It's felt that a lot of the perceived hostility on GameGrep stems from the fact that negative ratings can be assigned to user comments. I'd like to throw an idea out to the community in regards to altering this system. This change would come in the form of simply removing the "Thumbs down" option entirely and instead working on a "Thumbs up" only basis. This would mean that if you like what a fellow member has written, or if you feel that a well voiced and valid point was made, you can proceed to give appropriate props. Troublesome comments would be handled through a report feature that has no affect upon the comment itself until a moderator has seen to it. This system could extend further, providing an option to sort replies in order of "Most respected".

Does anyone have any further suggestions for such a change, or even any issues with it?

<sub>Yes I 100% Agree with this suggestion. I've stated many times as well as many other members how there is a gamegrep thumbs down crew present and abusing the feature. Even iLLmatic called them puppets, which made me lol irl.

Whether certain members want to believe or acknowledge it is their choice. I've expressed this months ago in this thread I didn't get the responses I wanted. But it was mainly from one member. But I still stand by what I wrote then, and im glad Xenc has suggested this, he also have seen in abuse of the feature and is sick and tired of it. Maybe now people will understand the abuse its been causing for months.

Imo this will make Game-grepping a more fair and friendlier place.</sub>

Well after much thought I think it's worth a try, we can always change back.

But I really think people need to get over the whole thumbing down, if you get your comment removed then fair enough but how does it effect you if someone disagrees with you and gives you a thumb down? That's what its for after all, it seems however that people just can't take it.

But that aside I second it

You have to to take into consideration that "Thumbing down" in itself is rather ambiguous. Did the comment receive a negative rating because it was offensive, because it was poorly written or simply because the user didn't agree with their view? Furthermore, the fact that you believe that some members "just can't take it" is in itself a strong reason for change. We shouldn't allow site features to cause such problems. It just puts members off of commenting.

quote Final Blade

<sub>Yes I 100% Agree with this suggestion. I've stated many times as well as many other members how there is a gamegrep thumbs down crew present and abusing the feature. Even iLLmatic called them puppets, which made me lol irl.

Whether certain members want to believe or acknowledge it is their choice. I've expressed this months ago in this thread I didn't get the responses I wanted. But it was mainly from one member. But I still stand by what I wrote then, and im glad Xenc has suggested this, he also have seen in abuse of the feature and is sick and tired of it. Maybe now people will understand the abuse its been causing for months.

Imo this will make Game-grepping a more fair and friendlier place.</sub>

<sub>I'm unsurprised that Final Blade made the first comment, since all of his comments get thumbed down, regardless of whether they're logical or not.

But yes, I agree completely. It feels disheartening to get thumbed down. Only thumb ups should be allowed in my opinion.</sub>

Maybe we can keep the thumbs up/thumbs down, except have the counter not go negative? At the very least, have it not display negative. Under the hood, it can go negative (like if somebody thumbs down at zero), but won't display as such.

Then you can do a +1 point reward if a comment gets to 5/10 thumbs, and have it not be a point of contention.

<sub>What purpose would that hold Akira? Its no difference to this suggestion. I rather not have the thumbs down period. Instead use the same rating as you do for articles on comments. Because think about this, if I get +2 thumbs cause someone liked it, then you keep the thumbs down in your suggestion that means I will still lose thumbs for whatever reason and quite frankly thats just as bad. People have been abusing this feature for good knows how long everyone knows it mostly, this needs to go. I would also like to hear Redemption opinions on this. If I get a thumbs up I want it to stay cause obvious it will negate the thumbs down crew gamegrep has for months. Your suggestion Akira is no different to the current problem.

Capn its obvious I would be the one commenting first since I have had how many comments of mine which are worthy of points get negatives only cause people think they're cool thumbing them down. Also I've recorded some of my thumbs on my posts and my theory holds, one time I got - thumbs for stating how Nintendo are milking Mario Zelda and MP, which im sure it was from Ninty fanboys, and only then someone said "what the hell does he have minus thumbs? He's right"
Then I got thumbs up again. And then many times, I counted 40 times, that I've had at least 1 point one day only to get a negative thumbs the next day. Seriously why would you thumb down a comment if someone found it worthy of a thumbs up? Obviously it was good enough to get a thumbs, thats another example of the abusing and not being fair. Its one of the many reasons why i've stop going on gamegrep everyday.
And also if you care to read my link when I was talking about this many people from my knowledge and sources claim to thumb my posts down because im final blade and they hate me. And yes as crazy as that sounds its true and one of them actually admitted they've done it. And thats not fair and not how to use the feature. This will undoubtedly make gamegrep posting better place, knowing the only thing my posts are going to get is thumbs up or just stay at 0, and if they do gets thumbs up they can't be brought down.
This is one of the many reasons why I've been getting mad at gamegrep system with it. Too many people just hating on the member and thumbs them down for no reason.

Oh and Xenc if for some reason you may like Akira suggestion would it be possible to make a system on the thumbs rating, similar to report, why your thumbing down? Like a pop up box stating your reason and it will be processed with or by the mods? I do want your suggestion but this will maybe stop the problem to if this was added, I would rather have the original suggestion of course. Just throwing around some ideas.</sub>

This message was edited by Final Blade on Jul 20 2008.

_{I like the idea of "why are you thumbing down this comment"? If we're to keep thumbing down, I think it shouldn't go lower than zero, and you should give a reason as to why you're thumbing down.}

I don't see the reason to remove it.

I have rarely seen an article that has comments with enough thumbs to actually be removed from view. (perhaps once or twice in my whole GG career)

Also - to reiterate what Magimaster just said - we should be able to handle if someone didn't agree with what we wrote, or the way we wrote it, or of you just wrote some inane response that shouldn't be there in the first place.


If it is absolutely necessary- then perhaps a mandatory reply if you are going to thumb down a comment, but definitely not complete removal.


Just my $0.02

quote Magimaster

I don't think there's any need to completely remove the thumbs down system. Being a journalist, you're supposed to be able to handle the criticism. So you got thumb-downed, get over it. It's the internet. And all it means is that somebody doesn't necessarily agree with your perspective, but hey, everybody's entitled to their own opinions. Although, I'll admit that the system is a pain in the ass when fanboys start to gratuitously thumb you down for the slightest criticism.

If you are thumbed down that often then its time to reconsider your words before you say something.

I'm not against the thumbing down, but I'd prefer that we have the option to show comments that were thumbed down below the threshold. At least that way we can see if someone's being thumbed down for being an idiot or if its just a case of people getting their panties in a bunch for no reason.

quote Magimaster

I don't think there's any need to completely remove the thumbs down system. Being a journalist, you're supposed to be able to handle the criticism.

quote Smoke N a Pancake

If you are thumbed down that often then its time to reconsider your words before you say something.

I'm not against the thumbing down, but I'd prefer that we have the option to show comments that were thumbed down below the threshold. At least that way we can see if someone's being thumbed down for being an idiot or if its just a case of people getting their panties in a bunch for no reason.

I see absolutely no problem with the Thumbs down feature.

Fanboys or not, people should be able to voice their opinions.