Answering questions

1. 0

   cookingdivaposted 14 years ago

   I am new to hub, and I like to be helpful on hub.
   
   I recently answered a question about having gun in home, I wrote having a gun in house is not safe, so I personally would not do it. That response got negative votes, why so? can anyone tell me?
   
   Have done something wrong? Now, I am afraid to answer questions. :-(

   replyreport
   1. 82

      nell79posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I see you've ventured over to the answers tab, and got your hand slapped, as I just have. haha
      
      Don't take it personally. At least no one wrote a hub mentioning you by name about how stupid you are for thinking like you do
      
      Seriously though, I guess we need to be more careful about what we choose to respond to. There are a lot of people with a lot of differing opinions all occupying the same spaces here. There's bound to be things like this come up when we put our own views out there. If we can't handle it, then it's best to avoid those hot issues.
      
      Hindsight is 20/20 and all that, right? LOL

      replyreport
      1. 0

         cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         nell79,
         
         LOL, no I was not famous enough for someone to write hub about it :-)
         i think you responded fine. I think I am going to stay away from religion and politics questions from now on.
         
         Most people here are nice though, so just ignore other noise.

         replyreport
         1. 82

            nell79posted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Good idea. I think I'll follow that one. haha

            replyreport
2. 71

   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   Welcome to HubPages!
   
   First off, don't let anything negative bother you. The question you answered was judged by many people who are Americans, and that has a direct relations to the Right to Bear Arms protection for gun owners.
   
   Many people also see it from a point of view, if you fail to own a gun, then you are failing to ensure your own protection. Some Americans get testy about things like that.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Cagsil,
      
      Thank you for answering this. Interesting thing is that I am in US too! I know there are few of us in USA who do not believe in right to bear arm, I am sure.

      replyreport
      1. 71

         Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I'm sure that there are plenty of people who do not believe in the Right to Bear Arms, however, they still have the right regardless whether or not, they choose to use it.
         
         It is more politics and semantics than about rights or even the moral concepts about guns and guns control(which is a false ideology).
         
         Some people prefer to not use a gun and others handle guns everyday of the week. Those who are responsible in their use, generally don't kill people. Those who are irresponsbile in their actions with guns is what is more disturbing.
         
         Sorry, didn't mean to rant on your thread, but there are plenty of conservatives and liberals(politicking ignorance) on HubPages to make anyone want vomit. Save yourself the trouble, if you are this sensitive to a answer of a question- please stay away from the politics and religious forums- they are not for the thin-skinned.
         
         But, do try to enjoy yourself while here.

         replyreport
         1. 0

            cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Cagsil,
            
            Thank you, and no I do not mind rant. I guess I am still trying to get to know the community and it seemed very friendly but I guess just like in real life we can have difference of opinion. Learning every day!
            
            I am enjoying otherwise! Thank you.

            replyreport
         2. 0

            Donna Ferrierposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            There's also a cultural element that plays into it. I'm originally from the Washington, DC, metro area of the U.S., where discharging a firearm is illegal for private citizens. There are people where I come from who own guns for sport (i.e. hunting, target shooting, etc.) but they have to go way in the country to be able to use their guns. Other than that, mostly the people who own guns where I come from are a) the police, b) the military, c) members of the NRA, or d) criminals.
            
            In 2004 I moved to Oklahoma where people start shooting guns as soon as they're old enough to hold one. Easterners like me typically wince at stuff like that, but culturally speaking, it's normal out here in the Southwest. I'm sure the fact that it's farm country has a lot to do with it. Oklahoma also has what is known as a "Make my day" law, which means that if someone broke into my house, I can legally shoot them. Once again, the "custom of the country."

            replyreport
3. 0

   Website Examinerposted 14 years ago

   Here is a link to the question. I saw nothing wrong with your answer, which has been hidden due to negative feedback. Like Cagsil says, it is a politicized area.
   
   http://hubpages.com/question/89812

   replyreport
   1. 0

      cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Website Examiner,
      
      I was not sure, if I allowed to link it here so I did not. Too bad it has effect on my hub author score! Okay, so I will not worry about it.
      
      but this discourages a new hubber trying to be part of community and be helpful. I believe I was polite and stated my opinion without judging anyone. This sends a wrong message to new hubbers.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         You can always post links to forum posts, questions/answers - the only restrictions are for your hubs and to external websites and blogs.
         
