Why do you thumbs down?

Question

OK so in theory you should thumbs down for a bad answer (I.E. "where is toronto.... its in Japan") thats a bad answer, so when someone is asked an opinion there is no wrong answer is there? so im just wondering why do you personally thumbs down? is it for an answer you think is bad or for an opinion you think is bad?

p.s. I put this in R&S because theres quite a lot of thumbs flying about in this section

Maria S coming down with the exclamation mark ! lol, calm down dear, i'm only asking

Maria S, fair enough =)

Answer 1

I put a thumbs down for anyone who answers in bad taste. Non-believers don't need to be chewed-up by believers and believers don't need to be chewed-up by non-believers.

Answer 2

I won't give thumbs down if it's a genuine opinion, and is relevant to the question. That generally doesn't include sweeping generalizations and opinions stated as if they were facts.

But yes, just like Amazon "Was this review helpful?" marks, it seems people just vote based on "Do I agree with the person who posted an answer?"

Answer 3

Fab question, I have also wondered this. I get thumbs down all the time. I think its people who usually thumbs down for opinions they dont like. And thumbs up for opinions they do like. I thumbs down trolls and hateful posts and I thumbs up posts I like, but also posts where the answerer actually answered the question, cause that is rare! But usually Im just too lazy to thumb anything.

Answer 4

I don't give thumbs down for opinions like "God is real". I may not believe that, but it's no reason to thumbs down. I do give thumbs down when I believe somebody is wrong to the point of hurting others, e.g. saying homosexuality is disgusting/wrong/sin/unnatural, answers saying that I'll go to hrll for whichever reason - there is no need for that, and I find those answers very disrespecting and born of ignorance concerning homosexuality or normal, every-day manners!

edit: don't worry, I am always calm. The exclamation marl isn't necessarily me making an exclamation, it can just as well stand for a strong point - and the point was meant to the, uh, disrespecting ones. Not to you :-) I could delete it, I guess, but that would be somewhat chicken, would it not?

Answer 5

I put a thumbs down on any answer I disagree with, because in my opinion, that's a bad answer....and since it's my opinion, that can't be wrong, can it? I also do it so I have one less thumbs down than everyone else....so my answer looks better.

Answer 6

Answers that are completely ignorant get thumbs down

Answers that have nothing to do with the question get thumbs down

Answers that are deliberately abusive or offensive get thumbs down

Answers that get reported to the Yahoo Cops get thumbs down

Answers that are reverent, intelligent, and insightful get thumbs up

And nowhere do I base my decision on the personal beliefs of the answerer.

Answer 7

I don't do thumbs down, I only do thumbs up,because I think everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Answer 8

Bad or inaccurate answers. Flaming. Rudeness. Foul language or implied foul language. Never for an opinion, unless it hits one of the above. We are all entitled to our opinions, but we need to disagree respectfully. Even my children know that.

Thumbs up for thoughtful and insightful answers.

Answer 9

I thumbs down things that are disrespectful or just plain nasty - you can disagree without being a b*tch about it. I flag things that are blatantly out to offend people, like that question about Ramadan and the camel earlier.

Answer 10

People disagree so they will give you a thumbs down