NO. A skank in hiding,has no balls at all,but a good deed who wears a mask,is a beautiful stranger,so priceless few,who do not seek reward,but the pleasentries of others.*

I think you have a very good point there, sir. +5 [edit] On my feedback page when I get a positive rating it says "Answer was rated Helpful" and when I get a negative rating if says "Answer was rated Not Helpful". That's feedback enough for me. Personally, after seeing a lot of "comments" turn into nasty debates that carry on ad nauseum, I feel that comments should be reserved for asking the poster to clarify his answer or show support for an answer and possibly have a chat with someone. Getting into a debate with a stranger in a comment thread is like a wrestling match with no rules and no referee.

The people who want to recieve a comment along with the negative rating don't accept just that. They want to start a big old debate just because someone disagrees with them and finds their answer to be unhelpful. That's the problem. And, someone might just disagree with someone but not want to get into a huge thing with them about it (with people so insecure that they can't handle a red -).

I could care less about the down rate but I do like knowing why they down rated even if they don't wish to discuss it, which of course is their right. This is simply because it gives me a better understanding of things, they may have some insights about what I have said that I hadn't thought of.

Yup!!

I totally agree.

While it's nice to receive positive feedback, I have always learned more from those with whom I disagree. Additionally, I believe the insecurity lies with those who dole out negative feedback anonymously.

A positive rating with no feedback says I like your answer and think it is valuable all on its own. A negative rating with no feedback says nothing. Is the answer wrong? Is the answer correct but you don't like it? Does what the person said simply not line up with your way of thinking? There's a million and one reasons why someone would leave a negative response, but very few reasons why they'd leave a positive one.

One is positive, and the other is negative.

I agree. Not everyone who downrates is a troll just because they don't answer or comment.

I think DR's are silly so I don't do it. DR's done by the unknown person is cowardly. If you believe that your point is solid you should have the courage to let people know who you are..otherwise you are a sniper, hiding in the bushes, waiting to attack. I find it unworthy of a person of honor frankly. Anonymous uprates are a positive indication..it is like an "atta boy" or "atta girl". There is nothing cowardly about it, nothing harmful. I don't think they're analogous at all kdp. Just my opinion. :) ((hugs))

Yes, you are absolutely right. It always amuses me to see people complaining because downraters don't provide a 200-word essay on why they dared to downrate someone.

very true.

most down rate because they dont like your answer not because it was wrong or bad so what i dont down rate and some are not trolls and some are its the way of the ab world

My opionion on Trolls (and what actually makes a person one.) Is their inability to recognize a decent answer... even if it doesn't agree with theirs. People need to realize that opinions are just that and we shouldn't take differences as personal slights that are somehow designed to attack us and ours. That... to me, is a Troll. Someone being negative in the form of points, rewards and deductions for personal reasons. I never downrate anyone. The only times I have are either by accident or if some motherf*cker is being obviously offensive or in any way suggestive toward a child.

I've never given a neg rating since I have been here and never will. There is no point to it in my opinion. If you disagree with something, move on, if it is that bad, report it. Why spread negativity? Does it somehow make you a better person to make someone feel less of themselves? Who knows, it's just my opinion.

I personally don't like getting positive or negative without a comment. You don't want an arguement, or to have to write a 200 page essay on why you don't agree, fine, unsubscribe.

interesting point. people should be able to accept the good with the bad. however, i think it is rather discourteous to downrate someone who has posted a decent, thoughtful blog without an explanation. its akin to pissing on someone and making them wonder if its raining. i think most people downrate anonymously out of fear of verbal retaliation or out of apathy. its not personal. then there are those posts that are just horrid and theyre just begging for drs. no explanation necessary. sure, some people cry troll way more than necessary ~ people enjoy a good bitch session sometimes and trolls are easy targets after all. but i do believe that in some cases theyre justified in feeling persecuted ~ there are some persistent downraters out there who have nothing better to do than harass people by hitting the minus button over and over again in a sad little power trip. they should remember that though when they get all worked up crying "troll" "troll". trolls are small, pathetic, miserable creatures after all. ive gotten to the point where i rarely blink at anonymous negative ratings. i have no way of discerning what these people are thinking if they dont comment ~ i have no idea what they disagreed with, if i pissed them off, if theyre a troll, if theyre feeble and accidentally hit the minus instead of the plus sign, etc.etc. i usually laugh about the stuff that i get downrated on anonymously ~ its ponderous really. but i would prefer if they disagree with a thoughtfully written post of mine to please have the cohones to speak up ~ i dont bite unless youre an extremely aggressive, rude and utter f**ktard.

Agreed. All that bullshit about Anonymous users and the unofficial "rule" by AB's majority that they should get a username is so childish. Let people do what they want, and even if everyone was required to offer an explanation with a downrate, we'd find some means to bitch about it anyway. Hell that alone should stand for users with names, too. Nobody whines when anyone gives them a plus rating, but give a minus and they're all like, baaaah I kill myself naow.

You really don't see the more than obvious psychosocial differences with these two? Really?! [Oh - I see. You've got a 94% + ratings statistic. Nevermind!] ;-)

I agree 100%. It's actually normal for me to think less of someone when I see him or her call someone else a troll, at least as long as I remember that he or she has done that. Is that bad? I mean, it shows that the person isn't really the greatest at taking criticism, and that's not exactly a trait that I like in a person. Then again, I know I'm not important myself.

Not necessarily. By giving positive points I'm indicating I agree with the answer. If there's something particular about the answer, I may leave a comment. But a negative rating indicates the reader disagrees, and that requires more of an explanation. Why did they disagree? Did they find the answer inaccurate, does their belief or experience differ? What was the reason for the adverse reaction?

i dont, thats why i am here. lol

The only time i get annoyed is when it is an opinion based question and i get DR'd or when it is a religion based question and people end up in a DR shootout.

No I do not agree. The Downrating system was designed to let people know WHY a question or answer was not helpful. Since no points are actually deducted from a persons score the object of the exercise is totally futile if the person that downrates is too cowardly to tell you why they have given the rating. Nobody learns anything at all and therefore are left to feel annoyed about what they see as a malicious act.

I think every user should have a unique name. That is anonymous enough. And if SOME people are allowed to have more than one account without being banned, then either ALL should be allowed, or multiple accounts should be somehow linked for public viewing so we know whom we're talking to, if only what common 'entity'.

I personally do not like to tell people when I am uprating them because it feels like I am patting myself on the back. Often, I will leave a comment (without pointing out that I uprated), but sometimes not. An anonymous + generally means someone thought your answer was accurate or that they agreed with your opinion. With a DR, the reason is not clear-cut. If the answer is factually inaccurate, only people who already know that will know why the answer was DR'd. The answerer doesn't learn that nor does the questioner (although they will hopefully get a factually correct answer and be able to figure it out). If the answer is only a matter of opinion, they may disagree with the opinion or they may not like your grammar/spelling, or they may just not like you. And so on and so forth. Specifically giving a comment when you uprate an answer does not serve a specific purpose, unless you have something to add or you like the answer overall but disagree with one small part. Giving a comment when you DR DOES serve a specific purpose in letting the user (and others) know why their answer was wrong/not helpful.

agreed. but i tend not to DR at all. if its a half decent question it gets my point.... if not, it gets a big fat nothing!

I totally agree !

I don't really mind if they're annonymous, I just wish that they'd leave their opinions as to why they disagree and have marked you down.