I downrate QUESTIONS THAT TYPE IN ALL CAPS LIKE THIS, or those that have no proper punctuation or spelling. I also downrate "Jesus is YOUR holy savior" type questions just because that's pretty fucking pretentious. Other than that, I don't really downrate questions.

Outright offensive and stupid replies justify downrating in my opinion. Disagreement does not at all qualify. I would feel terrible is there was only agreement on everything in the world. I believe in diversity.

I don't downrate opinion questions and answers. I do downrate offensive, hateful, completely misleading or even dangerous ones. Yes, many say there's a flag for that (Spam/Offensive) for example, but some of them do really deserve the downrate in my opinion. When I first joined I remember the main criteria was "Helpful" (positive points) and "Not helpful" (negative), most of the cases I mention are far from Helpful.

There's no way to predict what will get DRed. I once got DRed for an answer I gave in the Death and Funerals category! Can you imagine? I was expressing sincere condolences, and I got a DR. It was pitiful. I often get DRed simply because I happen to be gay. There are trolls who sometimes follow me and will DR absolutely any answer I give to any question. I've stopped paying attention to them, and that makes me feel a lot better.

I don't agree at all with downrating based on opinion. If you're going to knock me for my opinion, why ask for it. Why be here at all? I downrate very rarely, and only when a question or answer is obviously offensive or hostile. Just keep answering, teasdale. There are plenty of people here who will respect your opinion even when they don't agree.

I never downrate. People have various reasons for downrating. Some people downrate because they disagree with an opinion, for instance. I don't find this nice. I had a look at your answers. As I looked, you had only 2 answers with overall negative ratings. Maybe because of this question, people gave you some points. But now, I don't find it a bad result. As long as your answer stay in overall positive, it is sad, but I can live with it. 52 of my 6812 answers have overall negative ratings. I can also live with it. The two answers of yours were in the categories "Marijuana" and "Homosexuality & Religion". Those are highly controversial categories, where many people could get offended from your opinion if they do not share it.

so true, I discovered that to some ABs irony is a vitamin supplement, they take things far too literaly, i.e.I gave a humorous answer regarding Hilary Clinton, and got - points, but at least other people made up for it , really silly how uptight some people are

I'm sure some downraters have just got out of bed on the wrong side!

No. I have never downrated anyone because I disagreed with them. If I disagree with someone's question or answer, I leave it alone.

Yes I have done in the past and will do again in the future. But that is just one of many reasons why I DR people.

I probably did a bit of this in the beginning, but as I used AB more and more, I noticed it was supposed to be only when an answer is not "helpful". For quite a while now, since shortly after I began in earnest, earlier this year, in fact, I haven't downrated anyone. If I agree with others' answers, I will UPRATE them, and leave those I disagree with alone, effectively downrating them. However, if it's my own question, I will uprate them, and ask about their answer, thanking them for taking the time to answer. ;-)

No i think everyone is entitled to there own opinion and it wouldnt be fair to DR someone who doesnt agree with you:-)

no, not just because i disagree. There have been a couple of occassions I have taken points, but it was because the person was just being an obnoxious jerk. Example, someone asked why women play hard to get. someone answered "because all women are bitches"

Not if I disagree. I do if they are a jerk and cuss others. Everyone has their opinions but when their answers hurt someone I will downrate them.

I don't downrate anyone for any reason..never have, never will. I think it is silly to do so. Further, I give maximum points for questions and answers to all. That way I am totally impartial..I do not "reward" friends..nor do I "reward" those with whom I agree. My giving points will never indicate my position on anything..it is only in my comments that I let you know what I think. Sometimes I simply say "Thank you for your answer and Happy whatever day it is". Those are the times when I don't wish to engage in dialog with that particular person so I don't.

I downrate if the person is being rude and obnoxious. If I dont agree with them, I tell them, and we have a discussion about it.

No, I only downrate questions or answers that are nonsense / not answering the question / or other similar stuff. To DR them because you disagree is wrong - isn't that part of what makes AB so great, the fact that people do have different opinions? Unless you're so stuck in your ways that you will never change your mind, you may just learn something that gives you a whole new perspective on life.

No, I dr for people who use foul and abusive language

No but as a matter of principle to me, i will not hesitate to down rate any offensive, cruel, unkind, submissions i come across.

I only down rate absurd answers, I will give + points for a well thought out answer even if I don't agree

Sometimes I will if the person is factually innacurate.

No. I am do not agree with the downrating of opion answers. Save for when they are being offensive. Ex: I don't think anyone should get an abortion. it is KILLING BABIES, and anyone who is going to do that should and will BURN IN HELL!! God won't save you if you kill your own flesh and blood. If you didn't want to get pregnant, you shouldn't have been a WHORE and and spread your legs for anyone walking down the street!! *This would have gotten a full -6 from me, though it does answer where the person stands on abortion* -OR- Abortion should always be legal, and anyone of any age should be able to get one without perental consent.Those pro-lifers bomb abortions clinics and just prove the point that if you hate something - like a baby growing in you - you can just KILL IT! If the parents of those pro-lifers had gotten their babies brains sucked out seconds before birth we wouldn't even be having this debate!! Abortion is the best birth control because you can do whatever you want, and just go to the clinic to have it taken care of! *This would have gotten a full -6 from me, though it does answer where the person stands on abortion*

The only time I ever downrate a question or an answer is when it it obvious spam or an obvios racial slur. However I have had people downrate me apparently just because they did not like what I said.

no the only time I DR is when someone is just being a downright jerk. Even if I disagree with someones answer I appreciate them ansering and if I dont like the answer I just dont give points. I used to never DR but I got kinda tired of some people DR'ing me just because I believe differently than them. So I reserve a few - points for the occasional jerk. But I think we ALL know there are people here that do just that thing, DR because they disagree.

I never give negatives, on occasion I have hit the wrong button by mistake.

"Nothing yet!"

I posted a question along these lines today. I think DRing is LAME and don't do it. If I really don't like what someone has to say, I ignore it and move on. Even if I don't agree with someone, I'll give them a UR if they answer honestly and intelligently.

I no longer give negative ratings. If I don’t like something, or find it too offensive to write a sensible reply, I just move on.

A relatively apalling question or answer that is so far beyond the pale as to be unconscionable and probably illegal, but not quite so offensive as to be flagged. We're talking less than 1%.

Rude insulting words and it depends on how bad they are. Sometimes I just flag rather then downrate.

Insults hurled to religion, disrespect of any AB member or teasing any gender!

Don't believe in them; I'm still 100% +. Altho' I've come close a few times early on when confronted with extraordinary stupidity and/or malevolence right there on my monitor! But afterall, even hopeless, helpless, hapless, idiotic, narrow-minded nebbishes are 'entitled' to their errors, misjudgements and delusions, no?! ;-)

People offering bad advice or telling lies, even if they do not realize they are doing so.

Something mean. Maybe. Not always.

Asking people passwords.

Nonsensical questions or questions that are phrased in such a way that they cannot be properly replied to will be downgraded by me. I will not downgrade an answer just because I disagree with an answer personally or politically but if someone is deliberately misleading or uses false information I will point it out. I have downgraded answers that I felt were dangerously off base like some that have badly address woman's health issues.

People asking us to do their homework. People who answer serious questions with stupid answers for the sake of answering. People asking for points +4

Nothing. I've got a relatively thick skin about things about which I care, and am empathetic and compassionate most of the time, so can understand why anyone might have different views on things. I don't always try to convince them otherwise, but do try to make my points. Questions: If I've asked them, and they answer, I will usually give them points for doing so. Answers: Everyone is entitled to their opinions and thoughts. Instead of DRing them, I may go through and UR everyone else. I simply don't DR. I've found that almost any question or answer I may wish to DR is flaggable. So, that's what I do. ;-)

Any stupidity in answer to any serious, harmless question. Anything that looks like intentional misinformation. Any disrespectful answers to questions that are distress calls of some sort.

Homework Nonsense spam slavering vitriol in place of reason questions being asked in which the asker already has an answer s/he wants and is stroking his/her ego by asking.

the only thing i ever downrated was a question asking how to do something that was blatently illegal.

People answering random junk just to get points.

I downrate if the answer does not answer the question in any way. For instance if someone answered this question with, "What a stupid question." I would downrate it because it didn't answer the question. If they said, "I downrate stupid questions like this" I probably wouldn't downrate them because they did actually answer the question. I don't think I've downrated a question. I don't bother to open ones that seem pointless to me.

I never waste my time in Downrating any questions or answers. If they are truly awful I will leave a comment and move on . If they are racialist or hateful enough I will flag. Which I have not had to do so far.

I don't. I give points or ignore it. Never have flagged one. Am I not participating well by taking this approach?