Re^2: Optional vote explanation box as an anonymous message sender.

14 downvotes and no messages actually. I'm going to assume that the downvotes are of the "I don't agree with this idea" variety unless someone sends me a message otherwise.

My intent in creating this node was to provide a forum to discuss this idea, as it was too much of a tangent in the original context. I see it as a way to quickly communicate the flaws in a post to the author, which would hopefully lead to better future posts.

The lack of messages could be due to a few things:

No need to comment, they simply don't agree
They feel the topic was adequately covered in the other post.
It takes time to click '/msg' and type a reply
They don't want their name attached to the comment. Votes are anonymous, and sending a message about the downvote makes it less so.

I have cast a decent number of downvotes, but I must confess that I have never sent a message to explain why. Most of the time the problem has already been pointed out in the replys and an explanation isn't really neccesary.

If an inline comment box was available I would be more inclined to add a note, and if it was anonymous some people might be more comfortable with using it.

Comment on Re^2: Optional vote explanation box as an anonymous message sender.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^3: Optional vote explanation box as an anonymous message sender. by thoglette (Scribe) on Sep 18, 2006 at 02:07 UTC
Actually, I'd love to have a clue as to why people vote negatively. At the moment I'm puzzled as to one cast on me: I followed up a query of mine - with the solution, thinking that a question with an answer is more useful than just a question. But someone voted it down. Why? I don't know. I'd love to know. The question was considered useful (Reputation: 8). But apparently the answer is not. As someone who very rarely votes someone down my knee jerk response is: Demand a reason. Perhaps a pulldown form (RTFM, homework, WRONG, Flamebait, Other), with "other" requiring commentary. I don't care to know who, just why. Thog. Butlerian Jihad now!	[reply]
Re^4: Optional vote explanation box as an anonymous message sender. by jdtoronto (Prior) on Sep 18, 2006 at 04:45 UTC
I have had a number of posts downvoted, particularly just after they are posted. Then they usually go on to get a resonable rep, but you do have to wonder. I think it is part of the 'automatic' vaoting process of a very few - some of whom will upvote posts of no apparent value, and others will downvote anything. jdotornto	[reply]