Do you think the thumbs down feature should be removed?

Question

I think it should, especially for this section. Since
most "questions” on here are more like statements disguised as questions, I believe people who reply shouldn't receive thumbs down if they don't agree with the question/statement. I've personally stop giving thumbs down and thumbs up to any answers. Giving someone thumbs down just because you disagree with them shows you aren’t capable of respecting other people’s opinion. I often see thumbs down given to good honest answers. This demonstrates how biased and closed minded people are in this section.
For example, these are opinionated statements disguised as questions…….
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsxXt5WijsmsThttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoisSf5IWxssGd9OAV4WTyfY7BR.?qid=20070705094105AAYIFvo5x7mdo5R0nY7BR.?qid=20070705102343AAANiiu
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoisSf5IWxssGd9OAV4WTyfY7BR.?qid=20070705094105AAYIFvo
Because honestly, there is no right or wrong answer to these questions, so why would anyone give thumbs down unless, they biased or closed minded

suthrnlyts2004...haha your right about that.

Cookies anyone, I am glad you said that. Because that just proves my point!! Thanks! :)

Answer 1

The only problem would be the ten mile long copy and pastes which are generally a waste of time to read. If I can see which direction it's leading in, I generally give it a thumbs down so that I don't have to scroll for two miles.

Also, I WILL give a thumbs down for insensitive, obnoxious and filth ridden responses that come from all sides.

I agree though. Thumbs down is a feature that is overused.

Answer 2

The problem is not everybody uses the thumbs in the same way. A good answer can be a good answer even if you disagree with the argument. Generally I only give a down vote to extremist answers that are abusive in some way. I think the feature should be expanded to four possibilities with two choices: Good or bad answer and agree or disagree. Also a "show who thumbed" link should be included. This way, people will more likely think about the questions first.

Answer 3

I agree with you 100% on how it is being used and the fact that people are not always asking questions but spewing an opinion in question form. I don't mind the latter though, I am guilty of that but not in too bad of a way. Reason is, I know how I feel about things and why I feel that way, there seem to be so many others that disagree with me on some topics, I like knowing why. Maybe I'm wrong or not seeing it from some other perspective. Although, VERY few people on here are interested in expanding their knowledge by being open-minded, I still am and will continue to be.

As far as the thumbs up/down, I like the feature, I just wish there was a way for them to have something to say I agree/disagree, and something else to say good/bad answer. Maybe allow answers to be starred and introduce the thumbs up and down only when the question is in voting...

Answer 4

I don't use the "Thumbs Down" feature except in cases where an answer is extremely offensive. The reason I don't is because I hate the way it collapses the answer. I don't think it should be removed though. I would just like to see them return to the original "Thumbs Down" feature which did not have this behavior. Using the original features you could still collapse an answer, but it was by choice, not by force. As for receiving thumbs down from anyone for my opinions, it doesn't bother me a bit. If you don't like my opinions you certainly have the right not to expose yourself to them.

Answer 5

No. The beauty of political discussions on the interent is that they are safer than in person. It is less censored and more free....thus more intersting.
Some answers are blatantly offensive to people with a sense of justice, the thumbs down feature makes those vomitous answers quickly invisible.
I would like to see a method to automatically delete the accounts of the posters who do little but insult those with different philosopical outlooks however. So I am in favor of censorship that keeps the board a more civil place.
The thumbs down feature keeps the board a more civil place because it hides the more offensive answers.
I have given thumbs down to 'liberal' posters...simply for being complete idiotic. I have also noticed they seem to be very new accounts and I suspect are made by one of the legions of interent disinformation agents. In an attempt to sniff out another target for government files by finding any who would identify with the more incredulous statements. An example being the new poster who said that Bush admitted to setting the 9/11 charges. Those who would rush in and agree would have a file opened on them.
But then I am paranoid of this government. I fear it a lot more than terrorists or criminals. I have also had my share of interactions. hence the name 'Watched.'
This board is also 'Watched" by the aforementioned agents.
When the people are in fear the government, the government no longer plays a viable function for those who are neither in an elite or government function.

Answer 6

you ought to take the coolest with the undesirable. in case you like receiving thumbs up, then you somewhat can take getting thumbed down. yet I admit, it does get annoying, extraordinarily while human beings do it inspite of a consumer or while they only don't comprehend a thank you to comprehend your answer.

Answer 7

I've given thumbs down on answers that I've felt were way off base and I don't consider that closed minded. Realizing that everyone has an opinion, when you post an answer to a question, that answer will be under some scrutiny. If it's off base, then people should let you know about it. I think it's a good way to keep the conversation on point.

Answer 8

It shouldn't be removed. I have fun seeing how other people voted on the other peoples answers and i have fun voting thumbs up and thumbs down myself. I like seeing other peoples views. It is interesting to see.

Answer 9

The problem is that, sometimes, people don't respond by stating a differing opinion. Sometimes their responses are rude and crass, just attacking the asker (or in some cases another answerer). I think that having the thumbs down button is handy for letting people know that this isn't the place for ad hominem attacks.

Answer 10

It's another way of keeping the dialogue open. It allows you to express disagreement with an answer - or the phrasing or slant of an answer, for that matter.