who likes the unrecommended. who wants it outta here.

[seabeyond]

i am curious whether it is a popular feature or not.

[KansasVoter]

1. We need both or neither. We need to be able to see what the majority thinks.

[seabeyond]

3. i agree. doesnt work with just recommend. to abusive. nt

[HuckleB]

18. If the majority obsessed like the minorities that use the feature that might make sense.

[LWolf]

71. While you've got a point about both, I disagree that

"we need to be able to see what the majority thinks." First, if the majority want us to know what they think, they should post a response to the thread and tell us what they think. That's the whole point of a discussion board. Second, I don't "need" to know what other DUers think. If they want to tell me by posting, fine. If they want to lurk, that's fine, too. I don't "need" them.

I'd prefer to do away with both rec and unrec; they are too often misused.

[Renew Deal]

75. You can figure out what "the majority" thinks by looking at the top of the greatest page

You don't need unrec to figure that out.

[KansasVoter]

84. Yes we do. A "Obama is an idiot" post would get 25 recs. With unrec it does not.

[Renew Deal]

86. Two things

I disagree that it will get 25 recs and it will be deleted so it doesn't matter anyway.

[KansasVoter]

89. You get the point. You need unrec to counter reccing trolls.

[SoCalDem]

100. BOTH should go. Replies & discussion used to work fine

The Greatest, Bestest, Fastest, Mostest, Shiniest Top Ten stuff needs to go as well

We used to have articles on the front page...not a marquee of "Hey Look at MEEEEEE"..I made the front page" stuff..

Until very recently I did not even know about those things.. I have GD bookmarked & only hang out there..never go to Home or the other pages, but once I did, I saw why some love the R & unR feature.. It's a way to exact a tad of personal revenge against someone they don't like and a way to elevate those in their clique.. y'know.. like 7th grade writ large, in cyber-ink:)

[seabeyond]

102. interesting

i do the same as you and am never on the front page. i never read the greatests or whatever.

i dont want recommend without the counter though. but i am fine with neither

[SoCalDem]

103. If someone writes something thought-provoking, I will respond

and participate.. a hit and run "click" adds nothing....and if someone writes something I am not interested in, I just "move on" to another thread.. I do not see it as my personal responsibility to log in to DU and "grade papers".. I also do not hang out here to conduct knock-down-drag-out cyber-brawls with people who love to argue to the nth degree on just about anything..

I admit, I DO automatically HIDE any threads that involve animal cruelty. I can't stand looking at them every time I hit F-5..every time I have tried to participate, it just makes me too upset.

[saltpoint]

2. I don't think it presents any major navigational

difficulties.

And it's optional anyway.

I'd keep it.

[tularetom]

4. It would not make one iota of difference to me if it goes or stays

But if we get rid of it, we should probably get rid of "recommend" as well.

[Lifelong Protester]

5. I think the unrec has become a total troll tool

and I don't think (in my opinion of course) that that was the intent.

[seabeyond]

9. when it is a thread that could make du look bad, recommend can be used for the same and no recourse

for rest of du to fix.

[KansasVoter]

10. So true!!!

[Catherina]

17. Exactly. And make a small minority seem much larger. n/t

[TexasObserver]

41. So, your theory is that Unrec was created to be a troll tool?

That seems to be what you're saying.

Why do you believe the Unrec feature was intended to be a "total troll tool"?

[Lifelong Protester]

90. Read my post again

"has become" is what I said, and I believe that was "not the intent".

However, folks make some good points on the value of being able to unrec, so regardless of what it may have become, it does serve a purpose. Some good counterpoints here have made me re-evaluate my ideas on unrec.
I still think it's a troll's favorite thing to do! I also think some posters have OPs that are automatically unrec'ed, some are automatically 'rec'ed'. Ok, so there is a bit of a popularity contest going on. It's a message board. Probably inevitable.

[KILL THE WISE ONE]

6. I wish I had the un-rec available in primary elections as well

[Canuckistanian]

7. I want to be able to DESTROY my enemies. ANNHILATE them.

Make them wish they'd NEVER BEEN BORN.

One vote "for", please.

Thank you.

