Re: Downvoting Dilemma

[adamsj]

I'm not very concerned with changes 1 or 3, but I think 2 is overcomplicated. I'd rather see a straight "one downvote equals one XP lost by the caster". A downvote is different from an upvote in obvious ways--in particular, unlike an upvote, a downvote can be cast maliciously. So my feeling is that if someone feels strongly enough about a node to downvote it, then let them put their money...er, their XP...where their mouth is.

Update: In response to Masem's comment below, let me note that using votebots to upvote a central account is improper but not malicious. There's a limit to what can be done, and I'm in favor of doing what can be done to restrict malicious behavior directed at individuals without unreasonably restricting what the general population can do. I'm also inclined to think that discouraging quick reaping of nodes is a Good Thing.

I do agree that downvotes aren't inherently malicious.

I also think it's odd that we tell people to just shrug it off when they're hit with massive XP loss through snipering but balk at a single XP-- for voluntary action--even if it's in the public good, sometimes you have to pay for it.

adamsj

They laughed at Joan of Arc, but she went right ahead and built it. --Gracie Allen

[Masem]

But you can also use upvotes maliciously too; if one had several low-level accounts that upvoted anything on a main account, it's just as bad as votebots downvoting someone else.

In addition, there's times where a downvote is not being used maliciously; one example is to help prevent flames and derogatory posts from the site. In this case, the voter that helps to downvote and invoke nodereaper is doing the site a favor, and should not be punished for it.

I don't think that beyond trying to find votebots and remove them, there's much that can be done to improve the downvoting problem. At least, through modification of the moderation system without hurting other parts of it that already work well.

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Dr. Michael K. Neylon - [e-mail] || "You've left the lens cap of your mind on again, Pinky" - The Brain