Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. The Lounge
  3. A debate: making votes non-anonymous

A debate: making votes non-anonymous

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
questiondiscussion
104 Posts 51 Posters 2 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • P PIEBALDconsult

    No. Look at it this way; everyone who wants non-anonymous votes always seems to want it on other people's votes, but they never seem to say they want their own votes to be non-anonymous. How's about an experiment -- allow members to make their own votes non-anonymous and see how many actually do. I am against non-anonymous votes. I'd stop voting. This isn't Facebook.

    S Offline
    S Offline
    Slacker007
    wrote on last edited by
    #19

    PIEBALDconsult wrote:

    I'd stop voting.

    Exactly. If your down votes had any merit, and you could back them up, then you would still down-vote. That is the whole point. You should not be able to down-vote unless you can publicly back it up.

    L 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

      We can already be non-anonymous by leaving a comment, right? I think if people wanted to be non-anonymous they'd leave a comment...

      Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.

      Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra

      Regards, Sander

      C Offline
      C Offline
      CPallini
      wrote on last edited by
      #20

      Exactly. :thumbsup: I've upvoted you.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • C Chris Maunder

        When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

        cheers Chris Maunder

        G Offline
        G Offline
        GuyThiebaut
        wrote on last edited by
        #21

        I think basing a decision, that affects the majority, on the behaviour of a small minority is never a good move. There will always be outliers in terms of acceptable behaviour and even in this case if non-anonymous voting is bought in - all that will happen is that those people with a downvoting agenda will merely create anonymous user accounts again and again in order to perpetuate their campaign of downvoting. Leave things as they are and the majority of upvoters, where justified, will drown the voice of the sociopathic downvoters where they exist.

        “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

        ― Christopher Hitchens

        C 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • C Chris Maunder

          When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

          cheers Chris Maunder

          V Offline
          V Offline
          V 0
          wrote on last edited by
          #22

          Aaaah the long-lost debate. I used to be in favor for knowing who voted what. Nowadays I care less, but it is useful to know why someone up/downvoted something. That said, perhaps another mechanism can be put in place. Especially for downvotes, you get a "downvote reputation", the higher that "reputation", the less the downvote is weighed (and is counted as minus on your reputation). Upvotes counter the downvote reputation. That way univoters can downvote what they like, it won't be counted anymore after a while. A similar thing could "show" the name of the downvoter when the "downvote reputation" reaches a treshold and of course you can see that reputation on the profile at any time. Just an idea. :-)

          V.
          (MQOTD rules and previous solutions)

          D C 2 Replies Last reply
          0
          • C Chris Maunder

            When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

            cheers Chris Maunder

            W Offline
            W Offline
            Wastedtalent
            wrote on last edited by
            #23

            This could lead to 'revenge' downvoting?

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • C Chris Maunder

              When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

              cheers Chris Maunder

              A Offline
              A Offline
              Agent__007
              wrote on last edited by
              #24

              As others have said, I am in favor of leaving things as they are. For me, knowing who upvoted me doesn't matter much. And for the downvoters, if they didn't care to state why they downvoted, I do not give a damn about their opinion. For me, it's as simple as that.

              You have just been Sharapova'd.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • C Chris Maunder

                When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

                cheers Chris Maunder

                5 Offline
                5 Offline
                5imone
                wrote on last edited by
                #25

                I'd say yes. If you want to downvote you have to say it publicly; if someone get offended and try to childish counterattack (instead of asking for explanation) would have to do it publicly too; if the thing becomes to much flaming, one or both could be judged as abuse/spam. Maybe one could see the names of the voters only if he has reached a certain amount of reputation on that specific branch (articles, answers, discussions ...) hoping this to be a "grown up" index

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • C Chris Maunder

                  When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

                  cheers Chris Maunder

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  Rage
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #26

                  I think the real question here is : what is the requirement, e.g. why is voting needed ? We need votes: - In articles, since the mass effect brings good (=useful) articles on the top of all others, hence helping the community. - In Q&A and programming forums, to signal a good solution or a good proposition that leads to a solution. We do not need votes: - To express an opinion about the content or about someone. As someone already stated : this is not facebook. Therefore, my proposition: - No voting in non programming related forums -> there is simply no point. - Voting with indication of who voted for articles and questions : this would limit voting to the scope of technical content, and would probably also discourage practices like "univoting" or "voting for my friend because he is my friend".

                  Do not escape reality : improve reality !

