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Ask DN: Why do you downvote the message of the day?

6 years ago from , Designer @ Google | Author @ O'Reilly | Podcaster @ DesignReview

Sometimes I see a message of the day that can be controversial or just plain sucks, but often I see an awesome one that has quite a few downvotes and it makes me scratch my head.

Why do you choose to downvote a MOTD?

For example, at the time of this post, theres a great quote: “Don’t hire a dog, and then bark yourself. – David Ogilvy” — Courtesy Surjith S. +74 / -15

20% of votes disliked it enough to downvote it. I cant see why.

Personally, I downvote when: 1. Clearly self promotion & I dont find much value 2. I completely disagree 3. Off topic & a topic outside designers main interests

24 comments

  • Catalin CimpanuCatalin Cimpanu, 6 years ago

    Most people are negative all the time. It's in their way of being. I usually upvote the shit out of everything so people feel happy and share more links the next time they log in. If karma points is what makes them happy, then I'll give them what they want.

    31 points
    • Grzegorz CiwoniukGrzegorz Ciwoniuk, 6 years ago

      take my upvote sir, be happy.

      4 points
    • Account deleted 6 years ago

      Well said! People tend to focus more on the negative than on the positive. That's why a downvote button on posts are a bad idea.

      7 points
      • Anatoli NicolaeAnatoli Nicolae, 6 years ago

        Totally right! Just imagine Facebook with a dislike button. Upvote button would force people to stay positive.

        1 point
    • Eric H.Eric H., 6 years ago

      I began to only vote on the posts themselves when I learned comment voting is pointless. You get no "karma" for it. It's just a shiny object. But I shall upvote your comment right now, mainly because you'll be alerted to it via this Reply. Silly, but I want my vote "to count".

      Peace

      3 points
      • Jonathan ShariatJonathan Shariat, 6 years ago

        Yeah I think comment votes should count. But they still 1 function right now which is organizing the best comments

        2 points
    • Jonathan ShariatJonathan Shariat, 6 years ago

      100% agree. I few an upvote a very small way to say "Hey, good job, I like this. I brought me a small amount of joy" or it was beneficial to the conversation

      Why are some people so stingy with it?

      2 points
  • Thibault MaekelberghThibault Maekelbergh, 6 years ago

    Self promotion. Extremely unrelated to DN topics. Unfunny (you can judge me). Recent repost of earlier MOTD

    9 points
  • Will BakerWill Baker, 6 years ago

    I downvote something because I dislike it. I downvoted the Ogilvy quote because I dislike it.

    That I don't think it's great is no less valid than that you think it is. Some people probably love the MOTDs that you think suck. The up/downvote system is intended to be an anonymous democratic vetting of content.

    Negative opinions shouldn't require any more justification than positive ones—they're equally important.

    People who voted for Obama downvoted Romney.

    3 points
    • Jonathan ShariatJonathan Shariat, 6 years ago

      But its not just 2 voting options, there are actually 3.

      • Upvote

      • No vote

      • Down vote

      If I don't agree but I can see how its on topic and others might find it good. I leave as is.

      But when something is negatively influencing the community, or I disagree and think its wrong. I downvote.

      0 points
      • Will BakerWill Baker, 6 years ago

        That's a good point, and I suppose I do the same. I guess it just comes down to what sets us off individually; what we abide versus what we find destructive.

        0 points
  • Jonathan CutrellJonathan Cutrell, 6 years ago

    I downvote when I disagree with the sentiment, usually.

    For instance, if someone were to re-post "Move fast and break things", I would downvote it, because I think it's irresponsible to adopt that as a pseudo-mantra for design/development.

    2 points
  • Cihad TurhanCihad Turhan, 6 years ago

    I downvote when

    • someone promotes himself or a company/product related to him (yeah I look up whose it is)
    • a post belongs to specific community or culture that I don't understand or can't laugh

    but sometimes, I just don't vote. For example the current motd you mentioned is a good saying but doesn't mean so much to me so I leave it as it is.

    2 points
    • Riho KrollRiho Kroll, 6 years ago

      Why? What's wrong with self promotion? If the content is interesting and relevant, why does it matter who posted it?

      5 points
      • Account deleted 6 years ago

        People can't stand to see others happy. It's the way of the world.

        Expect backlash and troll-ish comments ;)

        2 points
  • Andrew LiebchenAndrew Liebchen, 6 years ago (edited 6 years ago )

    I downvote sometimes just to be a stick in the mud. It's a compulsion. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

    2 points
    • Veronica G.Veronica G., 6 years ago

      Yeah. Me too. I once posted a MOTD which was destroyed and 2 hours later someone else posts the same exact thing and he gets 50+ votes.

      3 points
  • Taulant SulkoTaulant Sulko, 6 years ago

    Because I can.

    0 points
  • Giulio MichelonGiulio Michelon, 6 years ago

    "Be nice. Or else."

    0 points
  • Surjith S MSurjith S M, 6 years ago

    I down vote all things Apple, Mac or Sketch. Because I don't have any of them.. :-)

    And the quote mentioned is posted by me.. :-)

    0 points
  • Surat Hat YaiSurat Hat Yai, 6 years ago

    I usually downvote stuff when I don't get it.

    0 points
    • Daryl GinnDaryl Ginn, almost 6 years ago

      Wish I could downvote this.

      4 points
      • Surat Hat YaiSurat Hat Yai, almost 6 years ago

        Why.... am I suppose to upvote crap that people post there like a dumb monkey... like you do? If it's a stupid quote.... what am I suppose to do? Upvote it so more shit like that is posted?

        0 points
        • Daryl GinnDaryl Ginn, almost 6 years ago

          Actually I rarely cast a vote. I rarely visit this site as it is. You said you downvote if you don't understand it, which is stupid. Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean it's bad and deserves a downvote. You're punishing someone else for your own ignorance.

          1 point