[scheming daemons]

8. Like Skinner said... quit whining about the unrec feature! Are your feelings that fragile...

...that you can't take someone unreccing what you have to say?

[LostInAnomie]

12. Yes, sadly, there are people that fragile.

Let's hope they don't get the grease they crave.

[seabeyond]

22. on another thread

it was said that people that didnt want the unrec was minority. my reason for the poll was to show that it is a small percentage of du not wanting the feature.

my op does not give my opinion. that is how one is suppose to do a poll. doesnt show either way. non bias.

[CTyankee]

92. I love DU! Between the "whiners" on one side and the "'whiner' shriekers" on the other,

these threads are fun to read! I just love to see grownups throwing tantrums, I do!

Be still my eager heart for more "food fights" on DU!!!:popcorn:

[snooper2]

109. These threads are almost as good as the lounge wars

Sadly, that has died down a lot lately...

I think it is a may be an every-six-month thing :P

[CTyankee]

114. Seems there has to be a good blood-letting every now and again

over this thing.

It's almost TOO much fun to sit back and watch it all unfold!

[KansasVoter]

All I whine about is unrecs with no reason. I always leave one.

[TexasObserver]

42. A whine about unrecs or a reason for yours? Or both?

No one has justify a recommend, and no one has to justify an unrecommend.

What about posters who think the thread is crap and say so, but fail to unrecommend it? Should we make a person Unrec the thread if they're not going to approve of it?

[KansasVoter]

46. You can do what you want......

I just always put "-1" and the reason why. If you don't want anyone to know then that is your right. But I can disagree.

[TexasObserver]

48. I don't post the reason because it would be against the rules.

Or, do you think I could post without deletion these "reasons" for unrecommending various threads?

"Oh, no, not this simple-minded shit you always post on these kind of topics!"

or

"Do you ever start a thread that doesn't suck donkey balls?!"

or

"This steaming pile of shit isn't worth the time it took to open the thread!"

or

"Would you fucking stop with the non stop thread starting?! Do you ever fucking check to see the other 50 threads already on this topic, or do you have to have one all to yourself?"

or

"Really? A thread about your pet? In GD?"

or

"Did you try PMing the poster you haven't seen around lately?"


I'm thinking those won't be welcome, but they would express the reason for many of my Unrecs.

[muriel_volestrangler]

70. Sometimes threads don't deserve the kick that leaving a reason would give them

It could be some important 'fact' in the OP that is wrong, and thus means the whole premise of the thread falls apart. It could be someone trying to misuse DU (eg posting a topic they know very well is meant to be in a forum that doesn't accept recs, like Sept 11 or Israel/Palestine, but which they've put in GD anyway just to try to skirt the DU rules). It could be something on the borderline of trolling, about which the mods are having to take their time to decide whether to lock it, but in the mean time, you think DU would be better if the whole subject was dropped.

For al of these situations, you either want the thread off the Greatest List, or to stand no chance at all of getting on it, but you also don't want it kicked back to the top of the forum lists either, where it still gets a lot of attention. So unrec, without posting the the thread, is a useful thing to do.

[seabeyond]

73. excellent. that is why i use it. nt

[HuckleB]

16. It's not about feelings, it's about improving the content of discussion.

The greatest page would be dramatically improved.

[seabeyond]

19. you are talking to me? and you see that i have an issue with unrec from my post?

what i did in the poll was not add personal opinion so i was not influencing responses. you know, a responsible way of polling. i also did not add my vote until into the process to not skew that way.

my opinion is gotta have unrec. i think it is necessary. or get rid of all of it.

now

gonna take that whining crap back. it is a poll. that is all.

[xultar]

33. [phone] trillion

[Occulus]

67. What I'd like to see is a button to show who hit which button.

I'm guessing some who autounrec certain topics, or who autounrec topics started by certain people, would stop doing so almost at once.

Patterns, you know.

[jaysunb]

11. Should be limited to "trusted users."

Like Daily Kos.

There's some very easy formuli to determine who would be a TU.

Hope Skinner will consider.

[HuckleB]

15. NO! NO! NO!

[sabrina 1]

44. DK is about the worst example you could pick as an example

how to run a blog. There is and has been so much abuse on that board as a result of the 'trusted user' and roaming 'cops' that thousands have left and gone elsewhere.

[Posteritatis]

96. Then the same people would just whine about that whenever they got unrecced

"We need a better definition of 'trusted users!' Waaaaah!"

It'd just be another equivalent of post-count paranoia.

[jaysunb]

127. You're probably right.

:shrug:

I just wish the whole feature would go away, or give out an allotment for each user by the month. At least some people may be a little more thoughtful when using.

[HuckleB]

13. I think too many are addicted to it, but it's negativity hurts DU big time. -eom-

[seabeyond]

23. personally i think too many duers addicted to both of the features. but hey... it is their game

if they want to play.

[HuckleB]

24. That's the point. It's a game, and it gets ugly, which kills discussion.

[seabeyond]

27. meh... you would really let that stop you from discussing. hasnt stopped me.

i have seen threads where discussion comes up to what is happening with the record. i ignore all that nonsense.

[HuckleB]

32. That's great for you, but it has stopped a lot of people, and it has no good purpose.

The cons outweigh the pros, the risks outweigh the benefits. However it is put, it's not good for DU as a community.

[seabeyond]

35. whatdaya mean. first couple subthreads talk about the unrec... and then off to the races

i have never seen conversation stop because of discussion about hte unrecommends. silly

[HuckleB]

50. I have seen many wonderful threads get enough recs to get moving...

... and then a crowd piles on with the unrecs without bothering to comment. Over time, I've noticed that this trend happens to some specific posters, who may have offered controversial stuff in the past, but now appear to have a crowd that hates them enough to unrec anything they post blindly.

It's juvenile, and it serves no good purpose. It needs to go last year!

[seabeyond]

57. ah. maybe it is because i dont pay any attention to a rec or not. certainly not indicative if i

post on a thread. the number or not that is on that does not have the power to sink a thread. if it is interesting, people will talk. this post is still up and i imagine i have negative rec, yet people are still talking. in the whole of it, what has it mattered?

[Iggo]

36. Unrec doesn't kill discussion.

Whining about unrec does, though...lol.

[seabeyond]

37. meh... never stopped me from talking, lol. ignore a whine. nt

[HuckleB]

51. It keeps a lot of posts from the Greatest Page.

It serves as a middle finger from a group that hates certain posters over and over again.

It's become a very sick part of the DU community. It needs to go.

[Iggo]

53. Well, it keeps a lot of bullshit off the front page.

I swear to fucking god I do not miss seeing a whole rack of "Rec this thread if..." posts every time I come to DU's front page. Don't miss it at all.

[seabeyond]

58. ya, and then that. forgot about those. nt

[InvisibleTouch]

14. I think it's useful to have.

I've used it all of maybe twice (and once entirely by accident), but I still think it's a good option to have available.

[Panaconda]

20. It's pretty ridiculous

No big deal though.

Couldn't vote as some ad blocked by voting capacity. Ironic eh? True to life.

[customerserviceguy]

21. Too much bandwidth wasted on everything

that refers to rec and unrec, and that includes this poll.

Whoops, I guess that includes my post!

[seabeyond]

25. lol.. nt

[backscatter712]

26. I think unrec should be enhanced to unkick!

The more unrecs a thread has, the further down on the thread list it's dumped!

[seabeyond]

29. bah hahaha. that would be something. lol. then you can really fuck with someones thread

nah... wouldnt like to see that power.

[slackmaster]

28. Yes to Unrec. I like it so much, I've Unrec'ed this thread.

:nuke:

[seabeyond]

30. bah hahaha. hey. do you know i too am pro unrec.

and i am doing this poll in support of unrec cause i think the vast majority want unrec

i think i am personally saving our unrec, as you unrec me.

geeesh

how smart is that, lol

[Tuesday Afternoon]

31. if we didn't have either option, what would determine the content of the Home page and

what would happen to the greatest threads feature? How would this be determined? By the number of replies?

What system should be used to replace the rec/unrec feature?