                  C 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • C Chris Maunder

                    When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

                    cheers Chris Maunder

                    P Offline
                    P Offline
                    Pete OHanlon
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #27

                    I'd say no. I don't want to know who down voted me as the temptation to descend into petty revenge behaviour would be too tempting. If you show who voted, I predict two things: 1. An increase in fake accounts just for voting. 2. A dramatic fall off in the number of people actively using the site.

                    X 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • C Chris Maunder

                      When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

                      cheers Chris Maunder

                      M Offline
                      M Offline
                      Munchies_Matt
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #28

                      Name and shame the downvoters I say, on every post.

                      A C 2 Replies Last reply
                      0
                      • M Munchies_Matt

                        Name and shame the downvoters I say, on every post.

                        A Offline
                        A Offline
                        Agent__007
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #29

                        Is that just because you face them a lot? :laugh:

                        You have just been Sharapova'd.

                        M 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • J Johnny J

                          Ah, but maybe it IS broke! Who gets to decide that? ;)

                          Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
                          Anonymous
                          -----
                          The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
                          Winston Churchill, 1944
                          -----
                          I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
                          Me, all the time

                          D Offline
                          D Offline
                          Daniel Pfeffer
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #30

                          Johnny J. wrote:

                          Ah, but maybe it IS broke! Who gets to decide that?

                          Last I heard, it was Chris.

                          If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. --Winston Churchill

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • C Chris Maunder

                            When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

                            cheers Chris Maunder

                            OriginalGriffO Offline
                            OriginalGriffO Offline
                            OriginalGriff
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #31

                            For me, this is a difficult question. I'm against "authority without responsibility" and at present we have that: anonymous downvotes (or abuse votes) promote "bullying" tactics, because there is no penalty that can be applied to deliberately trying to hurt someone (even if only their feelings). So the less mature and more childish members do what they want, safe in the knowledge that nobody knows and there can be no retaliation. But... Named downvotes? They encourage revenge, which it's easy to see descend into a tit-for-tat smacking session. Named upvotes? Nice feelings are good, but I can't see the value without named downvotes at the same time. Perhaps what we need is a cost associated with downvotes: perhaps if you downvote the same number of points are deducted from your account? Mind you, you'd hear the screams of some members even if you were deaf! :laugh: For me, I'm happy either way: You can attach my name to my up and downvotes with no problem.

                            Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                            "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                            "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                            D 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • P Pete OHanlon

                              I'd say no. I don't want to know who down voted me as the temptation to descend into petty revenge behaviour would be too tempting. If you show who voted, I predict two things: 1. An increase in fake accounts just for voting. 2. A dramatic fall off in the number of people actively using the site.

                              X Offline
                              X Offline
                              Xmen Real
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #32

                              Pete O'Hanlon wrote:

                              1. An increase in fake accounts just for voting.

                              Thats always a problem and to fix it there should be a reputation limit. That can only be achieved when you have posted something good enough.

                              Pete O'Hanlon wrote:

                              2. A dramatic fall off in the number of people actively using the site.

                              So people would leave just because they cant down vote. I think it would be better without them.

                              TVMU^P[[IGIOQHG^JSH`A#@`RFJ\c^JPL>;"[,*/|+&WLEZGc`AFXc!L %^]*IRXD#@GKCQ`R\^SF_WcHbORY87֦ʻ6ϣN8ȤBcRAV\Z^&SU~%CSWQ@#2 W_AD`EPABIKRDFVS)EVLQK)JKQUFK[M`UKs*$GwU#QDXBER@CBN% R0~53%eYrd8mt^7Z6]iTF+(EWfJ9zaK-i’TV.C\y<pŠjxsg-b$f4ia>

                              ----------------------------------------------- 128 bit encrypted signature, crack if you can

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • V V 0

                                Aaaah the long-lost debate. I used to be in favor for knowing who voted what. Nowadays I care less, but it is useful to know why someone up/downvoted something. That said, perhaps another mechanism can be put in place. Especially for downvotes, you get a "downvote reputation", the higher that "reputation", the less the downvote is weighed (and is counted as minus on your reputation). Upvotes counter the downvote reputation. That way univoters can downvote what they like, it won't be counted anymore after a while. A similar thing could "show" the name of the downvoter when the "downvote reputation" reaches a treshold and of course you can see that reputation on the profile at any time. Just an idea. :-)

