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Thumbs up, Thumbs Down

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by larryd4 1 view

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Ok so getting a thumbs up is fun and getting one is great to show that you did help. But what about a Thumbs down?

I have seen plenty of posts that are a bit, how should I say this, rude or just plan slamming the poster for a poor grasp on language or technical knowledge.

Granted we can all see the kids posting homework questions or the helpdesk tech that doesn't want to do his or her job.

But sometimes a post is just wrong. Or perhaps someone suggests something and the suggestion is so wrong they loose all their data..

Shouldn't we have a way to thumb down the poster?

In effect reducing their thumbs up along the way?

Just a thought, rather then getting in a flame war with someone with attitude you can just thumb them down..

24 replies

by jdclyde

A few problems, actually.

First, if it is the password hack requests, they SHOULD be ridiculed.

Spammers, while they mostly start discussions instead of questions, also deserve such ridicule.

Other than that, most attitude/flames come from discussions, not questions, so would probably not be effective in conflict resolution.

by tink!

this would also give the same ability to the very ones we would apply the method to. They would do the thumbs down to the regulars, but more out of spite than with real reason. Being that the system would more than likely be automated [i](as to moderate such a process would be more costly than any company would be willing to pay someone}[/i] it would reflect negatively on the deserving without due cause.

I have seen this occur in other general forums. Not too often, but it does happen.

by larryd4

The people who post and are truely here to ask questions and discuss issues would get the answers.

But if some bonehead keeps posting, who thumbs down out of spite, then know one would answer their questions..

by larryd4

Well if its a hack request then they themselves get the thumbsdown as well as the ridicule.

And I'm not really talking about the discussions, I have seen some really poor responses to questions as well as just bad attitudes.

If I ask a question and have the ability to thumbs up I should be able to thumb down the really bad suggestions or the jerk who tells me off cause I speak a different language.

by cg it

and there is a point to it...well at the least my point which is, the answers usually are available if you do an internet search for them. If it's a microsoft problem, they have an extensive support library as do virtually all the players in IT.

The Q&A forum are , for the most part, the same old questions asked over and over again. How to I crack a password? How do I setup a network. How do I share a printer.

The password crack one gets redone a variety of ways just to see if we'll answer, when doing a google search will yield and answer and link to actually crack the password without having to visit Techrepublic.

by larryd4

Yes I can see the issues of abuse, but that occurs now and we just ignore them.

Most people, regulars and the newbies, figure out pretty quicky, who gives good positive feed back and who doesn't.

And if you see someone post who has all thumbs up and no thumbs down its a quicker indication of how well you can trust their answers.

Perhpas not negating the Thumbs up but haveing two tally's a Thumbs up and a Thumbs down.

by jdclyde

Two problem types of posters. The kind that are fly by nights that ask a question and never find their way back to it again, and the kind that would just keep making new accounts.

Questions have always been a pain. Not sure the ratio now, but back when it was tech points, it was at least 70% that never even got rated. People that would ask several questions yet never rate got the honor of my then weekly discussion, "Worm of the Week". B-)

by charliespencer

TR Points, that is. Sonya won't trade them for swag. I store them next to my box tops and Marvel 'No Prizes'.

by bfilmfan

I had totally forgotten about that award of days past!

I am wondering if previous winners are STILL asking questions?

by charliespencer

I usually try to avoid making sense. Do it too often and then they start expecting you to do it on a regular basis. I hate trying to live up to my rep.

by hal 9000

But to give you some idea of what happens here. Last week I posted a Template Answer to a Password Hack which included the answer to contact the system maker or M$. All pretty straight forward and not at all anything but an attempt to help someone without actually telling them what they want to know but at least give them a contact point for a fix.

This particular person attacked me or at least my [b]Alter Ego[/b] and then went on to make an actual complaint to the PTB at TR that I wasn't helping him and was less then polite. :^0

I'm not actually sure what was said to Sonja but it must have been interesting as she sent me a Peer Mail while she was on Holiday

Then we have the down right [b]Nasty[/b] ones hit the place. :D

Col

by hal 9000

But [b]SWMBO[/b] wants me to be [b]NICE[/b] and I'm not stupid enough to tell her she doesn't know what she's talking about. :^0

Women are always right even when they are so completely wrong that it's hard not to roll around the floor laughing your head off. Some things are just [b]Not Worth[/b] the trouble that they cause. :0

Col ]:)

by charliespencer

There may be some confusion about your response. Maybe something a little clearer and less open to interpretation?

by hal 9000

Lesson 1 Women are always right.

Lesson 2 When women are wrong the rules are changed and they are right.

Lesson 3 When women are so wrong it's hard to not collapse laughing you have to learn to look serious and accept that they are right.

Lesson 4 When a female has a [b]Sharp[/b]knife in their hand they are even more [b]Right[/b] than normal [b]Brown Nose[/b] like hell in a situation like that.

Lesson 5 Always Agree with females it's way too painful not to.

Lesson 6 When a group of females get together for anything leave home till 6 months after they break up the meeting.

Lesson 6 Never invade a womans domain ask permission to even walk into places that she considers her [b]Domain.[/b]

Lesson 7 Never touch a womans prised objects not even to hand them to her and never under any circumstances offer to help them move their prised possessions.

Lesson 8 You are suddenly struck deaf, Dumb & Blind when a woman asks you how she looks is something. Disappear long before she can ask.

Lesson 9 When the woman starts in on you for something that she perceives you have done [b]Wrong[/b] just agree with her on everything.

Lesson 10 Never forget or fail to live by the previous 9 lessons upon [b]Pain Of Death[/b]

Lesson 11 When it's completely impossible to stay out of trouble wait till she starts in on you and say [b]What are you complaining about [i]Dear[/i] you told me to do that Last Night.[/b] And add when she doesn't look convinced [b]Would you like to show me how you would have done it then?[/b]

Lesson 12 Let her think that she is in charge of everything and do as [b]You Bloody Well Like.[/b]

It's all very simple really. :D

Col

by av .

It would promote more flame wars, in my opinion. I also think if you're going to criticize someone's post you should explain why. Giving them a thumbs down with no explanation is not good enough.

AV

by boxfiddler

Kind of like the "That was the biggest waste of my time ever" comment in Discussions. Um. Like to tell the author why it sucked? Maybe they'd like to know in order to improve their work or avoid the same type of article in future?

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