[Iggo]

34. Unrec Yes.

[leftstreet]

38. unRec Yes

[QC]

39. The best thing about unrec is how it backfired on those who demanded it most loudly.

Irony rocks!

[seabeyond]

59. really

clueless to that.

[TexasObserver]

40. yes to unrecommended

[Ohio Joe]

43. unrec'd for STILL crying about unrec - nt

[seabeyond]

60. but, i am not crying. no tears, see.

i didnt put my position in the op but isnt that what you are suppose to do with a poll, to not munipulate?

[Behind the Aegis]

45. I voted: yes to unrecommended

However, if "unrecommend" is given the old heave-ho, then so should "recommend." I am honestly surprised there is such a fuss about this feature. Having it allows for and actual choice, you can either "recommend" or "unrecommend" something, prior to its addition no such choice existed.

[Speck Tater]

47. Other: Don't care one way or the other. Never use unrec. nt

[johnaries]

49. I remember when DU had neither.

then, Du added the rec feature. It worked very well at first, until some learned how to abuse it. Then DU added the unrecc feature and it was a straight plus or minus function - a lot of good posts were sunk because this was abused, as well. Now, at least it stops at zero.

I like the rec/unrec feature, despite the abuse. I think the DU Admins have found a workable balance. I do NOT want to go backwards to the old system.

that's my 2 cents.

[seabeyond]

62. DU Admins have found a workable balance.

i think so too. i wouldnt want just rec. have to have option to control the rec or none at all.

[the redcoat]

52. I would vote if there wasn't an ad covering literally every vote button.

Also, why isn't there a "who cares?" option?

Honestly. If a post is rec worthy, it will receive more than enough. One or two unrecs don't matter.

[seabeyond]

63. why isn't there a "who cares?" ... causei dont care if you dont care, lol

sorry about the ads. donation or a program everyone talks about that i am clueless cause i am totally computer illiterate will take care of the ads.....

[struggle4progress]

54. I think it's overall a good feature, that provides a nice mechanism

for getting inappropriate posts off the Greatest Page. But I'd have to add I'm sometimes very perplexed by the disrecommendation of some posts

[charlie]

55. Don't care

Rarely use rec, never use unrec.

[frustrated_lefty]

56. Unrec-ed for beating a dead horse.

[seabeyond]

64. it is all new to me. didnt know there was a fuss, or didnt pay much attention

and certainly didnot know if vast majority liked the feature.

so one persons old news may be a breaking story for another.

[NoPasaran]

61. I'd like to get rid of Rec, keep Unrec!

[seabeyond]

65. ah ha. well see, there is a twist. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

66. It should be restricted to donors

That would eliminate the trolls. Otherwise, keep it.

[trotsky]

68. Should both rec and unrec be restricted to donors?

As pointed out above, rec can also be abused by trolls to push an embarrassing thread onto the Greatest page.

[pipi_k]

82. I think it would be fair...

that if one is restricted to donors, the other should be as well.

That way, people would know that recs/unrecs are being done by their fellow members, and not some evil, shadowy troll-group.

Maybe then they would be less likely to accuse either group of being trolls.

[trotsky]

83. I agree.

I know there are lots of good DUers who can't afford to donate and I'd hate to take away functionality for them but if it would shut the unrec-whiners up, let's do it.

(Of course even if it was restricted to donors, you'd still have people claiming trolls were unreccing.)

[pipi_k]

88. Yep, that's the unfortunate thing...

people would still complain about unrec trolls.



As far as DUers who can't donate...I always donate for at least one each fundraising period. I think lots of others probably do, too, as I don't see a whole lot of DUers without donor stars...

We're all good...

:)

[proud2BlibKansan]

95. Yes

[ProgressiveEconomist]

69. NO to unrec--Everybody recs, but unrec empowers a covert minority to discourage

many thoughtful posters.

The only way I'd consider allowing UNREC is if it were drastically LIMITED in order to empower good writers, and not empower inarticulate UNREC-button-pushers. This could be done by, for example, granting 1 possible UNREC to any DUer for each 10 POSITIVE RECs that DUer's OPs earn. If you don't post good OPs yiourself, why should you be able to "sink" other DUers' OPs?