                                V.
                                (MQOTD rules and previous solutions)

                                D Offline
                                D Offline
                                Daniel Pfeffer
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #33

                                A "downvote reputation" is an interesting idea. One problem I see with it is that those who are more involved with the site tend to downvote (or mark as spam/abuse) more often. I suggest that the "downvote reputation" increment be weighted as follows: 1. If no-one else downvotes the message, the "downvote reputation" receive a full increment. 2. If others downvote it, a partial increment. 3. If the message reaches a certain threshold of downvoters, no increment is given. The downvote increment should also be weighted in similar fashion to the upvote increment - with great power comes great responsibility. I'm not quite sure how this can be efficiently implemented. Perhaps someone can come up with a more efficient variant.

                                If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. --Winston Churchill

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                  For me, this is a difficult question. I'm against "authority without responsibility" and at present we have that: anonymous downvotes (or abuse votes) promote "bullying" tactics, because there is no penalty that can be applied to deliberately trying to hurt someone (even if only their feelings). So the less mature and more childish members do what they want, safe in the knowledge that nobody knows and there can be no retaliation. But... Named downvotes? They encourage revenge, which it's easy to see descend into a tit-for-tat smacking session. Named upvotes? Nice feelings are good, but I can't see the value without named downvotes at the same time. Perhaps what we need is a cost associated with downvotes: perhaps if you downvote the same number of points are deducted from your account? Mind you, you'd hear the screams of some members even if you were deaf! :laugh: For me, I'm happy either way: You can attach my name to my up and downvotes with no problem.

                                  Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                                  D Offline
                                  D Offline
                                  Daniel Pfeffer
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #34

                                  OriginalGriff wrote:

                                  Perhaps what we need is a cost associated with downvotes: perhaps if you downvote the same number of points are deducted from your account?

                                  If the amount of points deducted were also weighted by the number of people agreeing with you (also downvoting the message), you might have something. My problem is that I'm not sure that the accounting involved would be worth the effort. Perhaps something like this would work: 1. You downvote a message. 2. Your downvote (including your name) is displayed immediately for all to see. 3. The points to be deducted are calculated 24 hours after the first downvote for the message. 4. The points to be deducted are calculated on a scale based on the number of people who agree with you, and weighted by your reputation (with great power comes great responsibility). 5. Any downvotes that occur more than 24 hours after the first downvote are neither displayed nor accounted for in the points calculation. Comments?

                                  If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. --Winston Churchill

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • C Chris Maunder

                                    When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

                                    cheers Chris Maunder

                                    C Offline
                                    C Offline
                                    chriselst
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #35

                                    It's a shame you don't have some method of organising some sort of pole to count people's votes. ;P My vote goes for I don't care.

                                    Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

                                    C 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • C Chris Maunder

                                      When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

                                      cheers Chris Maunder

                                      B Offline
                                      B Offline
                                      BillWoodruff
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #36

                                      I prefer things stay the way they are with one exception: on the Lounge, I'd like anonymous down-voting back. But, I'd like to see the "rep cost" of a Lounge post down-vote (to the poster) be exactly 1 point, with no "weighting" by CP status. And, I'd like to see the down-voter on a Lounge post also "pay" one point. cheers, Bill

                                      «I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center» Kurt Vonnegut.

                                      C 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • A Agent__007

                                        Is that just because you face them a lot? :laugh:

                                        You have just been Sharapova'd.

                                        M Offline
                                        M Offline
                                        Munchies_Matt
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #37

                                        Yes. :sigh:

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • C Chris Maunder

                                          When someone upvotes a message or article I wrote it's nice seeing who it was how voted. Really nice. Conversely when someone downvotes you there's often a "who on Earth would downvote that?" We've talked about this a lot and so I bring this up as something that's already been brought up, but times change as do opinions. So onto the debate: Whereas knowing your admirers and foes brings either a warm fuzzy feeling or concrete contact to discuss improvements, be it resolved that showing names next to votes is a Good Thing. Those debating for the motion please state their case, and those debating against provide their counter-arguments.

                                          cheers Chris Maunder

                                          M Offline
                                          M Offline
                                          Maximilien
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #38

                                          Keep vote anonymous to the users, until there is an actual issue with posting on particular articles; then use the moderators to review the voting. Keep the upvote/like button on the forum posts. If you want to modify this, then you will need REAL moderators and REAL curating for the articles.

                                          I'd rather be phishing!

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups