"Um...im still not sure whats the point of thumbs up or thumbs down to start with?

Are we all emperors at a Gladiator fight in a Roman Colosseum?"


ROFL That just hit my funny bone this morning freejay.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze

How about, if the author thumbs up a comment, the points increase by some value higher than 1?

How about going back to gold, silver & bronze? That way nobody could give your comment a thumbs down just because they don't like you.

Yeah I have to agree with the old bronze, silver, gold method... certain backward types aren't using this new system properly... (having been given a thumbs down for a thumbs up comment!) So in short... yes please... bring back the old method... author only!... B.S.G.

It doesn't matter whether we're talking about gold/silver/bronze medals, or thumbs up or down. The basic issue between these two systems was that with the medals, only the author rewarded comments. With the thumbs, others can as well. plus, the thumbs has the added issue of "down," or subtracting points.

On the one hand, I really don't care that much as all it does is impact "reputation" points, and they aren't used for anything. I think if you eliminated points (for reputation) altogether it really wouldn't have that much impact as people with very good, or very bad reputations would be known anyway - by their reputations. Personally, if we have something that impacts reputation points at all, I think I'm partial to the old way of only having the author be able to assign it (whether it's thumbs or medals, or smiley faces or whatever). I think this for the following reasons:

First, only the author knows for sure if the comment was useful to them or not. I think it's silly for people to give points for things like "nice shot," or "good thinking," and I don't usually do that. But, if someone gives me a suggestion where I pause and think, "gee, I never thought of that. I'll have to give it a try," then I wouldn't hesitate to reward them with some positive feedback (give them a point, or medal, or whatever). Even if someone makes a suggestion and I try it and don't like it, it still broadened my horizons by making me try something I hadn't before.

Secondly, too many people give points based on (their perception of) personality, and not on the entry itself. "Oh, I like that person. They're really nice (even though I've never met them in real life and don't know they actually get squirrels drunk so they can abuse them), so I'll give them a point. Or, if the entry is by someone they don't "like," and a comment is made saying they don't like it, they'll reward them with a point too.

Thirdly, whatever system is used, I think points should only move in a cumulative, positive direction. Whether it's only the author giving them (like the medals method), or anyone giving them (like the thumbs method), the negative points aspect isn't working (IMHO). People subtract points because they don't like the person, for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with the entry. As described above, I won't hesitate to give points for valuable feedback. But if they suggest something I don't find useful, I'm not going to subtract points - I just won't do anything. Again, people use the "thumbs down" for personal vendettas. "I don't like you, so I'll give you a thumbs down no matter what you say. Your comment, regardless of content, simply gives me the opportunity to strike out at you." I made a comment recently where I simply said "Creative interpretation of the theme." That's 100% of what it said. I just liked how the author thought outside the box, it wasn't meant to be any earth shattering revelation. but, the next thing I know, a little while later it was at -2 points. Like I said, I don't paticularly care so I didn't cry myself to sleep that night. But I think it serves as a good illustration of what I'm talking about. What, under the sun, could have warranted an innocent comment like that to be worth a negative two points? None of the other, equally innocuous comments had negative points. I know this happens to others as well. I've actually had people go into my portfolio after interacting on running entries and leave negative comments on contests that were weeks old. WHY? I don't know. It just doesn't make much sense to me.

So, if we are to have any mechanism for leaving points for those who leave us feedback, I prefer that only the author give it on their own entry, and that it only moves in a positive direction. If you don't like their comments, don't do anything. if you like their comment, give them a point (or whatever).

I think thats what we are all getting at...

But from now on:

I'm going to stop commenting until a system where only the author can mark its usefullness as once again some inept frog spawn thumbed down a perfectly constructive criticism...

I'm going to mark down all the "nice" - "good job" - "beautiful" comments based on how do they represent a good indication of reputation based on advice??...

and

lastly... if you are an author that doesn't like criticism and are the one thumbs downing my comments... I suggest you either give your clicker finger a break, or dis-allow comments full stop!... Oh also... if you thumbs down me... atleast be man enough to give your name and reason so I can check the work on your profile... thanks!

Thumb up for JamesD and Kyricom , I can't tolerate some coward ones just use the thumb down for personal attack, they don't dare to show who they are, I don't want to see their names for the counter attack, just want to take a look at their portfolio to know how good they are to do something like that.

langstrum wrote:Thumb up for JamesD and Kyricom , I can't tolerate some coward ones just use the thumb down for personal attack, they don't dare to show who they are, I don't want to see their names for the counter attack, just want to take a look at their portfolio to know how good they are to do something like that.

Unfortunately, if there is a system capable of abuse, cowardly cretins will abuse it. The Gold/Silver/Bronze system wasn't capable of abuse.

Gold, Silver, Bronze.... authors discretion only