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Re: Feature: Auto hide. Change: show node vote counts to all, not just logged in users. (updated)

by haukex (Archbishop)
on Jul 18, 2017 at 09:29 UTC ( [id://1195309]=note: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??


in reply to Feature: Auto hide. Change: show node vote counts to all, not just logged in users.

I have been thinking about something similar, but perhaps not as drastic. It was inspired by a post somewhere here, but I don't remember where, so I can't give credit at the moment. Basically, for a certain "sufficiently low" reputation (or downvote-to-upvote ratio, with a minimum number of votes required), just reduce the font size*, perhaps in two steps. That would give readers a visual clue as to which nodes have a "sufficiently low" reputation without going so far as to hiding them or publicly displaying the vote count.

* Update: Through the various counterarguments in this thread I have been sufficiently convinced that reducing the font size is probably not the best way to go, so for now I'm going with my other idea of an indicator message at the top of the node.

  • Comment on Re: Feature: Auto hide. Change: show node vote counts to all, not just logged in users. (updated)

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Re^2: Feature: Auto hide. Change: show node vote counts to all, not just logged in users.
by hippo (Bishop) on Jul 18, 2017 at 09:44 UTC

    I recall that plan and thought it was a good one (and still do). However, it has no effect on search engines. marto's suggestion means that the content would not be indexed in the context of the thread which would be even better. Reducing the font size also has no effect on readers with character-cell browsers (lynx/elinks/etc) or screen readers (so there's a WAI concern).

    Perhaps we could do both? Below one threshold (-3? -4?) start progressively reducing the font size and then below a second threshold (-8? -10?) hide the content entirely.

      Those are good points in regards to only changing the font size. See my other post for some more thoughts.

      As for the threshold, since such a change would affect all older content as well, and AFAIK the vote counts were higher in the past (e.g. Selected Best Nodes), I suspect the threshold would have to be dynamic based on the number of votes cast. I don't think it's necessary to start at something like -3 or -4, since there are always some threads with simple disagreements in which hiding content might not be warranted. But then there are certainly nodes where the downvotes are overwhelming.

      I'm just putting my two cents out there, I don't yet have a clear idea on what the best way to go about something like this might be.

Re^2: Feature: Auto hide. Change: show node vote counts to all, not just logged in users.
by marto (Cardinal) on Jul 18, 2017 at 09:37 UTC

    Thanks for your input. Users have the ability to have custom CSS which may override any cosmetic changes, and then there are the associated accessability issues associated with such things. Perhaps some people need fonts to be a certain size in order to be able to read them at all. Having to change some setting/zoom to be able to see the content in question would, at least to me, be more annoying than reading the warning and clicking a link. Hiding such posts, displaying a warning and presenting an option to see the post content in the same way one can view reaped content seems like an extension of the method used here for a long time, to cater for a different use case. How do you feel about all users being able to see vote count/spread?

      Hmm, I don't think I've fully made up my mind yet about the vote counts... it seems that traditionally there isn't such an emphasis placed on them (only people who vote on nodes get to see the reputation, plus Best Nodes and Worst Nodes, I don't think they're displayed elsewhere?), so suddenly showing them might be considered too drastic. Hence my idea of using some other indicator. I'm just brainstorming here, but perhaps just a note at the top of the node where the vote count usually is saying that a certain threshold has been passed.

      As for CSS and settings for showing/hiding stuff, I think that it's very important what new visitors see (as Anonymous Monk), so there'd have to be a useful default.

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