Unthankful/Dislike/Thumbs Down

[Trident]

Let me just jump in to say that I see this idea being more bad than good. And I see a lot of problems coming from it. People will just be giving thumbs down to people who they don't like and it WILL (and trust me when I say WILL) turn into a mess.

And, to address the needing more mods situation, we are in the process of looking into adding more mods. However, and no disrespect meant by this, people that are currently or recently have been on probation are unlikely to be in the running.

Those were my thought exactly!

 

[TheNorthernForest]

Enough.

This thread is done.

 

[eyebeam]

Let me just jump in to say that I see this idea being more bad than good. And I see a lot of problems coming from it. People will just be giving thumbs down to people who they don't like and it WILL (and trust me when I say WILL) turn into a mess.

True. I've seen exactly that happen on other forums that use this kind of system. It turns personal pretty easily and leads to a lot of unnecessary resentment.

My $.02

 

[Frisco]

Frisco how long do you have to be on probation

Trident mentioned the "Banned" thread as a place to talk about my sanctioning by the staffers here, but I'd prefer it were done via PM (as many have already).

Airing it in threads seems to invite the possibility of resurrecting off-topic issues which led up to the aforementioned sanctions (my probation and infraction).

Just to quickly mention something here and then to drop it entirely: any issues I have with any staffer here are rather mild compared to some I've seen in forums over the years; indeed they have no meaning whatever in the real world, and are best simply filed into the drawer labeled, "forum preferences."

With apologies, back on-topic..

 

[Frisco]

I lean away from the "thumbs down/un-thank" proposal for the reason that it is negative.

I feel that, aside form debates themselves and the report button, the forums should foster positive attitudes toward one another and that a "thumbs down/un-thank" button would not be doing that at all.

 

[icomeanon]

at first flush the thumbs down thing seems like a good idea. but there's a strong possibility (as mentioned by others) of it turning into a way to express grudges and personal dislikes, not to express that one finds the post offensive or unhelpful. if its unhelpful, ignore it.

however, i think you may want to look at making a larger, more obvious button for reporting. maybe put it next to the 'thanks' button? it's kind of out of the way where it is now. i work for an internet company, and some of what i do on my own time is to see what positioning and sizing of buttons (such as those facebook/youtube/addthis buttons) and is visible to people, and ive found that small buttons off to the side almost never get pushed. most people DON'T pay attention enough to see it on that little sidebar that displays username and all that.

im sure this is something you guys have already considered, but with more people and more strife starting to show (at least imo), it may be something to reconsider? plus, where it is now kind of lends to it seeming like you're reporting the user, not the post, which to some extent are the same thing but not always.

 

[Frisco]

...we are in the process of looking into adding more mods.

However, and no disrespect meant by this, people that are currently or recently have been on probation are unlikely to be in the running.

Ouch..

 

[cooolone2]

Enough.

This thread is done.

Why??? I have enjoyed the OPINIONS and just because there were a few, it is done?

I was going to continue commenting on the suggestions and opinions, to defend my position, but I let it go for a while and will do so as I can. But to say, it is DONE, well now? After one day? Hmmm...

I still think it has merit, albeit problems for some, yes.

See as an example, because instead of me having to SAY something, like now in response to a post, I could have just given your's a Thumbs Down as it (your post) was impertinent to the topic at hand.

hahaha... hope you appreciate the irony!


Regards...

 

[cooolone2]

Let me just jump in to say that I see this idea being more bad than good. And I see a lot of problems coming from it. People will just be giving thumbs down to people who they don't like and it WILL (and trust me when I say WILL) turn into a mess.

Yeah... I can see from some of the flame wars that erupted that this is a distinct possibility. Insight from the Admin's like you are appreciated, because YOU are the one's who have to deal with it or any mess it may create. Though... consideration must take into account the user experience as well.

And, to address the needing more mods situation, we are in the process of looking into adding more mods. However, and no disrespect meant by this, people that are currently or recently have been on probation are unlikely to be in the running.

Definite OUCH...

Thanks again.

 

[cooolone2]

I lean away from the "thumbs down/un-thank" proposal for the reason that it is negative.

I feel that, aside form debates themselves and the report button, the forums should foster positive attitudes toward one another and that a "thumbs down/un-thank" button would not be doing that at all.

Respectable response...

