I wouldn't use the option of a non-vote, because I don't really care about a post's reputation. Besides, I like to be able to later vote something up after I come to understand what the post is talking about. But I wouldn't mind if the option existed, because as I understand it, the person is forfeiting the opportunity to vote on that post in the future, so it wouldn't generate 'me too' voting.

I think the part I've felt most strongly about are the stars and other pictures, and what I think about them is Yuck! :P Although if they could be disabled then I wouldn't care because it would be a lot like the sort by reputation option which I don't use. It would be fairly easy to get the proper amount of stars by just keeping track of what NORM was on the day that it was posted.

and what I think about them is Yuck! :P

What Yuk? Do you think they wouldn't be useful (which is my goal), or do you think they would be obtrusive (like say, a banner ad whose server is sometimes slow)? If you have the option to not see them, then it is a moot point. If you are forced to see them (or at least forced until an option to not see them is put in place) I think you would eventually not even notice them or realize the "visual pain" is for the greater good.

Do you like it the way it is now? Do you have a solution on how to use the votes to help readers in a better way?

Cheers,
KM

I'm content with the current information, so I have no suggestions to add to the discussion. My position is easily expressed: if one of these suggestions is added to Perl Monks, I want it to be able to turn it off in my user settings.

About your suggestion in particular, I wouldn't find the images useful, so they would therefore be obtrusive. If I could turn them off I wouldn't care in the slightest if they were there. I also wouldn't care if the unvote was there, if I could turn that option off.