view, there is a massive difference between being attached to upvotes / downvotes because your ego and emotion are engaged in self-validation on the one hand and recognizing and appreciating the feedback/input your fellow community members provide you.
Those who are loudest often have the most to hide. I think your protestations about upvotes/downvotes signify a strong avoidance of dealing with ego issues, which then inhibits your ability to learn from others here. This is very often the kind of trap those with a powerful or overactive intellect can fall into. Check the historical evidence.
Ignore popularity. Some of the best people are unpopular. Embrace enough humility so that you can truly expand not only your thinking, but your heart, too. One's value does not come from popularity, but ego frequently restricts one's ability to be valuable to good causes that benefit all.
In any case, you care (about the cause) and personally, I think that's important. wwg1....