For Those Interested in Rec/Unrec - A Tip:

[MineralMan]

If a thread is very active, odds are that you can find it on the Top Tens page:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=greatest_threads&topten=1

On that page, you'll find two lists than can help you determine the number of recs and the proportion of recs and unrecs for the thread. The On The Fence list shows the proportion of recs and unrecs for threads that are very close in the numbers of the two. The Just Recs list shows the actual number of recs for threads on that list.

This page will only show this information on threads which are very active or that have large numbers of votes. The lists are time-limited, as well.

I know that many DUers aren't aware of the Top Tens page, so I'm posting this for those who are curious about such things. It's a very interesting page, and can help you find the most active and the most controversial posts on DU.

[CleanGreenFuture]

1. From what I've been able to tell, recs and unrecs are useless.

[MineralMan]

4. I agree with you on that point. However, many people seem

very interested in them, and the page I linked to offers information some may not know. Often, active threads with 0 recs actually have many recs, but they are balanced by unrecs.

[CleanGreenFuture]

11. Agreed, many people hang on them. But when there seems to be a cadre of

un-reccers working the board, any practical value is eliminated.

Regardless, thanks for posting your OP. I personally was not aware of what you've pointed out. And when a post is good enough to overcome the un-reccers, it's good to know about them.

[Posteritatis]

14. You do know the admins have regularly denied said cadre's existence, right? (nt)

[CleanGreenFuture]

15. No, I didn't know that. But my comment is based only on what I've seen myself.

Their existence (or not) is not something I'd waste time debating though.

Again, thank you for your OP.

[snot]

32. Actually,

At one point I started a list of valuble OP's that got sunk by unrecs -- NOT my own -- and it's not just that they don't make the Home Page; they don't make Greatest, either -- i.e., as a result of unrecs, almost no one saw them at all.

I didn't keep it up, but here are three:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8645263

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=114x79553

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9142925

(I was thinking I'd actually sent these to an admin, but can't find the message, so perhaps I gave up on it, since I was getting flamed every time I mentioned unrec'ing.)

Someone finally did tell me about Top Tens, and I've found it very helpful.

So, Mineral Man, THANK YOU for this post.

[Warpy]

16. I disagree. Recs are what get posts to the home page

when something really needs a bit more attention. I keep strange hours so I've found a lot of things there that I've missed on the main page.

Unrecs can help something particularly idiotic sink like a stone.

[CleanGreenFuture]

18. I respect your opinion. However, un-recs can also keep worthy posts from being seen

on the home page as well.

I don't use un-rec. But when I like or agree with a post, I will rec it.

[elocs]

23. Very few threads get enough Recs to make it to the Home Page, and then only for a short time.

But anytime you kick a thread you move it to the top of its forum, the next day, the next week.

The prevailing opinion here is that anyone who UnRecs someone's thread or one with which they agree must be a troll or one of the infamous unreccers.

However, when these very same people use UnRec against a thread with which they disagree they consider their action to be righteous and holy, and they are no way trolls.

Bottom line: UnRec in no way stops any OP from being seen.

[snot]

31. +1!

[BNJMN]

19. Hive mind has spoken. Huzzah Hazzah.

:D

Guess that was pretty idiotic.

Oh well.

:D

[Rex]

2. Interesting, thanks.

[fascisthunter]

3. very interesting... thanks

[Wilms]

5. Someone unrec'd your OP.

Unreal!

[MineralMan]

7. Someone always unrecs OPs. It doesn't matter what the subject

is. That's why the whole thing is pretty useless. But, many people are interested in it.

[madinmaryland]

9. Un-reccing your post for whining about un-recs.

[MineralMan]

20. Thank you for your interest.

Actually, I don't particularly care about either. I'm interested in discussion. I just thought a link to the Top Tens page might be interesting for some people. I use the Hot Threads list to find very active threads if I don't have much time to browse DU. That and the Most Active Threads list are a great way to locate the threads that are generating the most discussion. The other two lists happen to be on that page, as well.

