I know it's silly, but I'm sad!

1. 69

   Stacie Naczelnikposted 16 years ago

   I got my first "thumbs down" today.  Two of them actually...on the same day, in the same block of a few hours.
   I know it's silly, but I'm still kind of bummed.  I had all of these thumbs ups, no thumbs down.  And, I have no idea why I got a thumbs down.  Do they not like the hubs?  The content?  The style?  Me?
   Argh.  Are they mean?  Or, do they have legit reasons for it?
   I know: I should let it go, but it makes me sad.

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2. 0

   Lisa Bargerposted 16 years ago

   Sorry, Stacie.    No matter how you intellectualize it, undeserved criticism never feels good.
   
   Don't let it get to you.  Learn what you can from it--but some people just enjoy being petty.  Let it go and trust yourself.  You're a great writer. 

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3. STAFF

   pauldeedsposted 16 years ago

   For what it is worth, the average ratio of thumbs up to thumbs down for the top 500 authors (by page views) is about 4 ups for every 1 down.  If you're significantly above that ratio, then I'd say you're probably doing something right.
   
   Of course, there are a lot of factors that can affect the ratio other than the intrinsic quality of your hub, the two biggest being 1) where your traffic comes from, and 2) how controversial your topics are.
   
   Frankly, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

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   1. 71

      relacheposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Cool... my ratio of ups to downs is 12:1.

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4. 89

   Paragliderposted 16 years ago

   Well, I got one for suggesting that the best cure for an arthritic dog was an arthritic cat, so that they could age together. I probably deserved that one!

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5. 84

   jimmythejockposted 16 years ago

   Nothing to worry about Stacie, keep your chin up, I have 152 thumbs down on my combined hubs, you cant please everyone no matter how hard you try, your hubs are great........jimmy

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6. 69

   Stacie Naczelnikposted 16 years ago

   Ah, thanks everyone! 
   
   It bummed me out yesterday, but I know it's not that important today.  I think part of it was not knowing "why" I got the thumbs down.  But, it looks like my ratio of ups to downs is rocking--so, that's a great thing.

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7. 71

   Hope Alexanderposted 16 years ago

   No-one's mentioned this so far, but perhaps pleasing everyone all of the time isn't such a great thing anyway? I mean if you're not saying anything that anyone disagrees with, then is what you're saying really that interesting or worthy in the first place? What happened to challenging the status quo? To making people think differently? Hate to bring JC into it, but that guy got a pretty big thumbs down from the popular crowd at the end there, but plenty of people still think that he was pretty rocking (no, I'm not comparing myself to Jesus, I am just saying there is value in the non popular too). I have maybe 1/3 or more the number of of thumbs down compared to thumbs up, and quite frankly, I like it. It means I'm not pandering to the lowest common denominator.
   
   Mind you, if you're writing on not very controversial topics like, I don't know, where to go to find the best skin lotion, or the best places to get a Mai Tai in Maui, then the previous statements don't really apply.
   
   Just my 2 cents.

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8. 69

   Stacie Naczelnikposted 16 years ago

   Hope Alexander: I agree with what you say.
   
   My thing wasn't so much displeasure at people disagreeing with what I have to say, but that I got two thumbs down, at the same time, and I have no idea why.
   
   It could be because they disagree with me.  Or because they think my nose looks weird.  Or because they want to sabotage me.
   
   I guess I just don't know how to interpret thumbs.  So, I think I just won't let it affect me--other than being happy that someone is at least taking the time to rate my work.

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   1. 71

      Hope Alexanderposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      LOL I get that feeling too, but I'm pretty sure it's hub related paranoia kicking in... either that, or they are really out to get me *dives back into my bunker*

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9. 0

   Lisa Bargerposted 16 years ago

   I totally (does anyone say "totally" anymore?) get what you're saying, Stacie.  A full 30% of my catalog (not here--on my main site) is debunking work and you haven't SEEN criticism until you start stepping on someone's bottom line.     
   
   It's not the criticism that bothers you--it's the fact that someone went out of his or her way to be cruel/snide/whatever.  It just seems that some people enjoy being the rebel without a cause.

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10. 69

    Stacie Naczelnikposted 16 years ago

    I *totally* totally all the time.

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11. 83

    embitcaposted 16 years ago

    Heh. I'm with the paranoid crew. I swear there's someone who just waits for me to publish a hub so he or she can give me a thumbs down.

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12. 77

    Guru-Cposted 16 years ago

    Hello Stacie:
    
    All of the above.  It takes all kinds.  Your hubs are wonderful.
    
    I can understand the thumbs down I got about a slightly wierd meditation story.  And certainly I can understand one thumbs down on a hub about the Palestine/Israel peace initiatives... 
    
    Someone actually gave me a thumbs down on one the cutest pet pictures I've ever seen. Perhaps it was because Fuchu had clawed his way into a (plastic) bag of laundry.  But it had just happened, and my husband snapped the photo before plunking him out lovingly.
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/Fuchu_Feeling_C
    
    Regards,
    Cory

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13. 69

    Stacie Naczelnikposted 16 years ago

    Yeah, I got a thumbs down on my Sweet Potato & Corn Chowder recipe.  Maybe he or she is allergic?!?  I don't know...
    
    I would understand if it was something more controversial!

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14. 59

    Lincoln Armstrongposted 16 years ago

    I used to think the same thing, until I went to an Anti-Corn Chowder convention.  You should have seen the fundraising!   People were shoving money into these hats with anti-corn logos on them and they demolished a scarecrow that was full of "Down with Corn" buttons like a pinata.
    
    Some guy wanted tortillas with dinner and it took 35 minutes to restore order.  Frightening.   I was going to stay for the speech until I saw I had a coupon for microwave popcorn in my pocket.  I escaped from the auditorium by hiding behind a cleaning cart as it rolled towards the back exit.   

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15. 69

    Stacie Naczelnikposted 16 years ago

    Lincoln, don't tell anyone, but I love you.  Way too many gales of laughter coming out of my cubicle--they'll track me down soon.

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16. 66

    darksideposted 16 years ago

    I'm surprised, to a degree, when I have a thumbs down, but I don't let it worry me.
    
    One hub I discuss an MLM and I expected a few thumbs down, because it's not a positive review.
    
    On the other hand the stuff I wrote about Hubpages, which is glowing mind you, got some thumbs down too. Maybe it was splash damage (whoever didn't like the aforementioned hub also took a shot at my highest ranking hub at the time). Or maybe it was sour grapes (someone thought my writing was far superior than their own ).
    
    Either way, I hope that thumbs down doesn't affect a persons Hubscore too adversely. As I think that a well expressed and witty opinion published as a Hub would be a good read and of course it would attract backlash. But still deserves a voice.

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17. 59

    Lincoln Armstrongposted 16 years ago

    
    
    

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