Here on N4g there is a system that every user has used at least once. That system is the ability to vote on a comment, with either and "agree" or "disagree." This allows users to show the popular opinion among a sea of comments and helps dissuade abuse of said ability. Although, it is not a flawless system, and unfortunately many have lowered the integrity of the system.
The primary issue that has arisen is the abuse of the systems anonymity. Agree/Disagree votes (here on referred to simply as votes) allow users to place votes on comments without any need to account for their actions. Many users have taken this ability to an extreme and will base their votes on nothing but their own personal preference. This is to be expected, however, unlike comments they can use this system to promote incorrect or inflammatory comments without it reflecting upon that user in any way. The problem here is when users add agree votes to users who are clearly stirring up trouble, off-topic or any other form of unwanted behavior. They effectively can promote users to act and react in a way that the community dislikes, without any accountability for such actions.
What I propose is that the vote system adds a minor change, a change that removes this anonymity, the ability to view users who vote. It may be a bit difficult to implement, depending on the coding for the site's comment section, but one that I and many others would benefit from. I think, just as with comments, that users should be accountable for comments that they are promoting. One of the largest causes of "fanboy" behavior is the ability to hide your identity online.
In closing, I would like to point out other site's solutions, and their results. Firstly, we have IGN, they chose to remove down votes (their equivalent to a disagree) and it is semi-successful. It has removed the ability of users to dislike comments that are productive, on-topic and relevant. The issue is, it has not hindered the opposite spectrum. The only other solution I have seen, is practiced by a few, is to remove voting altogether. This has never effectively managed any of the issues as far as I could tell.
I would love to see N4G take a step in the direction of creating a more civil and less toxic environment. It would also give all users a fair chance at sharing their opinion without users blindly voting in a reactionary way. At least not without other being able to clearly see how users truly react.
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Things will be changing with the roll out of the new n4g , which is happening before the end of the year.
I hope they don't remove downvotes. I believe it is too sterile, not a fan of the "feel good" solutions. It is akin to the safe space nonsense on progressive college campuses and the "disagreement hurts feelings" mantra.
It could, as you suggested, be removed completely but that takes some of the fun out off commenting. One of the big reasons we return to see our comments is to (for better or worse) count agrees and disagrees then lastly read replies which according to the bubble rank we may or may not be able to respond too.
The bubble system needs an overhaul since those that are popular get more chances to comment than those who are not.
The bubble system is a mess. I see people get a bazillion 'Agrees', then get bubbled down for 'immature or trolling'.
Lord help you if you dont follow popular opinion on N4G...
Just get rid of it. If people disagree with an opinion they should voice there reasons why and get it off their chests, as long as they are not immature about it. if anything it encourages response. the aggree/disagree things probably make some feel like they are more right than others, so I think it should go. Glad the bubble system is going too. Seen far too much abuse of it to be honest.
I always try to say nothing but postive/good things and I only have 1 freaking bubble -_-
They need to give everyone more bubbles or get rid of it..