Good writing is difficult and time-consuming. IMO DU rules should encourage DUers to write good OPs. What is the contribution to our community of a relatively small percentage of DUers who mindlessly push the UNREC button over and over again, never write an OP, and seldom post even a reply? Why empower with UNLIMITED unrecs a relatively small crew of those who can't express themselves in thoughtful replies?

[Posteritatis]

97. Anyone who's discouraged by a number next to their post going down isn't terribly thoughtful. (nt)

[ProgressiveEconomist]

105. What discourages writers is the rapid SINKING of their posts

by an anonymous inarticulate minority, not the net rec number itself. All most DUers have to go on when choosing which OPs to read is the placement of posts on GD page 1 and the net rec number next to it.

When an anonymous minority can pounce on a new OP with a flurry unrecs, they quickly can make a thoughtful post indisinguishable from the vast majority of utter dreck OPs with well-deserved rec counts of ZERO. UNRECcers don't express their disapproval by writing articulate replies that kick OPs to the top of page 1. Instead, they keep other DUers from reading the OPs they pounce on, quickly sinking UNLIMITED numbers of them to page 3 with net rec counts of zero.

What's most galling to me is that net recs are truncated at zero. If we could see NEGATIVE net rec counts, at least we'd know what was going on and could find threads UNRECcers have pounced on. But the current system emposers an inarticulate minority with UMLIMITED unrecs and wipes away every trace of their covert and sneaky activity.

[SidDithers]

72. I love it...

And find the whining about unrec highly entertaining.

Sid

[MineralMan]

74. It seems that the poll results make it clear that unrec is liked.

Time to quit whining about it, I think.

[seabeyond]

76. seems to me. nt

[TexasObserver]

77. Once again, the DU membership lines up over 3-1 in favor of Unrec.

Once again, it exposes the Unrec complainers as a small but noisy group who simply can't stop whining about the feature.

[seabeyond]

78. i had never paid attention to the argument in the past. pretty much just ignored.

that is why i did the poll. i didnt know. but on another thread it was being discussed how du strongly favored unrec. good to see, they were correct.

[Upton]

79. delete

[Hassin Bin Sober]

94. Ironically, most of the whining here is about the supposed whiners.

Did it ever occur to you anti-whining whiners that you are part of the problem and threads like this will probably help hasten the demise of un-rec?

Lord of The Flies.

[TexasObserver]

99. That's the kind of delusion which drives the anti unreccers.

The non stop whining is about the rule. It's been going on since the rule change was made a year ago. Whining, and whining, and more whining. All because those who hate the feature can't have their way.

This is not a close call. There's a couple of dozen who seem to think if they just keep wailing it's going to bring the Walls of Unrec tumbling down. Maybe that worked for them all their lives, but it won't work here.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

101. More whining. Yep.

The whiners are even jumping on the OP and not realizing she is pro-un-rec.

LOL

[Upton]

80. I like it..

And I hope all the unrec whiners are keeping keeping close tabs on the results of this poll. Maybe it will finally shut them up.

[TexasObserver]

81. Me, too, but I think your optimism is misplaced.

The Unrec haters will never relent until they're required by rule or sanctions to stop whining about it. We're talking about a couple of dozen posters who won't stop complaining about the feature.

These polls always prove that it's a myth that an army of silent trolls is Unreccing the hell out of threads. Nope, it's just us members voting our opinions.

[CTyankee]

104. "Ah, zee GAROTTE is too good for them!"

This thread keeps on getting better and better!

I used to LOVE food fights at sleepaway camp!!

[seabeyond]

107. shzzz, this is nuthin. mellow if you ask me, lol. nt

[CTyankee]

113. Well, then, we should ESCALATE it!

Full dudgeon! No prisoners!

oh, sorry, got a bit carried away there...

[seabeyond]

116. Full dudgeon! No prisoners!... lmao , oh so cute. nah

really not an issue to get pumped about. i do have my moments though, on other issues.

funny

[CTyankee]

120. are you kidding? This is entertainment!

people going completey nuts over nothing! It's hysterical...

