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Proposal to eliminate "downvoting" of posts

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b24pgg

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Based on my observations, people primarily do not downvote based on the quality of a post; they downvote based on whether they personally agree or disagree with the post content. I've seen well reasoned, thoughtful posts be downvoted into oblivion just because they expressed negative opinions about an Apple product/feature.

Sometimes, new posters get downvoted simply for the fact that they're new:
Sabrina2000 said:
I've just noticed 2 downvotes on a post in which I asked for help today ! I'm unsubscribing forthwith as it makes me feel uncomfortable and I don't know what i did wrong. I only asked for help. People were good enough to respond. But if others think I'm wasting valuable time, then I don't want to be here.
Click to expand...

That seems totally wrong to me. MacRumors isn't an old boys club that should frown upon new members.

I think the downvoting option should be removed from posts, but the upvoting option should remain. That way it leads to less hostility and negativity, and truly bad posts/posts that break the rules can be reported using the "Report Post" option.

Just my two cents.
 
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GGJstudios

GGJstudios

macrumors Westmere
May 16, 2008
44,545
943
SGMD1 said:
These don't really seem to address the issue. Hiding the voting buttons is akin to burying your head in the sand.
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Read both links. They're not just discussing hiding them. The point is, it's been discussed ad nauseam.
 
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b24pgg

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GGJstudios said:
Read both links.
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I did. The second thread is a perfect example of what I'm referring to. The OP couldn't have been more articulate and his post has a rating of -52.

That just seems totally wrong to me.
 
P

PlaceofDis

macrumors Core
Jan 6, 2004
19,241
6
this is the whole reason there wasn't a voting system in place here for so long. i still think that it is not needed and the continued use of it is rather pointless.

imo.
 
chown33

chown33

Moderator
Staff member
Aug 9, 2009
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SGMD1 said:
Hiding the voting buttons is akin to burying your head in the sand.
Click to expand...

Believing the vote-count has any significance is akin to hearing voices in white noise.

It can be fun. Or not. I will up-vote or down-vote for many different reasons. Humor is often one of them, and sometimes a down-vote is the most humorous to me.
 
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greganpace

macrumors regular
Aug 9, 2011
137
0
Yeah... I've been using the forum for 3 months and I didn't even know they were there until last week. No one cares...
 
arn

arn

macrumors god
Staff member
Apr 9, 2001
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SGMD1 said:
Based on my observations, people primarily do not downvote based on the quality of a post; they downvote based on whether they personally agree or disagree with the post content.
Click to expand...

Please link to specific examples of posts you think were improperly downvoted... excluding any examples in discussions about voting -- as those votes are artificially affected by the discussion.

arn
 
mobilehaathi

mobilehaathi

macrumors G3
Aug 19, 2008
9,368
6,352
The Anthropocene
arn said:
Please link to specific examples of posts you think were improperly downvoted... excluding any examples in discussions about voting -- as those votes are artificially affected by the discussion.

arn
Click to expand...

I think a definition of "improperly downvoted" would have to be created before specific examples could be cited. As I understand it now, it is merely a feature with no prescribed rules for use. I could be wrong though; you would certainly know better than I. :D

I just don't understand why people get so upset over it in the first place.....
 
B

b24pgg

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jan 28, 2009
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arn said:
Please link to specific examples of posts you think were improperly downvoted... excluding any examples in discussions about voting -- as those votes are artificially affected by the discussion.

arn
Click to expand...

1, 2
 
B

b24pgg

macrumors 65816
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Jan 28, 2009
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MacDawg said:
I just looked at the posts and both are yours and both are -1 on the downvote

Is this really a concern?
I fail to see this as abuse or even improper use of the system personally
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They are just examples brah, it happens in other threads too but I just knew these two off the top of my head since they were my posts
 
B

b24pgg

macrumors 65816
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mobilehaathi said:
How is it inappropriate?
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Downvotes are not constructive. Why doesn't Google+ have a "-1" button? Why doesn't Facebook have a "Dislike" option?

I wrote a tutorial about how to unlock a Verizon iPhone, and it was downvoted. Why? I can't answer that, but I do know that it makes no sense to me, and doesn't make me feel particularly interested in being helpful like that in the future on this forum because downvotes indicate to me that the post wasn't appreciated.

I think the upvote button by itself makes much more sense. If a post is truly bad or wrong in some way, it can still be reported.
 
mobilehaathi

mobilehaathi

macrumors G3
Aug 19, 2008
9,368
6,352
The Anthropocene
SGMD1 said:
Downvotes are not constructive. Why doesn't Google+ have a "-1" button? Why doesn't Facebook have a "Dislike" option?

I wrote a tutorial about how to unlock a Verizon iPhone, and it was downvoted. Why? I can't answer that, but I do know that it makes no sense to me, and doesn't make me feel particularly interested in being helpful like that in the future on this forum because downvotes indicate to me that the post wasn't appreciated.

I think the upvote button by itself makes much more sense. If a post is truly bad or wrong in some way, it can still be reported.
Click to expand...

Doesn't mean it is inappropriate. It would be even more useless to provide only an upvote button.
 
mobilehaathi

mobilehaathi

macrumors G3
Aug 19, 2008
9,368
6,352
The Anthropocene
SGMD1 said:
I'm not sure I understand your question then. Maybe it would make more sense for you to explain how a downvote of that post was appropriate.
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You would have to ask the person (or people) who did it; I'm not sure why your posts were down voted.

Is the only reason you want it to go away because you're hurt by the thought of someone down voting your post without an explanation?
 
dukebound85

dukebound85

macrumors Core
Jul 17, 2005
19,131
4,110
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SGMD1 said:
I did. The second thread is a perfect example of what I'm referring to. The OP couldn't have been more articulate and his post has a rating of -52.

That just seems totally wrong to me.
Click to expand...

Then hide the votes......

For one who says that this system has no significance, you sure are worried about it
 
B

b24pgg

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jan 28, 2009
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mobilehaathi said:
There is no way to implement the system you want.
Click to expand...
That's not correct. This vBulletin forum uses just a "like" button for posts:

Yl06l.jpg
 
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