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Proposal to eliminate "downvoting" of posts
- Thread starter b24pgg
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There isn't a way to implement an up/down vote system that only allows people to vote based on the "quality" of the post.
An up vote only system is of no improved utility.
Again, why are we so cranky about this? Just hide it and be happy.
I disagree. Most successful websites have become that way by providing a positive user experience. Again, this is the main reason Facebook and Google+ will never have a "dislike" and "-1" button. The downvote has no benefit whatsoever, and encourages bad energy. It can make new users with noobish or Apple-critical posts feel unaccepted or intimidated.
I know that if I did a Google search for example on how to unlock a Verizon iPhone and found my tutorial thread, I would see the "-5" at the bottom of the post and think that maybe the tutorial was wrong (it's not) or that something else was wrong with the post.
Let me ask this question: what is the benefit of a downvote? Since the downvotes are public and can be seen in the corner of every post, what is a negative value supposed to signify to a reader?
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An individual down vote is a vague expression of negativity. In aggregate, the sum of all up and down votes can give a reader a vague impression of how the community feels about a particular post.
Perhaps the problem is not enough people are participating in the system, therefore making your presumably helpful post prone to one or two jokers who like to down vote on a whim. Or maybe those people don't approve of unlocking phones? Or perhaps they confuse unlocking with jail breaking and disapprove of that? The point is it is vague, and a few votes in either direction shouldn't be grounds to accept or dismiss a post.
The system is silly only because it isn't used often (and perhaps because people put too much weight on it). I wouldn't care if it went away; I don't care if it stays. Obviously we disagree.
Don't worry OP. Those buttons/post ratings don't mean anything. Thanks for the tutorial. I don't have Verizon, but I thought it was good information nonetheless.
I'm not against negative votes, and the reasoning that social media has only plus or likes doesn't justify the removal of a negative voting system. In fact there many people who wished facebook had a hate button.
As for the voting system itself, my personal opinion on this is that it serves no purpose but is easily ignored, that is, I pay little attention to it.
As for the voting system itself, my personal opinion on this is that it serves no purpose but is easily ignored, that is, I pay little attention to it.
You appear to be personally offended by a negative vote on your Verizon post.
All the up and down votes show is sheer popularity. The reasons behind the votes are up to each individual. You take the wrong meaning from it. A bunch of down votes about the Verizon post simply shows that it is an unpopular post, not an incorrect or uninformed post.
I would argue that any system with an up vote should also have a down vote for the following reasons:
1 - The argument that other systems only have an up vote does not prove anything. It does not mean they are right or superior, it only proves that other systems do it. All it means to me is that Facebook and Google are social and want to pretend everything is correct, happy, and positive when in the real world that is simply not true.
2 - The argument that down votes include people who just don't like a post, even if it was informative, is likewise nonsense. The exact same will occur with the upvote, where people will vote up posts they like, even if the post is uninformative or outright incorrect.
All the up and down votes show is sheer popularity. The reasons behind the votes are up to each individual. You take the wrong meaning from it. A bunch of down votes about the Verizon post simply shows that it is an unpopular post, not an incorrect or uninformed post.
I would argue that any system with an up vote should also have a down vote for the following reasons:
1 - The argument that other systems only have an up vote does not prove anything. It does not mean they are right or superior, it only proves that other systems do it. All it means to me is that Facebook and Google are social and want to pretend everything is correct, happy, and positive when in the real world that is simply not true.
2 - The argument that down votes include people who just don't like a post, even if it was informative, is likewise nonsense. The exact same will occur with the upvote, where people will vote up posts they like, even if the post is uninformative or outright incorrect.
Your assessment is wrong. I couldn't care less what people on an internet forum think; I used that thread simply as an example. My objection to the downvoting is based purely on the fact that it's a bad system.
This makes no sense. That thread has something like 7 pages of replies.
Regardless, my objection has been noted by the mods/admins and that's all I ask.
Until about a week ago, I was not even aware this was a MR feature, really.
Now that I see it, my observation is that it is really kind of vague. It could be agreement/disagreement with how you feel about the author, what the author is saying, or how you feel about the subject in general. I don't really see a post vote as having that much value, but it's not that important to me either.
