No. I didn't know but I don't DR anymore anyway. Thank you for the info, though. +4.

Yeh thanks, i didnt know that either.

Good info. I don't DR trolls anymore. I think one of their thrills are to see how far into the negative they can go. Bragging rights to their dogs because their friends don't care.

YEE HAH! They make it so easy, don't they! Points all around!

Thanks for the info..I didn't know that !

I do not DR him or hardly anyone... just flag and rake in the points.

No, I didn't know that. Thank you.

I understand that is lowers your percent for number of positive ratings given... but how does it effect your overall rating? I mean how does that factor in?

I finally figured that out when , I saw you leave a comment the other night + 5

Bah, I didn't know that either... I'm not gonna do it anymore... =|

honestly, i wish everyone would just flag and ignore them all together. any attention these so-called "trolls" receive will only make them come back for more.

Jodie44 told me this a couple of months ago. But reminders are always good for the newbies. Thanks. Once in a while though.....some of the answers people give just get to me. Just recently someone answered that it was OK to beat a child with a curtain rod, because he spilled milk. If I could have slapped the guy, I would have. We have been discussing it in a comment thread for about a week now. I didn't even downrate until yesterday. The crap coming out of him just made my blood boil.

Yeah, I thought about that. Sucks really. =(

I knew that. I rarely downrate anymore.

1) Yes, and it is also shown on your public profile (the profile that everyone else can consult). You can read this information under "his / her points", under the "moderation" line, before the bottom line of the table. It is the percentage of positive rating points given from you. For instance, if you have only given positive rating points, you get: "100% + ratings given". If you have only given negative rating points, you get: "0% + ratings given". This is the only position that is affected on your point table, though. Most top ranking users have here usually more than 90%. 2) I give here some information about the reasons why some users are downrating questions or answers: http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/2650836 3) The "advantage" of downrating over flagging is that it is a "quick and dirty" way to express your disagreement or annoyance. You know that if you are not doing that often, it will just stay as it is and just annoy the poster, so you have reached your goal. As many submissions receive very few rating, this could bring a good answer at the bottom of the answer list or even in the overall negative ratings forever. On the other hand, a flagging must first be accepted by the moderator, so it could also have no effect at all. It could depends on who is moderating at the moment and how they feel... 3) Generally speaking, I think you are perfectly right. I often see submissions, especially questions, which have been downrated from more than one users and where the most appropriate reaction would actually have been a flagging.

I'm a newbie~I've been downrate several times ..its generally about gay rights...(others bible based bashing)--and there are usually positive comments below me supporting my thoughts--I thought the DR was only to be used if hte answer was "helpful" not if you disagreed-There is a difference is there not?