Can we please remove the vote buttons?

[rdowns]

The purpose of the site is clearly established:

No where in there does it say the purpose is to downvote other peoples' posts. The site was created long before the vote buttons were introduced.

I'll ask again. Who are you to tell others what the purpose of this site is and that their reasons for being here may be wrong?

 

[GGJstudios]

I'll ask again. Who are you to tell others what the purpose of this site is and that their reasons for being here may be wrong?

I didn't tell anyone what the purpose of the site is; arn did.

 

[184550]

The purpose of the site is clearly established:

No where in there does it say the purpose is to downvote other peoples' posts. The site was created long before the vote buttons were introduced.

... and that description also says nothing about forums of any sort. I'd say we're still in uncharted territory.

 

[rdowns]

I didn't tell anyone what the purpose of the site is; arn did.

Seems to me, this is telling someone what the purpose of the site is.

If your sole reason for being on this site was to downvote other peoples' posts, you're here for the wrong reasons. If taking away a vote button (up or down) removes all the fun for you being on the site, you've missed most of the purpose of this site.

With that, I'm done with you. I don't want to assist you any more in your quest to become the top poster on the site. Hurry, I think someone just posted a question about Mac viruses.

 

[GGJstudios]

... and that description also says nothing about forums of any sort. I'd say we're still in uncharted territory.

Goals of the Forums
The #1 goal is to discuss Apple news and rumors.

The rules and decisions are made to protect this goal over all else, first and foremost in the News and Article Discussion forums. Following closely are forum discussions about other aspects of Macs and for giving help to fellow users. Further down the list is the Community Discussion forum, and far at the bottom of the list is the Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum.

Hmmm.... still no mention of voting on posts as a goal or purpose.

Seems to me, this is telling someone what the purpose of the site is.

It's arn who established the purpose, not me. I only told Troneas that they missed the purpose of the site, which was established by arn. I didn't tell them what the purpose was.

With that, I'm done with you. I don't want to assist you any more in your quest to become the top poster on the site.

I have no such quest. There is no value whatsoever in having any particular post count. My post count is meaningless, a simple by-product of helping a lot of people and answering a lot of questions. It appears, however, that there are a few who have issues related to my post count. That's their problem, not mine. Anyone on the site may post as little or as much as they like. I don't criticize others for their posting frequency.

 

[184550]

Hmmm.... still no mention of voting on posts as a goal or purpose.

Move the field goals to suit your purposes much?

Now we're supposedly talking about two completely different SOPs; one is the purpose of the site (which you referenced first) and one is the purpose of the forums (which you mentioned second).

You also didn't include a source. How am I suppose to believe you without a link(s)?

 

[GGJstudios]

Move the field goals to suit your purposes much?

Just stating facts.

 

[184550]

Just stating facts.

Eh, the style reminds me of the Truth Factory™ for some reason.

 

[miles01110]

Irony.

 

[Occamsrazr]

Honestly, I still have a hard time understanding how people were bothered by the fact that their comment was rated down... I guess some people just don't have a very strong sense of self and rely on weird little online things for their sense of worth.

It's sad really...

 

[BobCollins]

Where's the down vote button?

While I know that some of you don't like the buttons, I think they are valuable. I don't need to read everyones detailed take on an issue. With voting buttons, both up and down, I can more quickly get a group sentiment about an issue.

Please restore both voting buttons!

 

[2IS]

Just stating facts.

What facts? That you don't understand the concept of voting?

 

[-aggie-]

I'll miss you most of all.

I hope that means he's not going to post any more.

 

[LostSoul80]

What facts? That you don't understand the concept of voting?

The concept of voting, right. Being, pressing a button. Now that's fantastic!

 

[blow45]

I have to argue that the downvote button serves an important role, much like the dislike buttons on Youtube, because it gives people a choice, a choice not to use it. Youtube has a reputation for trolling, but the like/dislike ratios tell a different story. The fact that the likes far, far outweigh the dislike on almost every every video shows how good and supportive the Youtube community really is.

If every one of those dislikers, few as they may be, had posted a negative comment it would have created a much more negative atmosphere. If every one on Macrumors who wanted to downvote a post writes a negative comment instead it would start a full-scale flame war.

In future if I don't like a post, I'm just going to quote it like this and add a little down button, and see how that goes.



Image -1

Your arguments make a lot of sense.

I can't see why the decision is not reversed.

The logic behind it is faulty, or at least debatable about its merits.

The overwhelmingly vast majority as evidenced in the poll prefer anything but this system.

Can anyone from the guys at mr chime in with a response here?

 

[2IS]

The concept of voting, right. Being, pressing a button. Now that's fantastic!

