What do you give thumbs down for?

Question

I give them for really rude/racist questions/answers and ones that are factually wrong when the question has a definitive answer. I notice some really good answers get thumbs down, why is this?

Answer 1

thumbs down for answers I not agree.

Answer 2

I give them for the same reasons as you. I mostly only give them out if they're being really rude or racist, or if they're saying something stupid that has nothing to do with the question. But I've noticed that too, that some people just give out thumbs down if they have a different opinion I guess. But I've also noticed that other sections don't use the thumbs up/down as much as the P & S section.

Answer 3

I give them for rude and racist answers also( I hate those). And I think that the people who give thumbs down on good answers do it more than anything just to be immature.

Answer 4

people who are sarcastic in a mean way or answer with something rude/racist. I hate when people give thumbs down for no reason-I always just give the answer thumbs up to balance it out :D

Answer 5

I'm like you..I give the thumbs down to racist comments, just plain mean and unnecessary comments and irrelevant ones. I know what you mean about good comments getting the thumbs down, I've seen it too...but then I thought about it and realized that that's what this whole Yahoo Q&A is all about, everyone having and giving their own opinion and what's a good answer to you or me might be a bad one to the next person.
Have a great day.

Answer 6

I personally give thumbs down for answers that are not based on facts, but rather personal opinions

and given that the majority of my answers are in science and mathematics section, this rule serves it's purpose

it's not personal, it's just that I disagree with that persons supposed facts

although, I have noticed, that people will tend to agree or disagree with those that share the same views/opinions/perceptions, regardless of facts

Answer 7

I have no idea and I have often gotten a thumbs down for no reason that I am aware of...I just do that if the answer is especially rude and racist like you but if they do not have their facts straight I pretty much let that go..
Good question and thumbs up!

Answer 8

Mostly I do thumbs down when the questions or answer given is just ignorant and no thought so ever was put into it.

Answer 9

Sometimes people don't respond wisely to what the answer is, and joke off about it. It's all a matter of two points to them. Some people down-rate the good answers for a better chance to get the ten points themselfs. Some down-rate them because they were poor answers and off the track. Sometimes the questioner themselfs down-rates them to keep track of what he likes and what he doesn't like when in a question. For example, if he down-rates all of them but one, then he knows which one to choose as a best answer.

Same for all the other people.

Answer 10

I give thumbs down for questions that are really offensive. To answers that people say "thanks for the two points",offensive answers, and people that don't answer the question.(some answer those by spamming or saying i don't know i'll get back to you later).

The really good answers that get thumbs down is because some idiot went through and gave every single answer a thumbs down. they find it funny. and possibly think that it will help their own answer.

i pick my answers based on myself, no matter how many thumbs up or thumbs down, but they help sometimes.

Answer 11

I gove them for rude, stupid, foolish questions or answers. Good answers have thumb downs because people can't face the truth.