I challenge you to answer 100% honestly?

Question

Do you "award" a thumbs up or thumbs down based solely on the "identity" of a person, or do you actually read the answer with an open mind, letting prejudices go by the wayside.

For instance, if you are an atheist and you see that someone has Jesus in their name, do you automatically give the answer a thumbs down? (Take this same "for instance" and reverse the roles now.) Thanks in advance for your answers.

Answer 1

I look at the answer, not the poster.

Answer 2

Actually, I almost never look at the names before reading the answers. After all, the names can be tricky: someone might include the word, Jesus, in their name...but for the effect of irony or sarcasm...for example, if someone chose the name, Not2Shurboutjesus. I only evaluate the answers based upon the content of the answers. It's like grading a test. Only the answers matter. Not the identity behind the answer...and certainly not the person behind the identity behind the answer.

Answer 3

I don't even look at the identity of the person most of the time. I usually just look at the answers. Heck I've even given Fireball a couple of thumbs ups.

I don't usually give thumbs downs unless they put way too much cut an paste in. I mostly use it to clear the screen. And I'll do that even if I agree totally with their answer.

People take that stuff way too seriously. Who really cares how many you get. I usually only check back when I know that it is going to draw a reaction.

Answer 4

No, I give thumbs down based on the answer. Honestly. I don't give a thumbs up or thumbs down to *every* answer, only the ones that strike me as interesting. I only give thumbs down to answers that are abusive, insulting, or very obviously incorrect. (Like if you're in the pregnancy section, and you see some teenager making a comment that you can't get pregnant if you "do it" in a certain position, or something like that.) I'll give thumbs-up to anything that I think is well thought-out. I don't even necessarily have to agree with the answer 100%, but if the person obviously put some thought into their answer, and I find the answer interesting, I'll give it a thumbs-up.

Answer 5

Well I generally don't thumbs up or thumbs down people unless they make a really good point, regardless of if its a christian agnostic or space monkey. But it is a pretty rare event.

I also read the posts without reading even the name of the users. I understand there are frequent posters here, but I don't know who most of them are, so prejudgment isn't much a factor.

However, that being said, in general I do find that atheists tend to have the best, most logical and most thought out points, so I generally find myself "thumbs upping" them more often. I've also thumbs upped a good number of pagans who've come out with some insightful stuff as well.

However, it should be said that I've studied logic and argumentation theory at the university level for years, I was on the debate team and in mock trial. Logic and argumentation are things I understand exceptionally well, so I am very critical of bad logic from anybody (atheists, christian or furry creature from alpha centauri). But, like I said, I have noticed atheists and agnostics tend to be much more rational while many theists resort to ludicrous fallacies, distortions and embarrassingly bad "logic."

So while the very rare thumbs down generally goes to overzealous, rude, or obnoxious theists, it's not because of their faith so much as because some individual theists don't understand the basic tenets of logical thinking... that and their being rude, obnoxious, etc...

Answer 6

I don't really even look at the name unless they are far out there, in a good way or bad way! I thumbs up based more on completeness of answer, and not if it follows my beliefs. The following things do get thumbs down every time from me, though:

Name calling
cut and paste, especially bible verses 8 pages long
answers not answering the question

Answer 7

I always keep an open mind but if people are being rude or patronising or if they haven't understood the question properly or if they are just answering for points then I give a thumbs down. My bubear is when people give a thumbs down to an answer to one of my questions the instant it appears before I've even had chance to read it. I find that rude and intrusive. Otherwise, I'm with Pangel but I call myself the phantom thumber!

Answer 8

I don't give any thumbs, but I read & answer questions from all sides. I try to answer objectively, but I'm human & sometimes it's hard to separate my feelings from being completely objective.

I actually rarely look at anyone's identity. I look at the question & answer those I find interesting. Half the time I don't even know who's asking.

Maybe I should look to see if I have any thumbs up or down...I forgot that option was even there.

Answer 9

I give thumbs down on silly answers and answers that seem to absurd to even be an answer.

However, I have noticed that when I answer a question in an honest manner I get thumbs down simply because I did not express my answer as a blind answer to just prove the point of the asker.

Answer 10

There's only one occasion when I thumbs down anymore, and that's when someone posts one of those answers that's like a thousand pages long. When someone does that I don't even care if I agree with them or not; I hate having to scroll like crazy every time Ioad the page.

But no, I won't thumbs-down someone just because they have "Christ" or "Jesus" or "God" in their name. I look at the answer, not the name or the avatar.

Answer 11

The thumbs system is ridiculous. Atheists give a thumbs down to Christians, Christians give a thumbs down to Atheists, etc
A sure way of getting alot of thumbs down is to mention the fact that I'm Catholic. The words Jesus, Catholic, Lord, Our Lady, etc attract an instant barrage of thumbs down, mainly from the intolerant wing of atheism or the anti-Catholic fundamentalist fringe of Protestantism. But does it stop me standing up for the Faith? No chance
Thumbs? I couldn't give a flying duck