Would you rate a hub thumbs down because you didn't agree?

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  1. Dorsi profile image81
    Dorsiposted 16 years ago

    I was just wondering, if you read a well written hub but it was something controversial that had a different opinion than you had, would you rate it thumbs down because of that or would you rate it on the hub itself ( written well, lots of information, good layout?)
    Just wondering because I write sometimes controversial issues and wonder about peoples thoughts on rating controversial subjects.
    I have read others hubs that had differing opinions but rate the hub based on the quality of the writing itself, but that's just me.
    Just wondering what others opinions are on this subject of thumbs down and thumbs up and what do you base your ratings on?

    1. Princessa profile image75
      Princessaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      No, I wouldn't rate down because I don't agree.  Everybody has the right to their own opinions as long as they are not insulting.

    2. Ardie profile image81
      Ardieposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I would never rate a hub with a thumbs down just because I didnt agree with its content.  Even if it went totally against my thoughts, I would rate it a thumbs up if it had good supporting information, was well written and didnt attack anyone outright.  And if it did attack someone outright, I just wouldnt rate the page at all.  My theory is that negative attention is just as damaging as bad attention  smile

  2. EYEAM4ANARCHY profile image59
    EYEAM4ANARCHYposted 16 years ago

    If it's well written I give it a thumbs up. In fact, I've signed up as the fan of people I disagree with completely, because I felt they would be able to provide  a good debate.

  3. Dame Scribe profile image56
    Dame Scribeposted 16 years ago

    I would only give a thumbs down if it was something really bad and not good for anybody. I stick to topics that are of interest and usually always just hit a thumbs up rather than leave a comment. lol smile

  4. Lissie profile image77
    Lissieposted 16 years ago

    I only thumbs down stuff which I know to be factually incorrect especially if it contains self-serving links

  5. LondonGirl profile image79
    LondonGirlposted 16 years ago

    It would depend.

    If it's a legitimate view that I happen to disagree with, I'd never mark it down. If it were a hub, say, about all women being stupid and they must never do anything but obey, I might do.

  6. Elena. profile image85
    Elena.posted 16 years ago

    Hi Dorsi, interesting question smile

    I base the rating on the quality of the content, not on whether I agree with it.  I would give a Down to something that's entirely fictional but presented to pass as fact, for example.  Also content such as the one described by LondonGirl would probably get a down from me.  Diverse opinions wouldn't, but toxic and/or disrespectful opinions might.

  7. Anna Marie Bowman profile image71
    Anna Marie Bowmanposted 16 years ago

    I tend to only give a thumbs down for poor quality hubs.  A good suggestion when you come across those hubs, offer the author some advice for improving the hub.  If they are obvious spam, I flag it, of course.

  8. Sufidreamer profile image80
    Sufidreamerposted 16 years ago

    Agreed,

    It is always dependent upon how well written the hub is. I have no problem with different opinions. For example, there is one Hubber whose opinions I completely disagree with, but he puts forward intelligent and well thought out arguments. More importantly, he does not censor comments expressing different opinions. I am more than happy to be his fan.

    The only hubs that I 'thumbs down' are those giving potentially dangerous advice.

  9. Teresa McGurk profile image61
    Teresa McGurkposted 16 years ago

    What a great question.  As I understand it, the thumbs down icon is for pages of poor quality, and even then, if the content is true, appealing, and useful, quality would not be as much of an issue.

  10. trish1048 profile image66
    trish1048posted 15 years ago

    I agree with Teresa.  Quality isn't always an issue.  Some hubs definitely need tweaking, or the use of spellcheck, however, I won't thumb it down if it gets the point across.  If a hub truly makes no sense, or if a hub is mean-spirited and offensive, those get a thumbs down from me
    Hubs that inform, spread humor, make one think or spark a healthy debate get thumbs up..

  11. bgpappa profile image79
    bgpappaposted 15 years ago

    I would not thumbs down a hub I disagreed with.  In fact, if I felt compelled to leave a comment, I would most likely give a thumbs up as it did its job and started a conversation.  However, I have noticed that my hubs that give a point of view have consistently been lower.  Maybe they suck, or maybe people flag them.  I just know I appreciate a different point of view and respectful debate.