I hope you enjoy your weekend.

[ScreamingMeemie]

Yes...we know that you've received rec's for your thread...

;)

[MineralMan]

8. Yes, I have. I've also received unrecs.

That happens on every OP I post, and on every OP anyone posts. I guess I don't take your point.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. I guess not.

:rofl:

[madinmaryland]

24. I find the recommending a thread is pretty obvious, but I like to give a reason

for un-reccing a thread. (i.e. faulty sources, bad premises, etc.) That has nothing to do with this thread, which doesn't merit a rec or an un-rec. Just interesting reading.

Thanks.

[SheilaT]

6. I see no value in

the rec/unrec function, and have literally never used it.

I also don't make use of the Ignore function, and just exercise a little self-control about what I respond to, or even read.

[Rex]

13. I refuse to use the ignore feature and sadly I have no self-control.

I guess I just don't play well with others.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. The New and Hot list can also be used to work out unrecs

with a little maths:

Recommendations + unrecommendations + replies = points
So you subtract the number of replies from the 'New and Hot' points; that gives you the recs+unrecs
And then you have a simultaneous equation! (See, you knew you learnt about them for a reason ...)

'Votes' =recs-unrecs
NaH-replies = recs+unrecs
so, subtracting the first equation from the second,
NaH-replies-votes=unrecs+unrecs
unrecs=(NaH-replies-votes)/2

eg 'Bernie Sanders or Teahadists/Republicans' currently has 42 points, 3 votes and 13 replies, so:
unrecs=(42-13-3)/2=13
and therefore recs=13+3=16

You'll thank me eventually. :evilgrin:

Of course, if 'votes' is showing '0', that could mean there are more unrecs than recs, but you don't know how many, so this wouldn't work then.

[MineralMan]

17. Whew! Lots of calculations going on there.

As an aside, one of the most interesting differences between American and British English is "maths" vs. "math.: Whether to add the plural "s" to the casual abbreviation of mathematics is a fascinating study in the two dialects. It's all tied up in how the two dialects handle collective nouns. I just love that stuff.

Of course my interest in such things is a mark of my personality that may or may not be admirable. :rofl:

[MadHound]

21. That you are so infatuated with rec/unrec says a lot about you,

None of it good.

[MineralMan]

22. Thank you for your contribution to the discussion.

:hug:

[Sal Minella]

27. It's a mystery to me how anyone could see "infatuation" in

someone posting helpful information.

Nearly every day, I check the page with "New & Hot" and "On The Fence" and "Most Discussed" and "Just Recs" to get an MRI of what is going on with DU -- sort of like your doc listens to your lungs, counts your heart rate, checks your cholesterol and asks how you're doing to get the full picture.

"Infatuated" -- I can't imagine how one would arrive at this conclusion.

[elocs]

25. Way, way too many DUers obsess about Rec/UnRec. It's stupid.

You can have DUers who will post a well written and considered OP and it will get few, if any Recs.

Then you have your well-known DUers who post numerous threads each day and all of their threads get numerous Recs even if they say little as other DUers fall all over themselves to Rec the thread declaring it to be the most insightful piece they have ever read.

I actually think that if you post a thread here and it does not get many UnRecs, then you are doing something wrong.

[onehandle]

26. Thankfully going away all together in DU3. nt

[MineralMan]

28. Yup. I think it will be good to get rid of it.

I'm very interested to see how DU3 will change the feel of DU. I've played with it in one of the beta runs, but the new rules aren't in place, so it's hard to tell what changes will be made.

[global1]

29. How Do You Get To The Top Tens Page Without The Link You ......

provided? Is it the icon with the star?

[MineralMan]

30. Yes. You can click the star. On the resulting page, you'll see

a link to the Top Tens page. Excellent question.

[dbt]

33. The lack of recommendations for this thread is just woeful!

It's obvious that precious few of us see the brilliance of your posts. Alas, I am doing all I can, but you and I *must* be surrounded by Philistines...

:loveya: