Should we have a thumbs up/down system?

[Engarde]

I've never seen the system work well, so I do not think we need it.

Plus when someone has an opinion outside the norm, it tends to get downvoted, and then because of that, it gets a stigma from such, and anyone viewing may do so with bias because of the feedback it has recieved...

 

[superbatranger]

Now, I know most of us wouldn't abuse it if it were to be implemented, but we all know there are people here who would.

 

[Luke5515]

Yes because I usually try to be constructive, when I respond, but sometimes you just can't. All you can do is agree, and that doesn't really warrant a reply.

No because this we create ranking and trolling, and people could attack others ideas without giving themselves a chance to properly explain or defend themselves.

Overall, I'll go with a "It's more trouble than it's worth"

 

[Daveman]

No thanks. We don't need it. There isn't anything it would add, it would be pointless.

*thumbs up*

But seriously, if you've got something to add of any worth then spend some freakin' time on it, I personally spend sometimes up to an hour writing one post if I'm in deep discussion mode. If you want appreciation for something funny then just be funnier because when I've actually been properly funny I've got quoted with people saying that. Plus any desire for that is really just vapid self-interest. If you want to agree with somebody then quote them and maybe expand on what they've said, like I dunno, contributing to discussion. If you disagree with somebody then a thumbs down is a TERRIBLE way to respond. I mean where's the discussion in just saying "you're wrong"?

I would HATE that system.

 

[KefkaCultist]

On an LRR video: "Thumbs up if Kathleen is hot!" +231 votes up

Those are the kinds of comments we would see on that system and I want none of it on these forums. It's bad enough seeing "fuck vevo", "Justin Beiber is gay", and "Thumbs up for X" comments getting thumbed up while really good comments are ignored on youtube/vevo.

 

[Chibz]

No. I'm pretty sure (some) people would thumbs-down me regardless of what I say.

That, and I would end up thumbing down everyone who OBVIOUSLY doesn't even try to use proper grammar or spelling.

 

[TerranReaper]

I would hate the Escapist if something like this was brought up.

I'm sorry to say this, but no place, not even the Escapist, which supposedly boasts its intelligence can escape abuse. A person can have an intelligent post on his opinion that goes against the opinions of the majority's and still be thumbed down simply because they disagree with that person, while someone that makes a lackluster post that falls in agreement with everyone else can receive thumbs up, simply because that person says something that people want to hear.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Or you could, you know, build a rep and get respect on the forums by regularly contributing quality posts and being respectful of others' opinions. We don't need a post grading system.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

No. Every forum I've ever seen use them has, inevitably, abused them.

And I honestly don't think the majority of these forums needs this. Sure, I get a bit bummed out when I don't get quoted, especially when the post is SOLID GOLD, but...

...

Fuck it. Lets get some thumbs in this *****.

I kinda feel like you do. My first reaction was 'dear lord, NO' but I think it would help the mods to guage whether the community is offended by a post. Can you really penalize someone for an 'offensive' post if it's got 24 likes and 1 dislike?

Mod decisions definitely wouldn't be made on such a thing, and it shouldn't be.

Example: I'm die-hard Conservative. When I make a comment, chances are there will be at least one person that will instead of making a sound and thought out argument against me, they will just be offensive and call me names and make unfounded accusations about me.

In such a system, considering how I have seen many people lean here on the Escapist there would be many people putting likes for the guy that was offensive to me. Chances are the likes will outweigh the dislikes. If the Mods went by that, then the offensive guy wouldn't see any penalty.

Such systems always turn out convoluted numbers, and if it was used as a basis for deciding who gets penalized and who doesn't, there would be a whole lot of people getting away with things that should be penalized and others that would get many dislikes for harmless things and wrongfully get penalized.

It would turn punishments into a popularity contest, if you are popular, you get lots of likes and don't get punished, not popular, there is a larger chance you'll get hit with a penalty.

This is the Escapist, not Youtube or Facebook. People should be judged on words not button clicks.

 

[RatRace123]

Wouldn't we start getting a lot of "Blah blah blah, THUMBS UP IF YOU AGREE" comments?

That would suck.

 

[Lucane]

Ever liked someones comment but not quite enough to quote it? or maybe you just couldn't be bothered to think of a reply ... just kinda "this good but brain no nothing to say" or "say whaaaaaa... pffft .. this guy is soooooo lucky that my finger be tired"

I've always craved a thumbs system on the escapist ... and have it so only gone gonzos or whatever can vote, just so that the trolls can't ... you know ... be trolls

does anyone think a thumbs system would be a good idea? i think it'd be cool to check my comments for quick easy feedback on what people in general thought of my comment.

also if you like the idea ... should the system let you know who gave you the thumbs up/down?

... almost 3am, bored and i thought i'd just get this out there

But then you'd have issues with people either only voting friends/enemies, not on ever comment read or possibly trolls voting high/low on each other.

Not to mention a possible general lack of voting in general or dependent upon the topics at hand.

 

[theSovietConnection]

I really don't think the Escapist has any need for that. Most have seen how many times a "What user do you remember most?" or similar thread ultimately gets locked and bans handed out because egos get out of control. I'd hate to think of how often that would occur even without those kind of threads popping up.

 

[LandoCristo]

Only if there was no long-term incentive to get lots of thumbs (like a Badge for 100 thumbs up), and it doesn't track thumbs by poster, but just by post, so it wouldn't turn into a complete ego fest.

But, even with a mostly decent group of people like there are here, there's still enough to make me cautious about an idea like that.

This idea gets a "Tentative No" from me.

 

[sylekage]

No. Every forum I've ever seen use them has, inevitably, abused them.

And I honestly don't think the majority of these forums needs this. Sure, I get a bit bummed out when I don't get quoted, especially when the post is SOLID GOLD, but...

...

Fuck it. Lets get some thumbs in this *****.

Just wanted to make you feel special
ANYWHO
I don't think it would be a good idea, I think he said it best. Everyone would abuse it to hell and back. Someone would think it funny to do a thumbs down, but then everyone gets in on it and the poster would be so put off that he/she might not want to post again. I mean if it happens it happens, I can't stop it. But I don't think it's a good idea.

EDIT: By the way, if that happened, we would also turn into the leaching grounds that is the YouTube comment section. Nobody wants that.

 

[Stammer]

I HATE thumbs-up/thumbs-down systems on forums. I'm a really sensitive person and I always end up hating any time I see my posts in the negatives.

But worst of all-- when people rate you down, they're not obliged to tell you why. You can never defend your position because you don't know who rated you down nor why they did it. Sometimes people will just go through the forums and rate down whole threads for seemingly no reason.

Honestly, I don't mind if rate-ups are added because it draws attention to really outstanding posts. But rate-downs just piss me off. And honestly if The Escapist had them I wouldn't even be on these forums anymore.

BOTTOM LINE: DO NOT GIVE US A PER-POST RATINGS SYSTEM

 

[Sonic Doctor]

yeah, straight up! putting your time and effort into a post then having it get no recognition SUCKS! ... i'd take at least a thumbs up if i don't get quoted

People have abused +'s and thumb systems in other forums but all that means is that the system for this one needs to be on point.

It's just a little broken guys ... it's not a bad system

Just because nobody quotes some long thing you may type out, doesn't mean it wasn't recognized or that your effort was worthless.

Do you really need a thumbs up, the internet proverbial pat on the back, to feel good about the things you do?

I make long rants and comments all the time on here. Not all of them get people quoting me, but it doesn't mean that those are worth any less than the ones I do get quoted. When I type something on here, I usually make it worthwhile to post. I enjoy typing out stuff like this. For one thing, it keeps my typing skills up, and my language skills don't disintegrate and become lost.

Just because something you say doesn't get recognized doesn't mean that it was pointless. It only becomes pointless if you deem it so.

 

[Bon_Clay]

I think it would be cool actually. As long as it had absolutely no other meaning to it, mods don't need any more reason to be banning and suspending people.

Wouldn't we start getting a lot of "Blah blah blah, THUMBS UP IF YOU AGREE" comments?

That would suck.

I think most people on actual forums rather than youtube would have the sense to just thumbs down every comment that said that and move on.

 

[Ham_authority95]

Ever liked someones comment but not quite enough to quote it? or maybe you just couldn't be bothered to think of a reply ... just kinda "this good but brain no nothing to say" or "say whaaaaaa... pffft .. this guy is soooooo lucky that my finger be tired"

I've always craved a thumbs system on the escapist ... and have it so only gone gonzos or whatever can vote, just so that the trolls can't ... you know ... be trolls

does anyone think a thumbs system would be a good idea? i think it'd be cool to check my comments for quick easy feedback on what people in general thought of my comment.

also if you like the idea ... should the system let you know who gave you the thumbs up/down?

... almost 3am, bored and i thought i'd just get this out there

A thumbs up and down system ruins the point of having a forum in the first place. If you like or dislike someones post, respond to it and tell them why.

Just liking or disliking something is really vague. If such a system was in place, I would have disliked your post, but you wouldn't have known why.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

yeah, straight up! putting your time and effort into a post then having it get no recognition SUCKS! ... i'd take at least a thumbs up if i don't get quoted

People have abused +'s and thumb systems in other forums but all that means is that the system for this one needs to be on point.

It's just a little broken guys ... it's not a bad system

Just because nobody quotes some long thing you may type out, doesn't mean it wasn't recognized or that your effort was worthless.

Do you really need a thumbs up, the internet proverbial pat on the back, to feel good about the things you do?

I make long rants and comments all the time on here. Not all of them get people quoting me, but it doesn't mean that those are worth any less than the ones I do get quoted. When I type something on here, I usually make it worthwhile to post. I enjoy typing out stuff like this. For one thing, it keeps my typing skills up, and my language skills don't disintegrate and become lost.

Just because something you say doesn't get recognized doesn't mean that it was pointless. It only becomes pointless if you deem it so.

Add the respect you gain. People may not quote you, but that doesn't mean they don't recognize a well thought post. Look at Owyn_Merrilin, people may not agree with him 100% of the time, but he has made a reputation as being a person who consistently makes long, insightful posts. People's opinions of you go up, and that is worth a lot more than the instant gratification a rating system gives.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

Just because nobody quotes some long thing you may type out, doesn't mean it wasn't recognized or that your effort was worthless.

Do you really need a thumbs up, the internet proverbial pat on the back, to feel good about the things you do?

I make long rants and comments all the time on here. Not all of them get people quoting me, but it doesn't mean that those are worth any less than the ones I do get quoted. When I type something on here, I usually make it worthwhile to post. I enjoy typing out stuff like this. For one thing, it keeps my typing skills up, and my language skills don't disintegrate and become lost.

Just because something you say doesn't get recognized doesn't mean that it was pointless. It only becomes pointless if you deem it so.

Add the respect you gain. People may not quote you, but that doesn't mean they don't recognize a well thought post. Look at Owyn_Merrilin, people may not agree with him 100% of the time, but he has made a reputation as being a person who consistently makes long, insightful posts. People's opinions of you go up, and that is worth a lot more than the instant gratification a rating system gives.

Definitely, I totally agree. One can also find surprising recognition not just from quotes. I'm not a person that actively seeks out groups, but I'm a member of two groups that I hadn't known about until I was invited, one because I am a Doctor Who fan, and the other I was invited because the owner of the group liked how I almost always put a ton of thought into my posts.

With my mentality(a loner) I wouldn't be a part of any groups if it wasn't for how I conduct myself in the forums.