When do you use the "Thumbs Down" button?
I won't use the "Thumbs Down" because I'm not sure I understand under what circumstances it should be applied. If we don't enjoy a hub are we supposed to vote it down? If the hub violates HP in some way then it should be flagged right? Do we just vote down simply because our opinion? I don't mind being a little gracious and giving someone a thumbs up when it's "iffy" but I'd hate to think people are so loose with the thumbs down button. Is it/can it be used inappropriately?
The only time I've ever used it (and it's been very rare that I have) has been when I know, for a fact (and because I know the subject through studying/researching it - not because I "just think" something) that the information is bad.
Sometimes what you run into is someone who is obviously writing what are nothing more than his own thoughts, and that's clear to anyone who actually knows something about the subject; but the writer has been careful not to write in the first-person (probably because he doesn't want his Hub to look "unprofessional"). But here's the thing... I could write a very professional appearing article on, say, building a transmission; and I could fill it up with all kinds of "expert sounding" stuff; but it would be full of baloney because I plain, old, don't know the subject. Anyone who DOES know the subject could easily see that my (make-believe) Hub would be baloney... I think that's a good reason for someone to do the thumbs-down thing.
If I recall correctly, the "flagging thing" doesn't offer that particular problem as one of the reasons for flagging. Essentially, it would be a fact-checking issue.
On the other hand, though, I suppose there are plenty of people who vote down a Hub just because they didn't like it. In fact, I've always assumed that's one of the reasons there's the vote-down option. I just happen to have an extremely high threshold for what would make me vote something down.
I vote up stuff I think is of good quality (even if I wasn't interested or don't generally like the Hub). I don't vote if I didn't think much of the Hub. I do think, though, that information that is out-and-out wrong can be potentially dangerous or otherwise harmful; so I don't think bad information should be ignored. (But, again, months and months go by without my finding a Hub that I think required a down vote.) I'm a little freer voting down Answers that I know for a fact are wrong.
One problem can be, though, that not everyone holds himself to a high standard when it comes to recognizing when he "knows for a fact". A lot of people have opinions and call that "knowing for a fact".
I appreciate the answer and I think I work along a similar guideline. I think I have 2 concerns... 1. Can/do people "vote down" just to be mean/they don't like you? 2. When I see a one paragraph hub that talks jibberish but not violating; vote down?
I never use it yet. But, maybe on the time when I really got offended, or the hub is too unethical.
I just wonder with all the spammy activity going on around here, if there are people who just fly in on a whim and out of immaturity give the "thumbs down". How does a "thumbs down" vote affect the hubber?
still learning things about it too. But I guess, personally, it may affect since our psychological being normally wills a positive veiws "Thumbs up".
by Dennis L. Page 11 years ago
Do you give other hubs a "thumbs down" vote?I've never voted a "thumbs down" on any hub, regardless of errors or the tone and nature of an article. If a hub is filled with errors or it is politically charged and I disagree, I may respond, but I do not vote it down. Am I shirking...
by Dorsi Diaz 15 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...
by Nithya Venkat 10 years ago
After two years of being at HubPages I accidentally clicked the thumbs down button, very careless of me. Sorry for that. Is there any way to undo the thumbs down. I tried clicking the thumbs up, it did not work. What do I do??
by Susan Keeping 15 years ago
So, I answered the question on why girls crave marriage. I said not all girls crave marriage and was given a down vote. Pardon me for stating a fact
by J.T. 17 years ago
Thumbs up, or thumbs down, does it really mean anything, when someone is rating your hub, and only does it in a negative way, it only means that the person haven´t understand a word of it, don´t let that get under your skin. My dad always said " son, it doesn´t matter what other people say,...
by Satori 16 years ago
Often, we'll be reading Hubs to find a specific answer or solution to something in our lives. And often, we'll get to the end and be "too busy" to rate it. This is understandable; I do it too. Even though I know that by giving a Hub a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down, I will be...
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