The Thumbs Down Fairy
I never really gave to much thought to the thumbs down fairy. I knew he/she was out there but didn't really think it was all that important or harmful to bloggers here on the site. Recently I have seen more and more blog posts specifically about the fairy and it's evil ways. This struck me as a tad bit odd because I feel like bloggers should be able to blog about what ever they want, but having a blog specifically about the fairy seemed like it might be a sign that the fairy was causing more harm then good. More importantly a blogger shouldn't have to blog about a thumbs down when there is way more important things to discuss like the downfall of western civilization.
In looking at the future of 2o2p and specifically the next version we want to put out, we finally have an opportunity to kill the fairy once and for good. The thumbs system never worked the way I really wanted it to. It was idealy supposed to allow the user control over what was shown on the blog strip and keep spammers from having their way. It still "works" a little in that function, but the community itself generally handles issue via comments and PMs. As such Im going to be removing the thumbs up and down completely in v3.0. You may still be able to "vote" on a 5 start version but I'm undecided and it will have little or no impact on the content presented. I do want to find a way to track and display some of the bloggers that the community really loves here on 2o2p. Top bloggers seems to work well via views and we always try to promote content to the home page when we think someone has really written something bad ass (go go maxie), but if you guys have any other ideas I would love to hear them.
doodi
Comments (42)
Have a safe trip, Pearl!
I agree that the thumbs up and down should go away. To be used fairly, I would have to give both. And just because I like or dislike something, doesn't mean it is good or bad: just that that is my opinion. \r
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A good way to know if people like your blog is how many times it is viewed. If I find something interesting, I will keep coming back. Even if there are a few bad posts. \r
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Just my .02
Ignore them. Write about what you want to write about. Your blog is there for you, who cares what anyone else thinks about it.\r
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Oh yeah, thumbs up. :)
I like your blog, F*&^$ the thumbs, they don't matter.
how about leaving the thumbs down buttons, but make everyone who votes log in to do it. then we can have a little insight on whos just running around thumbibg everone down like a 6yo. other than that keep up the good work.
I'd say get rid of ratings on blogs. Remove the visual reinforcement that a blog is for other people - and let people just blog about whatever they want without worrying if 15 people hate it...\r
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But on the front page columns and articles, I think there should be a 1-5 star rating (or controller or cane rating). The front page is the place to try and entertain people and that should be rated for success.
@Tdrag\r
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I partially agree. I still think the same issues might arise on the home page as well. I do think in the end though that no rating on blogs might be the best move. However I would still like a way to \"track blogs\" by seeing what blogs the community members like the most. I may just move voting to a completely internal method so no members can actually see what is voted on. \r
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@millfire517\r
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You cannot vote on blogs unless you are logged in. This is already currently the case. Admins can track who left the thumbs down, but all that does is allow us to know who the biggest douche bags on the site are.
I thumbs downed this blog. FU\r
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No ratings on the frontpage. My ego can't handle that.
Can you tell me if I've ever left a thumbs down, as I'm pretty sure I haven't. I gave thumbs ups to as a way of saying 'Good job having the stones to put that out there, or I agree or Good post'. If I have anything to add or dispute I leave a comment. The ThumbsDownFairy just goes around thumbing people down with no comment hidden by anonymity. It pleases me to hear that the thumbs up/down system is going the way of the buffalo. A 'who has looked' feature covering maybe a 72 hour period might be the goods. I know there are plenty of people who blog here that I may not read what they write, but if I saw that they were checking my crap out, I would make a point to look at theirs. Just my .25.
if you want to feature blogs I don't think views is the way to go. My writing is crap but I get a ton of views. I'm sure it's because a couple of times I have posted pictures of myself. \r
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The one good piece of funny writing I did (OR so I thought, LOL) I got thumbs down for it. So it figures.\r
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Maybe have some kind of nomination button and if enough people nominate a blog (only registered members) then the next day, have that blog featured on the front page?
Remove the thumbs...but an \"I Like\" option or something of that nature wouldn't be so bad. We already have a system in place to see who the top bloggers for the month are, so I see no reason to feature them on the front page...maybe just make that list a little 'easier' to find. Perhaps a clickable link right next to the blog strip or something like that? Just a thought.
I say you just score them based on comments. The more comments, the better the blog. That holds true for the most part, IMHO. There are some blogs that generate a lot of views but aren't really quality posts. Those blogs don't get many comments. I think that if people knew that blogs were rated or score by comments, some more activity may be generated.
Please just make it go away. \r
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I personally don't use the thumbs up or down. If I thumbed up every one I liked, I would feel compelled to thumb down the ones I didn't. You can't have one without the other. If you do, it's just an ego boasting shame.\r
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So to reiterate, please please make it go away.
It may surprise some, but I sometimes put a lot of time and effort into writing my blogs. The feedback is interesting, but if you are going to have a rating system, show who left a rating. That would make it self policing and expose the douchbags. The ratings are interesting to me since it often doesn't track the comments. My recent blog got tons of disagreement but a +9 and over 100 hits. Not sure what it means other than people are paying attention. \r
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And I do sometimes thumbs down (especially Soup) without leaving a comment. But I think I'm only a minor douche. The major fairy is still out there.
I like the idea of the blog with the higest rating for the day being featured the next day on teh front page. Sort of creates a rivalry among the bloggers. As a bonus, there will defin be more TnA in the blogs.
or how about this doodi\r
how about if you want to rate a blog you must leave a comment. it doesnt have to show what they rated it, but you must force people to leave a comment to be able to thumbs up or down a blog\r
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this way its more effort to leave a rating and means more because they took the time to comment. \r
again you wouldnt have to show if they left good or bad
Sad that people place so much value on anonymous ratings, but whatever. Thumbs down to this.
I started to blog not to gain anyones approval, if you don't like what I post f/u don't read it. \r
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Have a great day :P
Thanks for the nod, doodi. \r
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I write for the fun of it, so on one level ratings are neither here nor there for me. But I'd be a liar if I didn't say I haven't enjoyed seeing ratings on other's blog posts and some of my own to know what strikes common chords among us. That's how I view the ratings system. \r
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I like the idea listed by Durty, Rayne46, Snurphy & MineMagnet506 of just eliminating the thumbs down option all together. Otherwise, perhaps letting the rating system go completely would be a better long-term option. Can always ask community members to nominate more blogs for notice. They may not necessarily be the ones already in the top bloggers spots and known by all which is a nice way to share exposure.\r
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Thanks for all the thoughtful effort.
I will fully admit I thumb some blogs down, and I would gladly post comments saying why but it will create drama.\r
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If it is that big of a freaking issue I just won't do it one way or another. I should however reserve the right to thumb down a blog and even a person's blog every time if I think they are useless because that is my opinion and hence, the reason to have a choice.\r
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I take offense to the douchebag remark though to be honest, just because I have a personal opinion about a blog or even a user doesn't make me a douche if I am using a system implemented to essentially cast my opinion. By that logic, anyone that thumbs UP a blog where some chick is showing some leg or making fat gamers across the site feel all tingly is also a douchebag.\r
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I am quite certain that although I dislike certain blogs and bloggers for that matter, I am not one that just runs around screaming \"wheeeee!!!\" as I thumb everything down with a big smile on my face.
Boo fucking hoo. You post something for the world to see it's going to be comments on. Some people are dicks. Gasp. And yet somehow the world keeps on turning.\r
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PS. Rabb is, in fact, an enormous douchebag. But even douchbags are entitled to their opinion as this site so often reminds us.