Thumbs down?

Question

I cannot stand the way the thumbs up or thumbs down is set up in this forum. Not the final voting part, but the thumbs up and down part.

I will sometimes give a sincere, thinking comprehensive answer, and some clown probably just glances at it and gives a thumbs down if they even read it at all.
You can't even ask if the read it and if they did, What? What points did they disagree with? You don't have a chance for counterpoints with the thumbs downer. It is too easy to go around and just put a quick non-thoughtful thumbs down.

I wish there was a details button right besides those annoying thumbs. And, one had to put a comment there or they couldn't put a thumbs up or down.
Your thoughts on this issue and the details button idea right beside those thumbs.

Krypton One,
I know this is supposed to be strictly Q and A, but you know as well as I, most people on here are using it for more than that. You can't say that isn't true.

Krypton One, people do treat this site as a forum, whether it's meant to be or not, they do.

For those you said, having to leave a comment would be to much and most people wouldn't do that. That's great, that is my whole point. If they are not willing to put even a little thought or effort in at all, then no cheap thumbs down. Make people people have to think at least a little bit.

typo, one "people" ha

Animal lover 765, I have read a lot of your answers, and I can see why you who respond "Oh who cares?"

would respond

Answer 1

For a question about thumbs, there are an awful lot of thumbs-down showing! Give me some:

I give thumbs-up all the time; expressing agreement is of more value than expressing disagreement, and you can always ignore. I've occasionally given thumbs-down for something I think is unhelpful, insensitive, etc. Like when a girl wrote a question about her periods and someone (male I think) replied "You've got an STD."

I get plenty of thumbs-down for my replies, and although I like it when someone gives thumbs-up, it doesn't hurt my feelings when they give thumbs-down. To me it often means that I've said something interesting enough that someone disagrees with it. Or it may have been the asker, saying that's not what they wanted.

Am I strange? I do something similar in normal conversation too. For instance, when a bunch of women are talking about slimming, I don't say the script (which would make me popular). The script is something like, "Oh, you look slimmer than me, I feel really fat..." Instead I say something like, "I don't really go with calorie-counting; I think the success of a diet should be counted more by the gain in health than the loss in weight." I get a mental thumbs-down from everyone present, and it just doesn't hurt. The thing that does hurt is when I really offend someone by saying something that genuinely is wrong.

To put it very bluntly, I think you should cope with it. Crowds will cheer or boo, and most people in the world do not do their own reading or thinking--and you knew this, presumably, before you joined the site.

Answer 2

Many people push thums down for any answer that that disagree with. Often that means that it's nothing more than a bashing tool. Some gives thumbs down on each answer without reading, just to be cute.
There are answer that really are bad, or inapproprite and these should be thumbed down. But, many times I find an answer to be terrific and even if I disagree sharply, I will give a thumbs up.

Answer 3

If I give a thumbs down, I usually post a reply. Unless its something that the person just says something totally stupid, and you can tell they are just trying to stir things up. But 99% of the time, I will leave my own answer, they might not know who did it, but at least I give my explanation. Sometimes, I will call them out by name, and say what part I disagree.

Answer 4

I know exactly what you mean. I'll tell you what it is though. If you agree with an answer or believe it to be a good answer, you give it a thumbs up, vice versa. I do often wonder why people give my answers a thumbs up or down. It would be good to have details, but then the details would probably be obnoxious and just make me irritated anyway!

Answer 5

I totally agree with you. I had the same complaint last week. I put very thought out answers when I post answers. I dont just give a simple one liner most the time. The thing is, people post on here to ask your opinion of something or your stand. If you dont agree with what someone has said, dont give it a thumbs down, post your own answer.

Answer 6

I don't know or care if anyone gives me thumbs up or down- I don't really care if they like my opinion or not

Answer 7

You're right, they are often given thoughtlessly. The thumbs thing has been cheapened to the point where it barely means anything. I think we would really need to find out why people are doing it before doing a comments thing. Would they even comment? But, it's a good idea with potential.

Answer 8

I'm amused by thumbs down. That's the only attention I give them.

Answer 9

I think thats a good idea. I have had the same thing happen. I think people just see my answers, know I am an atheist and give a thumbs down. It doesnt bother me too much, but it seems petty.

Answer 10

thats a good idea