Vote for posts?

bertrevert

bertrevert

Legend
Is there an add-in for vBulletin which would allow us to "thumbs-up" or "+1" individual posts - so that in long threads, or when you are cramped for time, it would be possible to skim and read the posts that users have marked as important or significant or worthy of attention?

It would offer us another method of engagement, we don't necessarily have to write something but we can contribute by up-voting individual posts we think are good.

We might be able to add a setting in our User CP that would access posts that have been up-voted rather than just threads we are subscribed to.

Many thanks
 
King Fed WW said:
Don't include a thumbs down, that would get ugly.
Click to expand...

Youtube has the downwards vote as well, but not on individual posts, rather on the whole thread itself.

The community here is self-policing, the ugly side of things is always there but, generally, we watch out for each other don't you think? Mods are always available anyway.

What ugliness do you envisage?
 
bertrevert said:
Youtube has the downwards vote as well, but not on individual posts, rather on the whole thread itself.

The community here is self-policing, the ugly side of things is always there but, generally, we watch out for each other don't you think? Mods are always available anyway.

What ugliness do you envisage?
Click to expand...

Certain posters being voted down massively every post.
 
And certain posters being massively up-voted.

Both are possible, but seeing as you cannot vote for your own post, it would arise when certain posters are warring sure.

Just to be sure, the voting doesn't delete or remove or disguise the post, it still sits where it was posted, rather a reader can skim over if it's downrated, and seeing as they can still read the item, if it's heavily downrated it could be interesting to see why it was, and then the reader can make up their own mind. If someone says something patently stupid and is downrated then it's pretty easy to see why. If someone is downrated maliciously then similarly it'd be pretty easy to see a war going on.

At the moment a thread can be very long and the only way to tackle it is chronologically from first to last. That seems limited and perhaps there's a better way?
 
Well, to be perfectly honest, I'm just not that much of a fan of the voting-systems. It adds an unnecessary layer of populism, and it doesn't necessarily enhance discussion.

But if an up-vote function is added, speaking from a psychological background, don't add a down-vote function. That would just breed bullying and negative feelings.
 
To expound on my view and be a pedant, there is actually some scientific basis for not having this sort of voting system at all. A study from the journal Science and some other research (links below) have shown that such voting systems create herd behaviors and distortions of judgement. I think those are pretty good arguments against such a system. I understand the argument that it would save time, but I think it would also impair judgement and depth of discussion somewhat. Unconventional and subversive discussions/opinions will be more likely to get buried, and posts more on the short/glib/humorous side will get pushed upwards.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/341/6146/647.abstract

http://io9.com/how-upvote-downvote-sites-like-reddit-breed-irrational-1067235954
 
Last edited:
Why should this bigger question be asked of us/TW?

Sorry, that social-psychological assessment is both beyond the necessary here, and beyond the scope of TW.

While it is interesting what you've linked and the paper productively calls into question the operation and outcomes of internet voting systems, atm, the addition of a voting system here would aid searchability and prioritise just further users opinion ratings. Nothing wrong with that... is there? But I would add that just like when assessing a racquet by what other users write, you still need to read between the lines a little :)
 
As a member of other forums on different topics I find that voting systems aid in my glance at what to read.

I read/utilise the Guardian newspaper here in its online presence in Australia.

For instance in the comments here you can see voting is just small number in a circle top-right of any given post. I can glance pretty quickly and assess significance. Yet realise that over and above this sometimes I get to know posters whose opinion I gravitate to and will read irrespective of what other users would vote.

Atm the system here at TW let's us subscribe to threads and to buddies, however I would suggest for the time-poor a voting system may help, especially for long threads or threads brought back from the dead (as they sometimes are).
 
Sysyphus said:
Well, to be perfectly honest, I'm just not that much of a fan of the voting-systems. It adds an unnecessary layer of populism, and it doesn't necessarily enhance discussion.

But if an up-vote function is added, speaking from a psychological background, don't add a down-vote function. That would just breed bullying and negative feelings.
Click to expand...

Upvoted!

King Fed WW said:
100% agree.
Click to expand...

I upvote your upvote.

KineticChain said:
thumbs ups or upvotes should be called upfederers.

upfederer this post if u agree
Click to expand...

I wish i could upvote you two times. Or upfederer if you wish.

What should downvotes be called, if allowed ;)
 
bertrevert said:
As a member of other forums on different topics I find that voting systems aid in my glance at what to read.

I read/utilise the Guardian newspaper here in its online presence in Australia.

For instance in the comments here you can see voting is just small number in a circle top-right of any given post. I can glance pretty quickly and assess significance. Yet realise that over and above this sometimes I get to know posters whose opinion I gravitate to and will read irrespective of what other users would vote.

Atm the system here at TW let's us subscribe to threads and to buddies, however I would suggest for the time-poor a voting system may help, especially for long threads or threads brought back from the dead (as they sometimes are).
Click to expand...


What ? How do you subscribe to buddies ?
 
Oh er sorry yeah not subscribe to buddies but you know you can do a friend request in the User CP and a mouseclick on any username on any post brings up the "see more posts by..." link which is kind of what I mean by "subscribe" - I mean easily find.

I started this thread because like anyone I wonder how to cope with info overload, and with scope of the activity here.
 
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