 

[cooolone2]

at first flush the thumbs down thing seems like a good idea. but there's a strong possibility (as mentioned by others) of it turning into a way to express grudges and personal dislikes, not to express that one finds the post offensive or unhelpful. if its unhelpful, ignore it.

I like this other than the IGNORE suggestion... It rubs me raw that we are to accept and express gratitude and thanks for what is deemed good and yet, ignore what is distasteful or bad (not here in the forums, that is a general statement). That said, maybe I don't allow for those who just can't handle their own fragile ego's, so yes, I understand negativity has it's problems...

however, i think you may want to look at making a larger, more obvious button for reporting. maybe put it next to the 'thanks' button? it's kind of out of the way where it is now.

im sure this is something you guys have already considered, but with more people and more strife starting to show (at least imo), it may be something to reconsider? plus, where it is now kind of lends to it seeming like you're reporting the user, not the post, which to some extent are the same thing but not always.

MY point somewhat...

Thanks for your reply...

 

[DDustiNN]

It could just be simple, harmless, and anonymous, like the Amazon.com forums... just two simple buttons:

"Does this post add to the discussion?" [Yes] [No]

Then underneath each post, it says "2 of 3 people found this post helpful" or something like that. If enough people vote "No" on a post, it hides the post (like Carmen is saying), and you have to click the "Show Post" link to expand it. Also, a post can only be voted on once per account.

I didn't like it at first, but now it is my absolute favorite forum configuration.

 

[eyebeam]

It could just be simple, harmless, and anonymous, like the Amazon.com forums... just two simple buttons:

"Does this post add to the discussion?" [Yes] [No]

Then underneath each post, it says "2 of 3 people found this post helpful" or something like that. If enough people vote "No" on a post, it hides the post (like Carmen is saying), and you have to click the "Show Post" link to expand it. Also, a post can only be voted on once per account.

I didn't like it at first, but now it is my absolute favorite forum configuration.

Here's what I've seen as the problem with that.
Poster A in general is a good, useful, contributing poster but makes a post some don't like. Some other members start to give him/her a dislike/thumbs down/1 star on every post he/she makes regardless of the new post's merits. Others who may have benefited from a good post now don't because they question it's low rating. Poster A says "WTF is with these ratings? Eh, why bother, this sucks." and quits posting. Who benefits from this?

 

[Frisco]

Here's what I've seen as the problem with that.
Poster A in general is a good, useful, contributing poster but makes a post some don't like. Some other members start to give him/her a dislike/thumbs down/1 star on every post he/she makes regardless of the new post's merits. Others who may have benefited from a good post now don't because they question it's low rating. Poster A says "WTF is with these ratings? Eh, why bother, this sucks." and quits posting. Who benefits from this?

+1

 

[IzelTokatl]

Solution similarly as stated above. There should be a spam (or name it what you will) option on the forums that if more than 10 (or more whatever the number) people click it that post gets booted. By doing more than just 1 person disliking a particular post, this allows for a more balanced collective opinion (socialism/communism lol). So one rogue or 3 rogues (possibly the same person as i've seen done in other forums) who hate one user can't kill off a comment, but 10 or 20 people combined could do so. What ever the number it shouldn't be too low.


This should be separate from a posters general connected comments (ratings). Only to be voted on the one particular comment. Some people just have bad days and should not be considered a general troll on that one day they call someone stupid. But as other trolls can be banned for consistent bad behavior.

also, if someones comments are consistently removed due to this voting, maybe admins should have a general view of these now trolls in some data analytics dashboard (or admin form sticky) so they can be banned without waiting for a given admin to scroll through all the forums. to catch them.

Feasible? I dont know.. but just my 2 cents.

 

[Frisco]

Well, just what kinds of posts are we talking about? If we're wanting to penalize gross repetitive, obscene and rude postings, then the report button is there.

We also have the ignore choice given to us when we click the user name of the posting(s) we don't like.

Between those features and the active moderators in the forums, this site seems pretty well equipped, in my opinion.

 

[Trident]

Well, just what kinds of posts are we talking about? If we're wanting to penalize gross repetitive, obscene and rude postings, then the report button is there.

We also have the ignore choice given to us when we click the user name of the posting(s) we don't like.

Between those features and the active moderators in the forums, this site seems pretty well equipped, in my opinion.

I agree completely!