[seabeyond]

122. sheit, i looked for a real controversial thread for you on cnn.... only came up with dont hide shit

from mate on puter. or allow snooping. lol

figured wouldnt go well on du. let it go

well cool

enjoy

[mstinamotorcity]

85. It doesn't matter one way or the other

People are going to use the feature for their own reasons whatever they may be. I have seen some very interesting threads that have been started and just as fast as it had recommend you had it unrecommended. Now if the author of the op got a fact wrong or could use a better link to make a point I think education is the best tool. They should be corrected in a mature way instead of an un recommend. And sometimes it does seem like there may be some who go around un recommending without any reason. Except the one they perceive in their head. I personally don't use the feature. That is the un recommend. I believe if an Op has has a valid point and something I agree with or find an interesting read then I either recommend or make a comment. To me its childish to use an un recommend feature just because you don't like an Op or the Author of it.And trying to hide behind a un recommend doesn't help an author get better or lead to a real discussion on issues.And during this time and process in our country I find a lot of non-issues making news.Almost like the unrecommend feature.

[R. P. McMurphy]

87. voted, kicked & unrecommended!

:)

[taught_me_patience]

91. This poll shows unrec whiners are like teapartiers

Loud and noisy, but a significant minority.

[CTyankee]

93. Hey, a new twist!! Whee!

"am not!"

"are so!"

"am NOT!"

"are SO!"

"AM NOT!"

"ARE SO!"

...and so it goes...

:rofl:

[TonyMontana]

98. So? When do we call it? Looks like the unrecs have it

[Nye Bevan]

106. I like unrec and and I am happy to see that the vast majority of DU does, too.

I hope the tedious whiners don't get their way. Some people's egos are just so fragile that they never recover from seeing the net recs go down for a thread they started. And then of course they think their post was so brilliant that this could only have been the work of "unrec trolls". And then they start a "Waaaaaaah, I HATE the unrec feature!" thread which itself gets unrecced, and their hated of unrec becomes even more intense.

[seabeyond]

108. i am surprised. i never paid much attention to the issue

i didnt realize the whining was so tedious, or otherwise, lol

i was just curious.

[CakeGrrl]

110. Either both rec and unrec should stay, or both of them should go

Given all the complaining about unrecs, and the way rec counts are used to try to claim a superior position, it might improve the quality of some of the posts to do away with both, but for balance it should be all or nothing.

The anti-unrec contingent already got some appeasement by having the admins do away with displaying the net number of unrecs so it never goes below 0. And still it's an issue?

[Nye Bevan]

111. Rather than trying to appease the unrec haters, the admins should instruct the mods

to immediately lock any threads complaining about unrec.

[seabeyond]

117. ah, see, i didnt even know some of that stuff. but i agree

all or nothing.

[Liberal_in_LA]

112. 77% are voting wrong in this poll

[CTyankee]

115. everyone voting wrong in this poll should be shot at dawn. no blindfold.

[seabeyond]

119. cant find a thread with some meat in it. lol. that was yesterday. you missed out.

bloodthirsty.

[CTyankee]

121. Please, link, please, please please....!

[seabeyond]

123. funny

i have kids to pick up.... ramp up the anger on this thread. i dare you.

[seabeyond]

118. bah hahaha. cute. nt

[crazyjoe]

124. unrecd :-)

[apocalypsehow]

125. There are only three (small) groups of people on DU who dislike the UnRec feature:

1. The people who post nutty stuff about faked moon landings and LIHOP/MIHOP nonsense, i.e., conspiracy theorists, and

2. the folks who post divisive flame-bait or narrow-slice wedge issue OP's (for example, "Obama needs a primary challenge!"),

3. and, last but not least, OP's whose abrasive online personalities have made them unpopular at DU as a whole.

Just look at the OP's the people who constantly whine about the UnRec feature post: you'll see there's a very good reason they do so much :cry: about it.

[TexasObserver]

126. Very well said!

Some people can't take rejection.

People evolve coping mechanisms as children, and some never outgrow those. If throwing a fit worked for 18 years, why not keep using it? Others grow up, of course, and learn how to cope with frustration and disappointment.