New ask Hacker News story: Are there some serial downvoters on Stack Overflow?
Are there some serial downvoters on Stack Overflow?
5 by Alain_Reve | 7 comments on Hacker News.
I have a problem with this site: some people pay more attention to form than to content. If I post a question which doesn't really follow the rules, I very quickly get downvotes. Not more than 7 in my case. If I post a question which follows the rules, I may wait days for an answer, and I may never receive an answer, but I get no upvotes. So I think there's something basically unfair about the system. If you get donwvotes for posting a question which is considered bad, shouldn't you also receive upvotes for a question which is considered good? Please don't get me wrong, I think the vast majority of Stack Overflow users are either decent people or people who just mind their own business. But I'm also beginning to suspect that there are people who enjoy hammering others. Giving upvotes is no fun to them, but giving down votes makes their day. They seem to be online night and day - hey, get a life! - and to scan new questions, looking for one to downvote. This corrupts the whole voting system, which is supposed to be fair. I think the fix would be easy: you cannot cast more downvotes than upvotes. Whatever your reputation is. Some are also ferociously defending the system. It's some kind of religion to them, and they are fanatics. If you dare criticize it, you are immediately downvoted, whatever you're saying and however much you may have a reason of saying it. If I posted this on meta stack overflow, it would immediately get downvoted. And my post would probably get closed. Even constructive criticism seems to be illegal there. The problem is, people can downvote or upvote anonymously and without saying why. And some people abuse that right. They're a small minority, sure, but they're an annoying minority and their behavior is highly offensive.
5 by Alain_Reve | 7 comments on Hacker News.
I have a problem with this site: some people pay more attention to form than to content. If I post a question which doesn't really follow the rules, I very quickly get downvotes. Not more than 7 in my case. If I post a question which follows the rules, I may wait days for an answer, and I may never receive an answer, but I get no upvotes. So I think there's something basically unfair about the system. If you get donwvotes for posting a question which is considered bad, shouldn't you also receive upvotes for a question which is considered good? Please don't get me wrong, I think the vast majority of Stack Overflow users are either decent people or people who just mind their own business. But I'm also beginning to suspect that there are people who enjoy hammering others. Giving upvotes is no fun to them, but giving down votes makes their day. They seem to be online night and day - hey, get a life! - and to scan new questions, looking for one to downvote. This corrupts the whole voting system, which is supposed to be fair. I think the fix would be easy: you cannot cast more downvotes than upvotes. Whatever your reputation is. Some are also ferociously defending the system. It's some kind of religion to them, and they are fanatics. If you dare criticize it, you are immediately downvoted, whatever you're saying and however much you may have a reason of saying it. If I posted this on meta stack overflow, it would immediately get downvoted. And my post would probably get closed. Even constructive criticism seems to be illegal there. The problem is, people can downvote or upvote anonymously and without saying why. And some people abuse that right. They're a small minority, sure, but they're an annoying minority and their behavior is highly offensive.
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