  12. Mighty Mom profile image73
    Mighty Momposted 15 years ago

    For me, "thumbs down" is akin to honking my car's horn. I only do it when I feel it's the only way to alert to danger or rudeness. I have quite often had to remind myself that the First Amendment covers everyone, not just those who see the world the way I do.
    Even controversial topics don't necessarily get flagged. I would flag if the hub is extremely poorly written or so slanted and offensive as to violate the terms of HP.

  13. profile image0
    Leta Sposted 15 years ago

    Yeah, MM, what about he 'Ho' guy or bean guy or whatever that was?

    1. Ralph Deeds profile image70
      Ralph Deedsposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I usually base my thumb ratings on the overall quality of the hub, not whether it interests me or whether I disagree. However, I give  thumbs down to certain kinds of opinion pieces with which I disagree, e.g., those that are racist or homophobic, however well written. I can tolerate well written and researched political positions that differ from mine, but not some of the looney tunes conspiracy crapola all to common on HubPages-- Obama is not eligible for the presidency, the end of the world is coming based on astrology or the Bible, etc. Also, I give thumbs downs to hubs offering bad investment advice--e.g. currency trading, get rich quick schemes, etc.

      1. profile image0
        Leta Sposted 15 years agoin reply to this

        How about prose that is openly violent and hostile?  ...and it was.

        1. Ralph Deeds profile image70
          Ralph Deedsposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          I hope you're not referring to anything I wrote. Sometimes I'm impatient and irascible, but not usually violent or hostile. Vigorous yes, hostile, not usually.

          1. profile image0
            Leta Sposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            No!  Ralph!  OMG.  No--no worries.  There was this guy last night just spewing hate and violence towards women--"Ho" everything in his hub and abusive to every female who posted in his comment area.  I was just basically watching the fireworks--but this is an instance (and probably the one of the few instances) where I would flag a hub to be removed.

            I don't thumb anything up or down--I leave a comment if I like or am interested in whatever has been written.  I'm not going to judge if I agree with someone or not, whether the material is poorly written, or 'nonfactual' (unless its dangerous).  I feel like the free market for ideas can sort that out.

            1. ajcor profile image60
              ajcorposted 15 years agoin reply to this

              I agree with Lita - I would prefer to leave a comment positive or negative; normally positve - negative only if I think it is hostile, it intentionally and actively is driscriminatory  and if promotes garbage to the unsuspecting.....

      2. Sufidreamer profile image80
        Sufidreamerposted 15 years agoin reply to this

        I am the same with potentially dangerous 'therapies' with misleading information.

        1. BDazzler profile image81
          BDazzlerposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Since Sufi is future me, I give thumbs down all all his hubs to keep myself humble.  I'm very proud of my humility actually!

          Seriously, though, I don't have a real criteria for a thumb down,  ... if it's dangerous etc. I flag it.   I thumb down based on my own private thoughts when I read it.  Typically I'll comment rather than thumb down, though.

  14. lbtrader profile image59
    lbtraderposted 15 years ago

    Hubs are information. Politics and Religions are the most difficult subjects to write about in a truly objective way since most of it is subjectively driven. So if a person is not open minded enough to used some analytical skills when reading a hub then maybe they should take their dogma elsewhere.

    Like others who have commented, i agree that rating down might apply to totally self serving hubs, or extremely rude hubs, or to hubs where the info is so wrong that the hubber could very well be sued for writing such bs.

    I especially like the suggestion about censorship of opinions in comments. That's the best reason for rating down IMO.

  15. Whitney05 profile image81
    Whitney05posted 15 years ago

    I don't care what the message says as long as it is well written and laid out, I won't thumb-down it. If it's poorly written, lack of info, poorly laid out, etc., then I'll thumb-down it.

  16. kerryg profile image82
    kerrygposted 15 years ago

    I usually only thumb down hubs if they're poorly written or factually incorrect, but I sometimes make an exception for opinions I consider idiotic and irresponsible. For example, hubs containing racist or borderline racist comments.

    If a hub is well written and factually correct, I'll often give a thumbs up even if I disagree strongly with the conclusion.

  17. Amanda Severn profile image90
    Amanda Severnposted 15 years ago

    I only thumbs-down overly promotional hubs which are basically advertisements in all but name, or really annoyingly offensive hubs which also compound their dodgy content with insulting responses to comments. Poor quality English may be difficult to wade through, but so long as the content is sound, I would never thumb it down.

  18. SunyB profile image61
    SunyBposted 15 years ago

    I only give thumbs down when the quality stinks or if I think the hubpage is just wrong. I'd usually post a comment too.

 
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