Who is in favor of the downvote and what are your arguments?

Question

So I see people making a lot of downvotes but many feel frustrated and don't know the reason for that downvote. Isn't enough the Like button? If you don't like just don't press it. Isn't more fair like this?

Answer 1

I think the "downvoting" system is effective in some cases only. The problem is that it's being misused for too many different purposes and there should be other options that suit these situations better, for example:

1) Spam or inappropriate content:
There could be a "flag" button publicly visible so others know that someone else has already reported it and they can help reporting it as well. Because when I hit the current "report" button, I feel like nothing really happens, I never get feedback from SoloLearn telling me it's been revised, and people tend to write a comment saying "Spam or Reported" on those posts to notify others so they can find it and help report it too, but seriously wouldn't you prefer seeing in your newsfeed comments related to programming instead of spam being reported?, it seems like SoloLearn only revises the content that's received multiple reports, and mainly pays attention to the reports received from players who have been given the "moderator" badge, I think downvotes are ambiguous in this case.

2) Stolen codes:
There should be a special button to claim legitimacy of codes and provide a visible area where a link to the original code is attached.

3) Codes:
A downvote button is not needed, this is a learning platform, how would you be helping someone -specially a newbie- with a dislike? The purpose here should be to try to encourage them, and if there's something you don't like or you think that could be improved in a code, you could write it in the comments :)

4) Regular Q/A Discussions:
This is a matter of perspective for everyone, instead of thinking "Oh, someone didn't 'LIKE' my opinion" try thinking "Oh ok, someone doesn't 'AGREE' with my opinion", this way people wouldn't be demoralized by disapproval, but acknowledge that we are all different and not everybody is going to think the same way as we do all the time, and that is totally fine, although I think before hitting that button with an "I disagree" intention you should do a proper research on the topic being discussed.

Answer 2

The only reasons I use down vote are :
- inappropriate content (I give no reason for this one but I do it really rarely, mainly for website advertisement),
- stealed code (I say it at least once per user).

I think down voting the code of others without telling them why is rather an act of anger/jealousy/stupidity than a real opinion.
If you want to down vote my code, I will not care, it is your right. But I prefer when you say why, so that I can take your reasons into consideration !

Answer 3

i mean with the negative downvote, sometimes its applied to nonsense posts put in the discussion that just don't help the community and doesn't really have anything concerning programming. i know this pretty well since my first post ever was given 2 downvotes because it had nothing to do with anything whatsoever and also because i understand now that it didn't really help anybody. yes, you can argue the downvote sometimes is used wrong and honestly most people who downvote don't really give a reason why even when they downvote an actual serious question. i think people should just be clear with what they think is wrong about a post and not just put a downvote

Answer 4

however i am in favor of the downvote when there is inappropriate content, irrelevant content, or usually when people steal posts/code wordforword

Answer 5

I'd be okay with it, if it was not anonymous. If it was, people would be less dramatic and obviously more thoughtful about it. Then it would really mean something.

Answer 6

Discouragement it's not an option! I'm sorry but this is serious. Just heard some people who have less than a month or two who have started and they are Discouraged by Downvotes! For me you can downvote all my post and I don't care but for newbies is a terrible situation. It's a fundamental principle not to scare the students even with that small arrow! It makes you feel bad and I think that's an issue for me and for the best platform we are lucky to have!

Answer 7

hahahah thank you @Klodian 😊 I can tell you're caring, I'm sure you're the kind of teacher everybody would like to have 😊👌

Answer 8

I want either a downvote system or we shouldn't be able to downvote at all.
Downvites are there to show that we have done something wrong, in someone's opinion. But we must help them by sharing why they are wrong and not only are they are wrong.
So my downvote system looks like:
Upvoted:
/* S Vengat */
Klodian Lula
hasiel
Downvoted:
-Nicolas Sandro
Reason: this content is irrelevant.
-Mikey Wilderman
Reason:This is a repeat of what has already been mentioned.

These names are involved only for the purpose of illustartion.

Answer 9

definitely. i only started a few days ago on sololearn because i felt it was one of the best websites out there for teaching basics but i would have rather been told directly that what i was doing was wrong rather than downvoted since it gave me discouragement, and had i not known to just keep on going and had i not been feeling so strong about learning programming i would have probably stopped 2 days ago. its best for people who are new such as myself to be vocal about their opinions on sololearn or code academy or any other basic learning website and their questions to be answered rather than downvoted. downvotes should also be made for people to see

Answer 10

I want to thank you for your answers but I have more than 3 years going on conferences and advocating the better ways we need to teach programming. As a professor I've seen students that are scared since the begining from big chunks of code that they are usually seing in textbooks or seminar. Me myself sufered from bad proffessors in general and I don't want the same happens to my students. I found sololearn as the best platform to teach to newbies and some intermediate level. So that explains why I'm too sensitive on such topics. :p

Answer 11

Like this until 30 likes and I will bring up all issues to sololearn
https://www.sololearn.com/discuss/549501/?ref=app

Answer 12

Grazzie Paola! Just gave you an Upvote 😜

Answer 13

It is like with opinion. It can be positive or negative. If you don't have to justify your upvote why would one need to justify downvote? Of course I think you should give feedback about what you didn't like, but it is not required. It's your personal opinion.

Answer 14

thnx 😁 not so easy anyway.