Do you think YA should list the names of thumb downers ? Noticed quite a few lately, all on good answers...?

Question

Or perhaps this is a popularity contest ????

While I agree with you both, it would be interesting to be able to see the ID of those who dislike an answer, and may prevent unscrupulous thumb downers. Just a thought...

Answer 1

Everyone has a right to their opinion that's what this place is all about...

Answer 2

I think that they do have their place.

I tend to not leave them in general, however there are three situations where I have been known to do so

1. Where the answer contains something which is substantially factually incorrect

2. The question asks for an opinion, and a response trash everyone else's opinion while failing to back up their own(i.e. "Nikon/Canon is better because everyone else makes crap lenses")

3. The response is completely pointless or irrelevant to the question asked, or consists just simply of "I don't know"

In the first situation, I generally will always follow up with a response detailing where I disagree, and why.

Since the above situations are the only ones where I would do so, I wouldn't have a problem with my name being attached to my thumbs down.

Answer 3

I have gotten a lot of thumb downs for good answers. People have a right to their opinion, even if you don't like it. It does annoy me, though, when people just go through and give thumbs down just for the heck of it. I was on another question where people were telling their favorite Christmas memories and someone had given a thumbs down. How rude is that?

Answer 4

Personally, I don't think the identity should be revealed. It is an opinion. For myself I give thumbs down to answers that contain misleading, confusing or totally inaccurate information.

For example there is a "Top Contributor" who consistently tells people that focal length (when referring to photographic lenses) is (to paraphrase), "the distance from the front of the lens to the image plane". This is inaccurate, and incorrect. (For practical purposes, It is actually the length from the optical center of the lens when focused at infinity to the image plane. You can easily verify this by measuring the distance from the front of a lens to the image plane marked on a camera body, many "wide angle" lenses use a "reverse telephoto" design that extends the front of the lens 3 or 4 times more than the focal length).

Answer 5

sure, that is been occurring for over 2 weeks now. TU's and TD's are appearing and then disappearing like yo-yo's. that is like magic ~ now you spot them, then you certainly do no longer! yet another Yahoo glitch. The little hamsters ought to run around on the wheel slightly quicker!

Answer 6

Hey J-Man! Unfortunately, you are right about many of the "thumbs down" votes ... it does come down to popularity OR "buddies". People go through and give their buds a thumbs up - even for lame answers like "Yep". Many times I see people who have a lot of contacts getting 8 or 9 thumbs up - even when the answer isn't that great. It certainly isn't helpful many times - by any means. If it was a funny or decent answer I would have no problem with it.

What bothers me really, and why I have felt like asking this question myself, is when someone starts to be a thumbs down "stalker". That's ridiculous and for that reason only do I wish they'd identify who votes what. Although people here are correct in saying it's nothing to get too riled up over - it does bug. I rarely ever gives thumbs down and like many others here I do when it's hurtful ... spiteful ... or factually incorrect. I would have no problem with Yahoo identifying me because I have no reason to hide and can defend myself if I believe I made a correct choice.

Thought I am sure it will never happen it is something to consider. This is a forum for "helping" others ... not putting them down or glorifying your buddies if it isn't deserved.

Christmas peace to you ...

**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**

Answer 7

I think it is partly the popularity thing, but I think there is another symptom that effects a lot of forums.

The anonymity provided by the forums allows the little flaming trolls of the world to have a say in something, when they otherwise have nothing positive to add. I think the trolls are a low minority, but they seem to get there little shots in where and when they can.

DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!

Answer 8

Being new here I don't know but can geuss. It's to do with many factors of human nature I would think.

1. some people are idiots
2. some people think everyone but them are wrong
3. some people are jealous of those with knowledge or skill
4. some people hold grudges
5. some people are idiots

Yes I have repeated one but thats so it's importance is not lost. Having looked at your answers I conclude you know what your on about and are best served to take the thumbs down as compliments that idiots are paying you.

Answer 9

I don't really give a hoot about a thumbs down...that and a quarter is still worth a quarter. Same goes for points.

Answer 10

Thumbs don't really matter for anything. I like to give a thumb up if I like someone's answer, just to show the asker that someone else agrees with the answer without writing out an answer of my own.

I just accept that some people are ******'s who give all answers a thumb down because they still have got to get a life.

Forget about it and move on.

~~~~
EDIT
~~~~

It might be a good idea to show who gave thuumbs down, as you say, although there is no restriction on how many people can use teh same name on Yahoo! Answers, so you still might not know who it was. Maybe if you give a thumbs down, you'd have to make a brief comment explaining what your reasoning was...

Answer 11

I'm giving everyone else thumbs down just for the ironic nature of it. BOOOO!!!!!!

P.S. I came back to have a look at how this was goin. I'm not sure if the thumbs down are supposed to be ironic thumbs up or just thumbs down. Now I'm confused.