Thumbs down???????????????

Question

Do most people really have a good reason for giving people who submit answers thumbs down? I get them all the time, and many times, the ones that I get the thumbs down turns out to be the best answer, I don't get it. I would love to see an option where someone could explain why they clicked the thumbs down...I don't need to know who, just why. For instance, I just answered a question regarding a mare flipping her head when asked to do something by her rider and the rider asked if she should try a bosal. Part of my answer was that at 5 yrs ( which is how old she said her mare was) the horse completes it's full mouth of teeth and there is a possiblity for problems to arise with the bit that wouldn't before that time. I got 4 thumbs down for my answer, then got voted the best answer, go figger. Ya think that people just do that for fun or are they sincere?

I don't take it personally, as I am always sincere when I attempt to answer a question. Do people actually get credit for GIVING thumbs down? Oh my!

I've seen them on other's answers as well, people who really know what they are talking about and that we can learn from. It's not a big deal, just makes me curious.

Thank you all for such a good response and taking the time to answer

Absolutely, FreeThinker, and BTW, I LOVE your handle...:)

Eason W Yes, I see what you mean, love your sense of humor though. LOL

HorseCrazy....I attempted to explain in my question why I asked it in the horse section, it was because of a horse answer that I gave and also because I usually stay in the horse section as this is my favorite section. I also figured that the person that did it would probably see the question and contribute. Hmmmmmm?

HorseCrazy...I can't resist asking you why you posted a question regarding Shiny-Cards from the Bella Sara game in the horse section. Sorry, I tried to resist, but my fingers just flew to the keyboard and typed on their own.

Answer 1

They do it for lots of reasons, most of which were already said. Personally, I give thumbs down when the person gives a snobby answer and uses lots of sarcasm, even if I agree with their opinion. It is not nice to make people feel dumb when they are trying to ask a genuine question. It may seem stupid to some people, but that's the whole point of Y! answers isn't it? To ask questions and get non-abusive answers?

Answer 2

I think a lot of it is almost a personality contest. I answered a question about old wives tales and got 2 thumbs down and Biscuit edited her question to ask the same thing - why out of 20+ answers was I the only one getting thumbs down? I really think that plays into it in a big way and then there are those answers which are just plain dumb and then those where people do not like being told the truth. It's like water rolling off a duck's back to me. You'll also find that majority rules, 10 people give similar answers that are not correct and then 1 person answers correctly and everyone else gives thumb downs - don't understand it myself.
I stand behind my opinions and the answers that I give and am confident in my knowledge so I don't lose any sleep over it. Afterall, I too reserve the right to give a thumbs down to a crappy answer.

Answer 3

I understand how you feel. I try to only give thumbs down if I really think the answer was off the wall or completely sarcastic & wrong. I just got a best answer about celebrating halloween...I said "I don't" and for that I got a best answer. Answers are really in the eye of the beholder, so to speak. I have seen people go down the list of answers and give everyone a thumbs down even to great answers. EGO! They want to be the best, to that I say grow up!
I put out a question concerning people in the military and asked for best & worst experiences. Someone gave a few thumbs down so I blasted them. This was my question not theirs and these are people who protect my freedom and it really ticked me off...HOW DARE THEY!!! I didn't get even 1 more thumbs down on any of the answers. I do agree that there should be some kind of explanation but even that can be pretty nasty. I wish it was only legit comments allowed but how could that be done.

BTW I am not familiar with a bosal. I looked it up and it said something about a hackamore...is that similar to a martingale? Is it to keep the horse from throwing their head? Would you be interested in viewing my website www.ocalahorseshow.com and send me your commentary?

Answer 4

When I read an answer, if I don't like the answer or I think it could possibly dangerous I thumbs down. If I like PART of the answer, I do nothing.
It would be nice to be able to say this is the reason your answer works, but this part is NOT a good idea, etc....

Some people give the thumbs down because they are bored & sometimes the thumbs down comes from the asker because they did not get the answer they wanted. Not that the answers were wrong, but because it was not what they wanted to hear.

Answer 5

I just gave a lot of Thumbs Up and I didn't get any points so I think the 'points" view is wrong. I rarely rate an answer unless I find it extremely good or extremely bad.
EDIT: Gee, I didn't know the asker could rate the answers they get to their questions. I'm learning new things everyday and I've been here over a year. LOL

Answer 6

Most people do it to be rude because they are just immature, or they just want their answer to be the best. If the asker gives it a thumbs down, its probably because they didnt want to hear the truth or they werent looking for that answer. Dont worry. They also might to it to make you mad. (Or they dont like you from what youve said in the past because they did that to me) SOme people just dont want to hear the truth,. Good Luck and hope everything works out for ya!

Answer 7

I've been at this for a long time. I'm top contributor in two categories. All of my answers are as honest and as helpful as I can be, yet I continue to get one to two thumbs downs on nearly every answer in one particular category (diabetes). I suspect that I pist someone off at one time enough to where they search out my answers (despite me making mine private) and give me a thumbs down just as an attempt to upset me. Trouble is, it doesn't.

My feeling is, if you can't take the truth, don't hang out around me. A lot of people are flat out wrong in this one very important category, and I have a tendency to correct them with facts and links to back me up. Maybe they don't like being corrected or something. Must be hard having such a fragile ego and not having the wherewithal to check into the facts before making a fool out of yourself. I mean, how are you going to learn anything, if you can't admit that you made a mistake and move on? Seriously.

Answer 8

The only time I ever give a thumbs down is because someone is being obnoxious or rude. Like if a new person posts a howrse question in the horse section, people swarm on them like flies. Some people may think it is the right section. I understand directing them to the right place, but you don't have to be rude!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

Some because they don't like the answer, some because they are thumbs-down fairies who stalk users. The ones I find incredibly stupid are the thumbs down in a question like "What is your favorite breed?" There's no need for thumbs down, because there's no wrong answer.

I give a thumbs down if an answer is obviously wrong, rude, insulting, or if the answerer gives an incredibly winded ranting/venting answer.

Answer 10

There are people here that give a thumbs-down to answers that they merely disagree with. Not saying that's right, but that unfortunately how it is.

I could submit an answer that says that the sky is blue, and I guarantee that at least one person would not like it and "thumbs-down" it. So I don't let them bother me. It's not like I lose anything because of a thumbs-down. :)