Would you be in favor of new thumbs up/down protocol?

Question

I am sure in some sections the thumbs up/down don't get doled out like they do here in Newborn/Baby section, but I feel something should change.

Would you like it if your avatar showed up next to your thumbs up/down?

I try not to give thumbs down, especially for opinions/experienced based answers. I only use it when I think some one may do harm to themselves or others by following someones advice.

I also think it would be nice if it COST you points to answer. I think it would cut down on the asinine comments. Like Chris Rock says, if you make bullets cost $500 each, people would be more selective.

Now, thumbs up, I like

Answer 1

I fully agree with the concept.  The entry level does not have the opportunity to use thumbs up/down,unfortunately for the newbies the "COST" penalizes me also.

Answer 2

Thats a hard question, I put thumbs down on people who give rude answers, and on ones that really dont know what they are talking about lol, some people do based on just hear say when they answer questions, and when they dont have the facts. Like someone said it is ok to have a baby sleep on their stomach because thats what their mom did with them. That is wrong, I wouldnt want people knowing it was me, but I wish we could give a reason for our thumbs down so people wont think we are mean.

But then again, some people are rude and will put a thumbs down to everyone for the heck of it.  

Answer 3

(Ellie, you crack me up!)

I would LOVE to see that feature added!!  I can't stand when people give thumbs down to people who answer my questions.  Heck, I can't stand the thumb's down feature period.  I only use it when someone is being really mean or just plain ignorant.  

If you don't like it... stay AWAY from the american football section.  You think it's bad here?  LOL!  

  

Answer 4

LOL..I like the way you think! And, I'm going to star you for this one! LOL

*edit* Thumbs-down feature obviously invoked on me! LOL!

Answer 5

It would be fantastic if people's avatars were shown with thumbs down.  There are so many people on this site that give thumbs down just to be annoying....many whom probably don't even read the questions, just seem to have a vendetta against certain people!!!

I give a lot of thumbs up, so I wouldn't be ashamed of anyone seeing that!

Answer 6

Yes but if you make it cost points to answer you would never get people telling you to just use a stroller when you ask about baby wearing, just use formula when you ask about nursing, or just use disposables when you ask about the best cloth dipe. What would I do without all that sound advice?? I'm not smart enough to think of those things on my own!!

In all seriousness, I'm loving the idea of your avatar going next to a thumbs up/down. I usually want to scream at the person I give a thumbs down to..."it was me! It was me!! Your answer was just that bad."

Edit: Points don't mean anything?? I hoping to trade them in for a new car. Why am I wasting my time on here...

Answer 7

I wouldn't mind if my avatar was next the 'thumbs down' section. I don't give thumbs down often, but I think it's important that we have the option to do so. Often people leave answers that are inappropriate, hurtful, or just plain wrong. Like you said, sometimes people give advice that could be very medically harmful. Last week a girl a girl wrote that it hurt very, very badly to pee and she'd been urinating blood for several times and many, many people told her to drink cranberry juice and not worry about it. That could have gotten her killed!

Also, I don't think it should cost to answer, but I think that maybe if your answer gets a lot of thumbs down or reported you could lose points? That might encourage people to stop leaving inappropriate answers.

EDIT: LOL, thanks for the warning. My answer says the same thing as half the other people and I got thumbs down....some things go in one ear and out the other on some people :)

Answer 8

I love Ellie, I swear.  :)

And Yes, I think your idea is great.  lol

Answer 9

I don't take them seriously at all.  For example, there was a question here that read, "Why are parents today so terrified of disciplining their children?"  I received a thumbs-down (CORRECTION:  just looked again, and now it's TWO thumbs downs!  ha ha!)  for my reaction that stated I felt there were many more effective methods of disclipining a child (and my children are disciplined) than "beating" them, as another poster had mentioned.  Yet, the person who wrote, "Because they are punks and sissies they let their kids pimp them they need a good leather belt" actually received a thumbs-up.  ?  :)  

So, really, I just completely disregard them.  I like the comment someone else made here who mentioned all the ridiculous various reasons people may have for giving the poor rating, like a bad day, etc.  If you know you give an honest and thoughtful answer, don't worry about how some moron decides to rate you.  Chances are, the person who asked the question appreciates your input, and that's all that really matters.

