- NEW!
by iwnit on April 3rd, 2008
1) We are supposed to downrate submissions that we find "not useful". But is downrating itself useful?
2) There are other things that we can do if we find a submission inappropriate. First we can flag it:
- as spam / offensive
- as nonsense
And for the questions, we also can flag them:
- as a duplicate
- as wrong category
However, it is important to use flagging with great care.
Moreover, we could report the user with a "Feedback".
3) Although the downratings do not influence one's point total, they change one's "+%" quote on questions or answers. And they change one's questions and answers overall rating.
The effect of low "+%" quotes is that you get the image of someone doing bad submissions.
The effect of Q&A negative overall ratings is that people *could* assume that your submission is bad, and approve this with a supplementary rating. As far as I could see, it happens quite often. (Of course, some people also correct the ratings).
4) In my opinion, the most important effect of a downrating is also a strong negative feeling of rejection. It is just harmful.
You could just ignore it, forget it. But actually, it it only refusing to see the reality.
You could not take it too seriously, just keep cool. Or if you are not able to do this, you could just disable your ratings display. But in the end, if you always ignore them, you do not get all the also useful feedback from the ratings. And you might get a bad image throughbad ratings where you did not react.
And this is the main reason why I never downrate, and often help people who have received overall negative points on their submissions.
5) I think also that if it not a candidate for some kind of flagging, any submission is better than no submission. (but that's just me).
6) My theory is that flagging is used by two kind of people on Answerbag:
- beginners, or people who never discovered how painful it feels to be downrated. Maybe because they do not feel the pain themselves, for various reasons. The beginners do it because Answerbag officially states: downrate what you don't find useful, so they just follow this rule.
- people who need a strong, always effective (and anonymous) way of showing their disapproval.
Because if they would flag those submissions, the flagging would possibly (or probably) not be accepted.
They probably think that if someone gets -30 on a submission, this person will get the idea that their submission is disapproved from many (at least 5 people). If the submission got rejected, 2 people would be sufficient.
For instance, downrating would mean:
- you are wasting my time
- you are not able to write a single sentence correctly
- do your own homework
- I cannot hear any of those questions about pregnancy any more
- don't post always the same kind of questions
- don't post the same question 5 times until you get a response
- we don't need an other variant of this question: "Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4, What does it say?"
- don't use caplocks
- don't tell me about Evolution, I believe in Creation (or: don't tell me about Creation, I am an Atheist)
7) I could understand that someone has to express some kind of disapproval.
But why always use the biggest caliber that you can use for those things? Some people above the Sage title seem to make a regular use of -5 ratings.
It could also be the idea: why not do it when I can and it is "legal" (in the rules).
Well, I don't always do everything just because I am allowed to do it.
Have you ever had an AB "Great Answer" to any of your answers? I haven't that I know of. What's the criteria?
by SELENIUM_TEST_83335 on October 8th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
How can i get my AB rating up?
by S Is For Lisp on April 13th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Does one's display name cause your opinion of them to differ? Does it change your view of the validity of their answer?
by Quaere Verum on November 10th, 2010
| 2 people like this
Do you pick an "asker's pick" answer for every question you ask?
by Self Consuming Cannibal on February 24th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Do you think it would be smart if AB addded a "thumb down" button along with the "thumb up"?
by hell0there on March 11th, 2011
| 3 people like this
You're reading What good reasons do have for giving neg points? I thought neg points were for not good advice or not a clear, good question. Instead I find they are given to people that some AB users don't like. Doesn't that show lack of intigrity?
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Comments
Wow what a great answer!
by Deni on April 5th, 2008
Deni: thanks!
:-)
by iwnit on April 5th, 2008
Your welcome :)
by Deni on April 5th, 2008
Moonwalker: thank you very much!
by iwnit on April 25th, 2008
I see what your saying, but if someones says "god hates fags" or "women belong in the kitchen!" the fcker is getting a minus mark no question.
by Worth Repeating on September 10th, 2008
Great answer with very useful info! Thankyou iwnit! +
by Lilly on September 16th, 2008
little_lady88: you are very welcome!
by iwnit on September 16th, 2008
Another of your great answers pertaining to the use of AB. Thank you. I have searched for something of this nature. It is like getting your first computer and are afraid to push a key for fear you will lock it up. Thanks.
by martye on September 25th, 2008
martye: thank you for your feedback!
by iwnit on September 25th, 2008
Wow, nice and detailed! good work!
by Audiotron on May 14th, 2009
Audiotron: thank you very much!
by iwnit on May 14th, 2009