This concept that eludes you is not any different from going to the poles and voting on a proposition. Or an oral "yay vs nay" vote, since this is a forum, those simple buttons served that purpose.

Quite sad I had to actually explain that to you. Consider yourself enlightened. You no longer have to go through life now knowing what the concept of voting is. You're welcome.

 

[LostSoul80]

This concept that eludes you is not any different from going to the poles and voting on a proposition.

And maybe your parents care about your yay or nay. Unfortunately, no one else cares, and I'm sorry to undeceive you.

Stating interesting, original or even standard opinions makes something at least, a little interesting to read. You can kiss your dog instead of pressing a useless button, or, maybe use your small (seeing your childish garbage) imagination to give opinions, offer help in an active way. You can, too, quit the forum if you like.
I won't miss you! Don't worry.

 

[diddl14]

It's harder to up vote a post isn't it ?

Involves brainpower.

Reading comprehension.

Thinking.

Yes indeed. Much easier to down vote

Adding to this, it's also harder to write a post that is unlikely to get down voted:

Involves brainpower.

Writing comprehension.

Thinking.

Compassion.

 

[2IS]

And maybe your parents care about your yay or nay. Unfortunately, no one else cares, and I'm sorry to undeceive you.

Stating interesting, original or even standard opinions makes something at least, a little interesting to read. You can kiss your dog instead of pressing a useless button, or, maybe use your small (seeing your childish garbage) imagination to give opinions, offer help in an active way. You can, too, quit the forum if you like.
I won't miss you! Don't worry.

I appoligize if I gave you the mistaken impression I cared about how you felt. Rest assured, I do not consider your feelings. I'll be sticking around.

But lets get back on topic... Have you figured out what voting means yet? I can point you to additional resources if you don't believe me.

 

[geoffm33]

While I know that some of you don't like the buttons, I think they are valuable. I don't need to read everyones detailed take on an issue. With voting buttons, both up and down, I can more quickly get a group sentiment about an issue.

Please restore both voting buttons!

If the down button is restored, I like the idea that was posted upthread about showing the metrics for each side of the vote. It's one thing to have a post be rated a 4, it's another if that entails 24 up votes and 20 down votes.

Edit: I skipped a few of the last pages which my point was already made a few times. Sorry for the grunch

 

[annk]

Ok, I am still confused... what exactly was the point of this poll when the third least popular option is the winner? It's like having Al Gore elected to be president.

As someone already pointed out, a member started the poll. It wasn't started in any official capacity with the purpose of deciding policy.

That doesn't mean it isn't interesting to hear what members think, I'm just saying that you can't expect changes to be made every time someone starts a poll.

There's no "winner" here; from what arn's said it seems pretty clear that the function is considered an experiment, and different ways of using it are being tried out.

...

Can anyone from the guys at mr chime in with a response here?

The site owner has chimed in quite a few times the last couple of days.

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15228966/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15230772/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15230931/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15231916/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15232410/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15232734/

Not sure what else anyone can do.

 

[soupcxan]

Please put back the downvote buttons

They were half the fun of coming here!

 

[mdelvecchio]

It's not about thin skin, it's about downvoters lack of backbone. I really can't shake the feeling that downvoters are just whiny teenagers.
...
As I saw someone write in their signature - downvoting is for sissies.

sorry, but no. downvoting is for saying: "You got it wrong, mate." and some people just dont like that fact that. it bruises their egos.

as for being a teenager...thats a diversion from reality in your own head. im a 36-year-old software developer, and i have no problem telling you or anyone else when your sentiment is wrong headed. it happens. a lot.

----------

Downvoting doesn't explain why you disagree with a post.

nor does upvoting. so either theyre both useless, or they both hold value to users. id argue the latter.

if a troll says something annoying, or someone posts something inappropriate, and 60 people downvote them, it's reassuring to me as a user. it means im in the right place, and more -- that i dont have to write another post to say the same.

it offers value to me as a user. sorry to see them go. hope the experiment ends soon.

 

[mdelvecchio]

With that in mind, upvoting a post based on its merits requires no further explanation. Downvoting a post based on its merits does.

rubbish. what is upvotable is as abstract a concept as what is downvotable -- it all depends. in neither case is one aspect of meta commentary obvious to all. it simply all depends on context.

 

[mdelvecchio]

I agree that both can require an explanation some of the time. I disagree that a downvote never needs an explanation.

nope - there are many, many (countless) times when a downvote needs no explanation. like trolling or spamming. ive seen them both on here.

Now, see how much more information was exchanged by you voicing your disagreement, rather than simply clicking a downvote button? That illustrates my point perfectly.

it doesnt -- only shows how we can dilute the signal-to-noise ratio w/ more posts, many of which are just re-iterating the same point. which the up/down buttons did splendidly.