 

[Trident]

There should be a spam (or name it what you will) option on the forums that if more than 10 (or more whatever the number) people click it that post gets booted.

If there is a spam bot posting spam, just report it to us.
We have a special "One Touch Ban & Clean" tool that bans a spam bot, blocks it's IP address, and removes all of it's posts in one single click.

 

[cooolone2]

I hate to be mean... but I would ask that redundant posts reiterating comments already stated is counter intuitive and may dissuade new posts.

Don't flame me, but continually posting the same response to some offers of different opinion and ideas on the topic is done for what purpose? By this I mean we already know about the ability to report someone and the ability to ignore, if not it is mentioned already.

Some interest is being expressed in the thumbs down thingy, pro & con with interesting ideas too. Whether or not something like this is adopted, it would be nice to have the input unsmothered or repeatedly be told to report it... etc.

Thanks respectively.

 

[Frisco]

I hate to be mean... but I would ask that redundant posts reiterating comments already stated is counter intuitive and may dissuade new posts.

Don't flame me, but continually posting the same response to some offers of different opinion and ideas on the topic is done for what purpose? By this I mean we already know about the ability to report someone and the ability to ignore, if not it is mentioned already.

Some interest is being expressed in the thumbs down thingy, pro & con with interesting ideas too. Whether or not something like this is adopted, it would be nice to have the input unsmothered or repeatedly be told to report it... etc.

Thanks respectively.

A link to the first posting pointing out those features could have been provided instead of the explanation.

However, in the long run, that response, just a link, seems rude, almost moderator-like. The next best thing to face-to-face communication is a written letter, my gramma used to say.

 

[Slug]

There should be a spam (or name it what you will) option on the forums that if more than 10 (or more whatever the number) people click it that post gets booted.
[...]
So one rogue or 3 rogues (possibly the same person as i've seen done in other forums) who hate one user can't kill off a comment, but 10 or 20 people combined could do so. What ever the number it shouldn't be too low.

This is still open to the danger of cliques effectively controlling forums. We've all seen the feeding frenzy that can erupt when a few like-minded individuals take a dislike to someone's post.

I agree that there should be a counter-point to the "thanks" button, so don't take this as outright negativity. I just see too much scope for abuse in this particular course of action.

This is a great feedback btw, so keep it up!

 

[Rob]

First of all I want to thank coolone2 and carmendiva for their suggestions and opinions about a "dislike" button. In theory, it's an awesome idea and I can see how it would be very helpful, much like YouTube as caremndiva stated. The problem is that "In theory" isn't the same as "In reality".

As some have stated, I think that implementing a "dislike" solution will be plugging the hole of one leak, but watching 3 smaller leaks spring elsewhere. It can be annoying to read through an entire thread when a lot of it is "garbage" and could be hidden, but it's a feature that could be easily abused, cause good posts to go hidden, and require even more moderation - which we already likely need more of.

There is definitely a gap between posts that should be "reported" and ones that are simply unhelpful fluff, opinions that deserve to stay but most disagree with, or other randomness. Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to implement this that wouldn't create more problems or ruin the flow of conversation.

Definitely appreciate the ideas, and keep them coming - constructive criticism is ALWAYS valuable and we seriously take everything into consideration when trying to improve the site.

 

[gadzooks]

I think a No Thanks or similar option has more potential to do harm than good. I'm pretty feisty & not particularly sensitive and I can see how it might hurt even my feelings. It appears to me there's a lot of effort here to encourage peace on earth, good will toward all... & this kind of metric doesn't seem consistent with that spirit.

Separately, tallies like this don't add value for me. Using amazon reviews as an example, I don't screen based on % who found review helpful. I read it myself & decide if it's helpful to me.

 

[PaulMcCartney]

A no thanks button would hurt a lot of people's feelings. Especially since it would tell the name of the user who did it..

 

[carmendiva]

I think just the first step
is probably trying to find new mods
that way the people in charge wouldn't
feel completely stretched thin.

I think the ratio of normal people and the people who
run the site(mods, admins guides or whatever)
is stretched thin and that sometimes while it appears
they may have overreacted to a situation(locking threads,
banning or probating...is this a word lol users)
it can't be helped.

Kind of like how sometimes police overreact to their jobs
and give tickets for the dumbest of reasons but it's
because they are stressed out trying to make sure
order is maintain that sometimes it's just easy for
them to do it that way