Now that I see it, my observation is that it is really kind of vague. It could be agreement/disagreement with how you feel about the author, what the author is saying, or how you feel about the subject in general. I don't really see a post vote as having that much value, but it's not that important to me either.
I think removing the vote buttons entirely isn't necessary but since that thread was bumped, this would be a good alternative.
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You can't do it.
When you vote anywhere in the world, you either give the candidate(s) your upvote, or you give no vote at all.
Downvoting has nothing to do with "pretending everything is correct, happy and positive." It's a bad system that is utilized practically nowhere else, and with good reason. It just does not work.
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It's strange that you compare this to the real world...because in the real world, NO one uses downvoting. Name one election, poll, or contest - anywhere - that utilizes the concept of downvoting.
You can't do it.
When you vote anywhere in the world, you either give the candidate(s) your upvote, or you give no vote at all.
Downvoting has nothing to do with "pretending everything is correct, happy and positive." It's a bad system that is utilized practically nowhere else, and with good reason. It just does not work.
Well MacRumors is not handling elections, polls or contests. Downvoting's purpose is to record's a member's disagreement with the post and as such it serves a purpose.
And why do you suppose a hate button hasn't been implemented, despite all the people wanting it?
Well I would say if the voting system stays in place it should list who voted.
Most of the web forums I visit don't have down voting: they either have a "like" or "thanks." And who thanked is listed. I guess, since your post about this is so unpopular, one could conclude this place has a lot of passive aggressive anonymous cowards. Let the down voting begin lol!
Michael
...except it doesn't work that way.
This thread has a vote tally of -8. What is there to "disagree" with, exactly?
"Disagreement with a post" is incredibly vague. When people write why they disagree with a post, only then does it make sense.
As it stands now, does a downvote imply the voter thinks the information in the post is wrong/inaccurate?
Does it imply the voter doesn't like the author?
Does it imply the voter disagrees with the opinion presented?
Does it imply the voter thinks the post is anti-Apple?
It could mean any of those, or a number of other things...and that's the problem. It's vague...and may give observers the wrong impression.
I know if I were a visitor to MacRumors who arrived via a Google search for SIM unlocking, saw this thread, and then saw the vote tally, I would be inclined to think that something is inherently wrong with the post (which there isn't.)
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I agree completely. ActionableMango compared it to the real world, so I responded that it can't be compared to the real world, because it quite obviously doesn't work in the same way.
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My sentiment exactly.
First off, why did I spend time reading this thread?
Secondly, why does this really matter? God, we are such a society of pansies worrying about everyone's feelings. Seriously, this is just a forum with people you will never meet. Does a negative vote on one of your posts from some guy who lives in his mother's basement, eats doritos all day, and works at a 7-11 really that big of a deal to you?
Good god....
I leave you all with this slightly altered quote:
"Everyone in this forum is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. "
Secondly, why does this really matter? God, we are such a society of pansies worrying about everyone's feelings. Seriously, this is just a forum with people you will never meet. Does a negative vote on one of your posts from some guy who lives in his mother's basement, eats doritos all day, and works at a 7-11 really that big of a deal to you?
Good god....
I leave you all with this slightly altered quote:
"Everyone in this forum is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. "
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Want actual constructive criticism on why?
You brough nothing new to the table on terms of unlocking the device, when people see a thread title like that they expect to fully unlock the device and have it work on any GSM carrier. You provided information that people already knew in a long lengthy post that isnt even a full sim slot unlock. That is why people downrated the post.
False. If you were right, then these posts wouldn't exist in that thread:
Great thread, OP! Was able to call the number provided, achieved SIM unlock status with Verizon (who btw said that this device will be unlocked indefinitely!), popped in foreign SIM from SingTel, restarted phone, activated through Wi-FI (one-time occurrence), and now roaming on AT&T! Received texts from SingTel about roaming options, etc. Great work!
I would like to give a big thank you to SGMD1 for all his time and help on this thread. Thanks, SGMD1!
Thanks for the write up! I had the phone unlocked for my trip last week to Germany. Worked perfectly
Congrats on cherry picking....
Guess what? I got downgraded on my posts (most likely by you), and I don't really care. I don't care that my +1 rating in both threads about this, are now 0. My opinion is my opinion whether Joe Schmoe likes it or not.....
pvmacguy's explanation for the downvotes of that thread are false, cherry picking or not.
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