What's all the angst about thumbs down rating of answers?

Question

I've always (at least on YA) considered thumbs up/thumbs down to be just a mark of agreement/disagreement with the answer given. Not a good or bad mark on ones profile like an agree/disagree does on another forum I peruse and post an occasional answer.

On the other forum I cited they are a little looser in the allowed use of Q&A threads (on-going conversation and follow-ups allowed) but on that forum a disagree rating causes a black mark to be placed against your reputation rating. I find myself coming here more often because I enjoy the YA Senior Citizens forum. It's more fun here!

Answer 1

I use the "thumbs up" as a way to show that I'm impressed with an answer, not necessarily that it's "just" the right answer or even whether or not I agree with it.

I don't like the whole let's-delete-who-we-don't-like BS. I have never reported any user, no matter how much he/she might have offended me. Instead, I use the "thumbs down" to indicate that a particular answer has offended me. An example: one question dealt with a somewhat unpopular professional athlete who was recently injured and is now unable to participate. The question was, basically, I'm happy he's gone, are you? The answers ranged from yes to no to yeah, but not that way (the injury). One answer contained the phrase "he should've died". That offended me and I gave a "thumbs down" on that one. I "thumbs down" answers I can't decipher (all lower case, no punctuation, slang, abbreviations, misspellings, atrocious grammar, all in the same "answer"); that offends me. I "thumbs down" answers that contain offensive name-calling; that offends me. I generally "thumbs down" the "I don't know but thanks for the two points" type of answers; that offends me.

Basically, I "thumbs up" when I'm impressed, and "thumbs down" when I'm offended.

Answer 2

The only time I give a thumbs down is when an answer is so far off base and I believe it will do more harm than good. There are some very impressionable people here, mostly in other sites and very often youngsters, and sometimes they take bad advice to heart. If I receive a thumbs down to an answer, and my thoughts were pretty much the same as the other posters, than yes...I feel a little singled-out and wonder who I've managed to p_iss off. But, I've learned to develop a thicker skin about it and keep on answering. When I see thumbs down to all of us, then I know there's a stinky little intruder about and pay it no mind. The only time I report anyone is when their avatar, or their answers, are either out-right raunchy and/or hateful.

Answer 3

I agree. I'm new to this forum and I did make a remark about 'how in the world could that answer deserve a thumbs down?' or words to that effect. I remember it was the type of answer that really could not be subject to disagreement. Much to my surprise and pleasure, several regulars here emailed me and essentially told me there are a few trolls and teenagers who come here and give everyone thumbs down. This particular forum is one of the most pleasureable for me and now i don't care about the thumbs down. My angst at the first posting was just utter confusion. This is not the politics area where there is so much fighting. This area is great fun.

Answer 4

I believe we all get upset when a perfectly legitimate answer gets a gravity thumb. You shouldn't get a thumbs down when you say you like vegetables (that's just an example).

If you look at some of these answers, you'll see evidence that a troll has been away from the bridge. There will be thumbs down on every answer for the first few answers, regardless of the opinion expressed.

What we (or at least I) find upsetting is the mindless "veto."

Answer 5

As have many others have stated, I give thumbs down strictly for answers that contain foul language, racism, individual character assassination and the like. An answer that is well thought out or makes a good point, even if I disagree, will always get a thum,bs up from me. (in my opinion, that's what the program is for). Same holds true for questions with stars and thumbs.

Answer 6

I agree that thumbs down doesn't mean much on here, especially since we know that the people that usually give them are trolls or insensitive dweebs (I just unearthed that one from the long-closed vaults in my brain, and decided I LIKED it, for it IS an EXPRESSIVE word!!) -- translation = dumb wanna bes.

I am one of those people that will peruse all the questions and answers (on those days when I have the time), and vote thumbs UP when I figure the person has given a good answer. I NEVER vote thumbs down, because I know that it is sometimes taken as more than just a disagreement with the answer, but as some sort of personal attack. And I really do believe in people being allowed to voice their own opinions freely.

But if the person giving the answer goes into a personal attack on the questioner or one of the other answerers, for no other reason than they LIKE to do that sort of thing, I do what Yahoo intended, and report them for breaking the Community Guidelines.

Now, I want to assure all the other (newer than me) users of our Yahoo Seniors site that the Chaplain here, although not a regular contributor, has been contributing on this site from it's inception. He is no troll, but exactly what he advertises himself as--a semi-retired Chaplain from the American Police Services.

Answer 7

I don't like to give or get ''thumbs down", but I consider it part of participating at YA. Since there is no way to know why a "thumbs down" is given, I am very judicious about giving them and very judicious about the amount of time I spend wondering why someone gave me one. The only times I've given "thumbs down" is when I've seen an answer that gives incorrect, erroneous, information and once when someone gave a blatantly cruel answer....although I don't expect to 'thumbs down' cruel answers any more....

The mean, cruel, answers don't even deserve a 'thumbs down', imo. The reason is that I believe cruel answers are given by trolls. The other forums I've participated on suggest that we "don't feed the trolls".....trolls crave attention, giving a "thumbs down" is a form of giving them attention....so it is best to either completely ignore-and that means no thumbs down votes-or report the answer if it violates the Community Guidelines. If a troll is giving thumbs down, posting about it on the Answer boards is again feeding the trolls...:)

Answer 8

I whole heartily agree with what you have stated. I don't understand the "hurt feelings" that come from a thumbs down. If someone feels that an answer is in bad taste why is the option there at all ,unless it is for people to show their their own approval or disapproval. It's not that big of a deal in the scheme of things.

Answer 9

The only time I give a thumbs down is if the answer is WAY out of line, uses foul language or is just a flippant nasty remark...other than that, I see no reason to rate an answer one way or another...When I ask a question, a thumbs up to me only means that someone agrees with me, and a thumbs down....I have no idea what it is suppose to mean. .. I don't give flippant answers unless the question is a joke. Some here have become super sensitive about Trolling done here..the larger this section gets,the more trolls it will attract...simple law here on Yahoo. Trolls love to give thumbs down to everything, as well as report .. the newer rules here make reporting by trolls more ill at ease, for if they do it randomly, and often, it will get them banned. Unfortunately, they turn around and within seconds have a new screen name and are back to work. Trolls from other sections are now regularly coming in here, playing their little game, and upsetting many...my advice is to just chill, realize it goes on in every section, and as this one attracts more and more people (having left the rougher sections behind, and many are very nasty and rough), more trolls will be visiting. The Trolls are not within our ranks, they are coming from other sections. I see Trolls I recognize here, 3 times in the last month...funny thing about trolls. ... they are too lazy to write new material, they just cut and paste. Sad, pathetic little things life carries with it. I agree with you...thumbs up or down means little. No one should get in a snit because of it. Goldwing

Answer 10

I think because there are people who just go through the list and give thumbs down for no reason. not all just the trolls who think it's funny. It urks me yes because I do try to give a good answer if I know the answer that is. I don't expect everybody to agree with me but what makes me mad is when i do know the answer and i still get a thumbs down. I guess that's just the way the cookie crumbles :/ I give thumbs up to people who were clear in their answers and give thumbs down to those with nasty mouths and an unclear answer