Well, there is always the
if ($merlyn->terse) { $vote+=0; }
option which would carry none of the negative connotation that
I apparently read into your post.
In other words, if you don't find a node helpful, but it's
not a particularly bad node (i.e. it helps someone), then
why does this seem to affect the node's strengths. I'm not
saying that merlyn is a god, and your votes are yours to
spend, but why vote on a node that you are otherwise
indifferent to? Everybody has a personality, and I don't see
why merlyn has to write messages like footpad. :)
ALL HAIL BRAK!!!