Not a stupid question, however the better question is a follow up to your question - what do you want to accomplish within reddit?
Reddit is nothing but a game that you get upvotes for either links you post or comments you post (I'm a comment whore), and naturally there is an equal and opposite reaction if you post something the masses do not like.
You have a set of what are called "default subs" (subs = subreddits, think of it as forums within forums that will each have their own set of topics and things of that nature) in which you are automatically subscribed to once you join reddit. From this point, you venture out "into the wild" and I have found, that based on what your interests are, the higher your karma score is, whether comment or link, you can be taken a little more seriously - again dependent on topic.
I can go further if you like, breaking it down further and compartmentalizing it, but at its essence your upvotes at the best will buy you very valuable things like SkyMall points and frequent flyer miles on Malaysia Airlines.
Reddit is what each individual makes it, take it as far as you want to. I met my fiance here (/u/alwaysthequiet1) from different country, who came here to Minnesota for 5 weeks in July, which was the furthest thing from my mind when I joined (not my first account, that was 2008). I'm in a horribly shitty situation where I am homeless right now and I met my best friend here on reddit due to a mutual shared hobby, /u/rr_coyote, and he and his wife are allowing me stay at his home in the during the coldest weather of the year here in Minnesota, where it was -35F windchill yesterday until I get things worked out and I would be dead by now if it was not for their generosity.
So do with reddit what you want, but the upvotes and downvotes are essentially worthless, unless you want in the cabal of reddit.
Reddit is just like anything in life in that it is what you make of it/you get out of it what you put into it. If you cannot find it on reddit, it likely does not exist. Enjoy your stay.
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