That would be a very good idea. Although I do not mind very much if I get downrated but thee seem to be a few people who enjoy downrating others only if they hav ea different opinion to a certain topic. I often do not agree with some people but I would never downrate them just because they an opinion which I don't like.

That would be great, but will never happen here, you can go look at their ratings to see who DR's alot.

I'd be OK with it. And I do average about 5% downrates.

That would be great!! But you know, a coward who DRs would never agree to this, so it makes the point moot for them. Only those who post reasons for their DRs wouldn't mind this, but then, if they leave a comment, they aren't really cowards. I think that anyone who trolls below a certain percentage, say.....90%, should be PB'd off Answerbag. +5

If I down rate someone it if for a really good reason and I want to tell them about it. Those cowards that DR for fun or for ideological reasons are beneath contempt. We are already anonymous with screen names. How much of a coward do you have to be to hide even that? They don't have to attach their names, a home address will do.

I always own up to a downrate. I do DR in some gray area situations, but I own up to it. (like I acknowledged a -5 question DR to a trophy winner who made a bundle of points with gimme fill-in-the-blank questions - that was an equity issue, not personal against the bagger, and I only DR'd the third one I responded to)

Absolutely NOT. The stated purpose, and original intent, of up OR downrating on AB was to indicate the relative "helpfulness" of any given question or answer by the people who read them. And some people DO downrate honestly...they really feel that the question or answers they DR aren't helpful at all. You and I both can look through AB and find PLENTY of examples of questions and answers that are anything BUT helpful. These people do NOT deserve to be "named and shamed" for doing what they honestly believe is correct, within the guidelines of AB. Once upon a time, as the rating system evolved, AB DID make it visible as to who UR'd or DR'd on a person's feedback page. This is no longer done. As irritating as we find trolls to be when they DR people anonnymously, it's not NEARLY so disruptive as it got to be in the vindictive battles people had on others when they KNEW who uprated and who downrated them. Things got VERY heated indeed! Human nature being what it is, there are people out there who find it entertaining to cause such hate and discontent by malisciously downrating people, and no matter what AB does, you cannot stop them. Here's a scenario for you as an example: Suppose that AB changes their site again with respect to UR's and DR's and makes it known who posts a rating. Nothing prevents people who WANT to cause problems from creating NEW accounts under other names (sock puppet accounts) and continuing to do it anyway. Nobody knows who they are and their original account is protected from any reprisals. Trolls are indeed irritating. But it comes with the territory here. Many people deal with them in different ways. Some simply turn off their rating notification, so they never know when anything is uprated OR downrated...only if a response is posted. Some (like me) have fun at the expense of the trolls by posting video responses at their expense and the entertainment of others. Still others, when they see trolling occuring, will "posi-troll" in response: give out uprates automatically to counter the troll and show the victims some support. Some keep an eye out for patterns and send screen shots to AB staff to take care of. Sometimes it gets a troll PB's or nuked. In the end, trolls don't do anything except trash their own statistics on their personal scoreboards. They don't affect your total points, they don't affect your levels, and have only a minor effect on any of your other statistics. :):):) (But I gotta admit...couldn't it be COOL if you could find out who they REALLY are and where they live so you could make a personal visit?)

I only DR when it is abusive to others & I let them know it is me in a strong way but Chief gave you the best answer to this. I do however agree with you as well sjane. +5 Have a great day. :) Best, Jonathan

I've signed up only a few days ago, but I've already stumbled upon "me-up-you-down rating-games", plus had a look at the respective members' sites and "conversations". I think these members would find nothing more "fun" and "challenging" than if somebody were to start a war against them. To me, it is not important if my rating goes up or down, but it does make me happy when I get positive feedback. As a consequence of all of the above, I've started to award "rubber points", which means that I indicate the number of points I'd like to give in the answer/comment box, like this: +100, Chief :)

People who get themselves hot and bothered about downrates would almost all chase after the downrater and downrate some of that person's contributions, leading to tit for tat downrate wars. You do know that downrates aren't subtracted from your total score, and just affect the standing of a particular answer among others, don't you? I'm dead against your idea because there is already far too much moaning about downrates.

Like the Chief said Absolutly NOT, plus I personally think it would just lead to "FLAME WARS" I downrate when I feel it is appropriate it's the points not the person so don't take ANY POINTS or lack there of personal it just leads to "FLAME WARS" and worse ... ~Nemo~