         I see what you mean, although I doubt it will hurt your author score. HubPages has hundreds of thousands of active members, and not all of them are nice people. Same thing as the political and religious forums.
         
         Life isn't always fair. Yes, you replied correctly and politely, and you were badly treated. Many of the most experienced hubbers would rather see the questions/answers section disappear altogether. But you have a right to participate, and please try not to be too discouraged by this experience.

         replyreport
         1. 0

            cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Website Examiner,
            
            Thank you for kind words and understanding. My author score was 90 yesterday, 88 today and now is 87. :-) but like Cagsil and you said, I am going to still enjoy hubpages and writing as there are more good people here!
            
            I will stick to non political and non religious posts from now on, if I answer :-)

            replyreport
            1. 78

               wildernessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I wouldn't worry about the author score you are showing.  Part of the score is random; it causes the score to vary all the time.
               
               It also doesn't impact you much (except perhaps in satisfaction) as long as it remains above 75.  Don't sweat it. 
               
               Welcome to HP, by the way!

               replyreport
               1. 0

                  cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Wilderness,
                  
                  Thanks, I will try not worry about it. When you are new, you try to understand why and how of things.
                  
                  I guess I should not worry it hubscore but this is not good community spirit to pull someone down with votes. I would not have done it to anyone.
                  
                  I am otherwise enjoying HP and learning a lot. Thank you again.

                  replyreport
4. 61

   Ohmaposted 14 years ago

   I personally do not own a gun but have no issue with others who wish too. The thing is that the right to bear arms is guaranteed in the Constitution and it is not something that most gun owners are going to give up willingly.
   For the record guns can be safe if kept and handled responsibly. People in the equation is what makes them dangerous.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Ohma,
      
      I am like you as well. I am not anyone to judge how people should live, even though I have my opinions. If you see my answer you will see the same thing but 6 negatives was bit too much!  Oh well, you win some and lose some.
      
      It is sure way to discourage new hubbers from answering for sure.

      replyreport
5. 75

   sofsposted 14 years ago

   The answer section is known for negative marking, whether the answer is sensible or not it gets negatively marked.. people do it because they have the power to do it..
   
   I asked some question on some physical training equipment and there were 10 responses all helpful but quite a few of them were marked negatively.. and i had to apologize to those who answered it.. This is how it sometimes works.
   As Cags says don't worry.. don't give it too much weightage.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Sofs,
      
      I guess you are so right, people do something but they have power to. I usually vote up answers to questions I ask to thank people who took time to write thoughtful comment.
      
      I will try not to make it bother me now and enjoy HP. Thanks.

      replyreport
6. 66

   PaulaHenry1posted 14 years ago

   oh my, dont let what people think get you down. I dont believe in guns in the home either but do allow exceptions such as locked up where kids cant get to them. Otherwise it is just irresponsible, but please dont let opinionated subjects that get negative feedback discourage you...and stay away from religion forums. lol

   replyreport
   1. 0

      cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      PaulaHenry,
      
      I believe I was polite in my answers as I am no one to judge anyone. But still some judged me :-) LOL.
      
      I would take your advice and stay away from some questions! and I hope to enjoy hubpages! Thanks.

      replyreport
7. 0

   Website Examinerposted 14 years ago

   I took the liberty to vote it up, so you are now +4/-6, which isn't too shabby. Let's hope others will follow suit.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Website Examiner,
      
      Oh, you are so sweet! I hope you know, I did not write about it here to ask for votes! but to understand why it happened. Thank you!

      replyreport
      1. 0

         Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         You are welcome. It was perfectly clear you were not asking for votes, but that shouldn't prevent the center-left, center-right, and pure centrist people from voting you up in case they agree with your balanced point of view.

         replyreport
         1. 0

            cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Website Examiner,
            
            Thank you. You and others made my HP experience well worth and positive!
            
            I paid it forward to another hubber, I voted up "lifeinprime" as he/she has negative vote for saying No to gun as well. Now he/she is +3, -3 votes! Yeah!

            replyreport
   2. 66

      PaulaHenry1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      +1

      replyreport
      1. 0

         cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you.

         replyreport
8. 0

   Website Examinerposted 14 years ago

   Voting people down because their opinions happen to differ from yours is just plain rude. There may be a cultural component to that as well; fits like hand in glove with the polarized nature of US politics.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      cookingdivaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      WE,
      
      I so agree! Hope everyone treat others as they like to be treated.

      replyreport