what is the theory behind a down vote?

Question

We can vote something down, and my profile keeps track of any down votes I make, so there must be a theory why we should down vote, and why tracking same matters?

Comments

Good question. Sometimes a correction or constructive suggestion might be needed.

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A vote, either up or down is away of augmenting your "score" on G2G for those that feel 'score' is important.  Those that don''t may add  comments without encurring score.

Answer 1

Hello Foster,

See previous thread for discussion about the up & down votes at the following URL

http://www.wikitree.com/g2g/110656/up-%26-down-votes

All the best

Billy

Comments

Thank you, Billy.  Informative.

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As stated below: My take on this is that the reason should be given on a down-vote (and perhaps an up-vote as well). What is appropriate to one person would not be appropriate to another. Any feedback is better than no feedback; at least one knows what one can improve on (wether it is attitude, tone, appropriatness of the questioning / posting etc,). I'm afraid that there might be quite some disingenuous voting going on, and my intention from now on will be to post a comment with every down-vote to explain why I gave out that down-vote so the reason can be clear for everyone to see.

Answer 2

I have only used down votes for inappropriate questions.  I don't know if that's the purpose - or perhaps there are other purposes that I have not thought of.

There was one that was extremely angry and rude by a brand new member who demanded exclusive "ownership" of "her" profiles created from "her" gedcom.  I used a down vote to indicate that I thought this member could stand some attitude adjustment.  It's one thing to seek information about how WikiTree works, but it's another to criticize it and demand that it be changed to suit her pleasure, while being rude to the people trying to explain it to her.

There was another that was essentially an advertisement.  A person with a business of finding missing heirs to collect their inheritances was seeking volunteers to help find these people.  I flagged that, in addition to giving it a down vote, and it was promplty removed - apparently whoever gets notified of flags agreed that it did not belong here.

Frank, I agree that this is a VERY good question - there should probably be something someplace here that discusses the when and why of down voting.

Thank you so much for asking, Foster!

Comments

That's how I use downvoting, too. I don't downvote things just because I disagree with them (unless votes are explicitly being used to vote on something); I downvote when something is counter to WikiTree's mission/community/atmosphere.

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My take on this is that the reason should be given on a down-vote (and perhaps an up-vote as well). What is appropriate to one person would not be appropriate to another. Any feedback is better than no feedback; at least one knows what one can improve on (wether it is attitude, tone, appropriatness of the questioning / posting etc,). I'm afraid that there might be quite some disingenuous voting going on, and my intention from now on will be to post a comment with every down-vote to explain why I gave out that down-vote so the reason can be clear for everyone to see.