PS- This question itself is a prime example!  Look at all the thumbs-downs about giving a thumbs down!  :)  How could someone give the above poster a thumbs down for saying she wishes there was an option to leave a comment for those she leaves a thumbs-down for?  Oh my gosh... now I'm sucked in.  lol  Kathy- your edit is HILARIOUS.

Answer 10

I really don't see the point at all.  Thumbs don't affect anyone and if they do, then a new hobby is needed.

Answer 11

I have really never seen thumbs up or thumbs down on me....I go  to next question and basically don't see that other question again until I get an email stating I won best answer ot was reported for telling the truth and they get mad and report it as abuse...I think for each question you answer you should get 3-5 points each instead of 2

Answer 12

Holy c**p.

If it cost you points to answer then it'll take forever to get people to level 2 to do hands up/hands down in the first place?  

Answer 13

Yea, but if it costed you points to answer, how in the world would you build up points? If it's from Best Answers alone, you'll always be dropping in points and once your at 0, bye bye. (Unless you resort to going back to old answers and voting for yours as the B.A.)

Answer 14

Better question . . . Why are some people so freaking sensitive if they get a thumbs down?!  I mean honestly, some people act like they are going to have a heart attack.  They *edit* then flip out.  

Who knows why some people give thumbs down . . . maybe they don't like the answer, maybe they don't like the answerer, maybe they don't agree, maybe they don't like the avatar, maybe they're in a bad mood . . . you never know.  It's just a fun feature . . . that can give or break the validity of an answer if its extreme.  I certainly wouldn't take an answer seriously if it had 20+ thumbs down, lol!

BTW, hot topics ALWAYS have many thumbs up/down.  Go into Religion and Spirituality and ask why atheists don't believe in God . . . ask whats better, cats or dogs in the pet section . . . etc.

I honestly can't comprehend why some people take it so personally.  I have given my share of responses that got many thumbs down, and I found it actually amusing.

***EDIT***  

OMG . . . I can't believe someone just gave me a thumbs down!  How dare you!  I will hunt you down!!  I will tatoo a thumbs down on your forehead!

Answer 15

I do think that some people go overboard with the thumbs down, so I'm with you on that. Could you be more specific about the answering taking points away?  I don't quite understand what you mean, how would we get points?

Answer 16

what are thumbs up and down?

Answer 17

i think it's a great idea!  

Answer 18

better yet, i wish we could leave a comment in response to someones answer.  like for instancel,  if someones answer is questionable, i could click and add in a comment directly under their answer.  

Answer 19

I would be fine if my avatar showed up next to a thumbs up or down that I've given (sort of the the same as if you hover over the star and your avatar shows up).  I think it's funny that some people are saying, "Geez, then it would take forever to get to Level 14/collect points!"  What do all these points mean anyhow?  It's not like you can cash them in and go grocery shopping with them..."Um, yes, I'll be paying with my Yahoo! Answers points today, I've been saving them up for quite some time!"  People have different opinions on how to do everything...it's always been that way and it always will!  C'est la vie!

Answer 20

Thumbs down is just as bad in ALL categories, I'm afraid. Not just here. I don't give thumbs down to people... I choose to ignore the idiotic answers. They're not worth my time. But, it would be nice to see who the heck gives my answerers thumbs down when I ask a question. Or to see which thumbs down fairies are following me around. Hmmm... interesting.

Answer 21

I swear some people are out there cruising each question and just solely giving out thumbs down for no good logical reason! I agree that my avatar should show up next to my thumbs down because, well, in laymen terms, if i can dish it, I can take it. I asked a question today and not one person received thumbs down, not from me or anybody else....it was a nice change of pace for once!! It actually addressed the whole thumbs down issue also. I agree with you 100%.  Go and see the question where noone got thumbs down....*gasp* it's a miracle!!! Lol.

Answer 22

Oh, it's not only in this section! Seems to be Answers-wide!

I think it would be good to do away with the thumbs altogether.

I've been on here long enough to remember when they flirted with the questions having thumbs up/down. Yikes!