I am a newbie that joined DU last November.

[narnian60]

Although I have learned a lot since my first posting (& subsequent lambasting), I would like some clarification on when people click the rec button. Sometimes I see a post that is (at least imho) very dramatic, heartwarming, hilarious, etc. that has a lot of views but will have like 2 recs. Will someone please enlighten me on when you rec and when you don't?

[Common Sense Party]

1. Rec whatever you like.

Don't rec whatever you don't like.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. If I want folks to read it

I rec it. 5 Recs puts it on the front page.

[narnian60]

7. Didn't know that only 5 recs did that. Thanks.

[Warpy]

3. People click for 2 reasons: first, it's informative enough

that people want as many others to read it as possible and that means putting it on the "greatest" page.

Second, DU is a community and posts about people who are well known here are recommended so that we'll all see what's going on with another of us.

I hope this helps.

[narnian60]

5. Thanks, Warpy, that does help.

[OriginalGeek]

4. I usually forget to rec

even when it's something I strongly agree with or enjoyed tremendously.

I'm a bad reccer.

My apologies to all the many posters and posts that should have been one rec richer.

[freshwest]

6. The reason many things don't get rec'd is also luck, not intention. The time of day an OP is made is

important, and affects views and recs, because things go lower on the pages. Also, because people who would rec might not be online when it's higher up. I miss a lot of threads because I don't spend much time on the main pages, even less on the home page, and don't like to scroll. I rec most of what I take time to read or respond to. And I'm recin'g this for you, the newbie...

[narnian60]

9. Haha. Much obliged.

[Flashmann]

8. when you rec

I do it for posts I agree with...Posts I enjoyed reading and think others might also,although I don't myself read or not read posts based on rec count,I suspect some might...Posts that provoke laughs or smiles...

[randome]

10. I rec'd something today for the first time in years.

I generally don't bother, just figure a thread will rise and fall on its own merits.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[Cha]

18. And, those "merits" would be us.. helping out

an OP that we think is important enough for more viewing than in just one Forum, randome.

[demwing]

29. lol...I should say, "Stop looking for Reccers. Be one."

[narnian60]

11. I am now on the greatest threads page.

Woo hoo!

[LeftofObama]

12. Here's a kick

and another rec.

[Martin Eden]

13. Those of us who get a lt of recs are part of a network.

We contact each other and rec each others' posts to give us all higher visibility and an ego boost.

Nah, just kidding. I totally made that up. Honestly, I rarely start a thread though I used to do it more often (been here 11+ years).

As for when and what to rec, that's a very subjective and personal thing. Only you know what puts a smile on your face and what you think is important or very well stated. That's the beauty of it, and you're missing the point when you ask for advice on what to rec. As you spend more time here, your ideas about what to rec will evolve.

[narnian60]

15. I feel like I've been spanked

a little bit.

[Martin Eden]

17. Just Having Fun

No ill will intended, and to make it up to you I just rec'd your thread

[narnian60]

19. You are forgiven, Martin.

I didn't feel any ill will.

[Egalitarian Thug]

14. K&R (kick & recommend, just in case...). n/t (no text, also just in case)

[JaneyVee]

16. Enough recs gets it on the front page of DU. Rec away!

[Cha]

20. It's all been covered here, narnian, but I still want to add my

2 cents.

I always rec an OP that I think is important enough to get more exposure. There's so much going on at DU that sometimes it's easy to miss something. If it's on the Greatest and in the Forum or Group.. it's more likely to get noticed.

You can also click on the space above the "DU Rec" and it will tell you who has "Rec" the Thread.

Welcome to DU, narnian

[narnian60]

22. Thanks, Cha.

Appreciate the info.

[kentuck]

23. Welcome!

[H2O Man]

21. In my opinion,

the DU administration should pay people to recommend my OPs.

[R B Garr]

24. Hi! You joined the same day I did!

You asked a good question, so I'm recommending your thread. I forget about doing it, so this is a good reminder to take advantage of highlighting threads that you think will be of interest to others.

[Festivito]

25. Glad you survived the lambasting. Some posters would prefer NONE of us to be here.

I try to recommend news that might not otherwise get notice. But, sometimes, I just hit it for things I personally like.

Hitting that rec button also clears up some problems with one of my old old old browsers. Occasionally I rec, then unrec or forget to unrec.

My advice would be to hit it when you want, and to ignore the results by instead reading the titles to all the posts in the Latest Page. That does not take as much time as going through the sometimes absurd filter of rec totals. And, some of the not-so-highly-rec'd posts are THE most interesting.

Good luck and enjoy DU.

[narnian60]

30. I AM enjoying DU

and look to it for a major news source now, which was not my initial intention.

[RKP5637]

26. I rec things for all sorts of reasons, no rules for me, except I don't

rec stuff I really don't like ... and sometimes I just don't bother at all.

[liberal N proud]

27. If you want to help a post get to the greatest page, you hit the REC

If you liked it but don't care if it gets promoted, move on.

[allan01]

28. re:I am a newbie that joined DU last November.

i use this to kick and rec