Rating System

The only time rate downs bug me are when they're used in debates or discussions that involve contending opinions or points of views, and -1s are flung around without elaboration or reason.

If you disagree, tell us why, rather than saying "Nope, you're just wrong."

Other than that, they're just for lulz and dumb people to vent their inner negativity or dissatisfaction in life. After all, they came to a Final Fantasy XI community forum to specifically rain on someone's parade, I can only imagine how bad things must be for them.

What the ***....are you even talking about?
what I read is this:

OMFG I don't have cookies! *endoftheworld* /suicide.

If you want to get down to it, artwork and realife pics most certainly aren't screenshots (albeit perhaps FFXI related, but only rarely), which is probably the very reason a lot of them get rated down, along with any comment applauding the utter disregard of the system's purpose. (likely in your example for instance)

And I don't really see much of a difference between sharing pictures and sharing motion pictures. People are going to want to comment on both, are going to have varying opinions, and occasionally will feel strongly enough to either rate up or down a particular comment.

Again, I think this idea that there is some popularity contest (and hating) going on is mostly a delusion you're suffering from. Comments get at most a few hundred in score, and these are comments that strike a chord with people. On a website with thousands of users, for a comment to receive a -3 is virtually meaningless. It just means most people didn't care enough to even rate your comment. It's non-zero but it may as well be zero.

There are notable exceptions (Kuroganashi comes to mind) but I think people rate him down more as part of a running joke than any genuine animosity they hold towards him. You're taking this way too seriously.

The problem isnt THAT theirs a - option. It's like anything else these days; it gets abused. A lot of people just go around - anything they feel like. Or if it's someone the don't like just - everything they say, irregaurdless of what they said. Or for what ever other reasons they come up with.
Just like when your a kid.. "If your not gonna play nicely now, im gonna take it away!"

I support Sehachan and Vaness whole-heartedly in this "debate".

"Down-rating" the comments on screenshots is superfluous and generally (yet subtly) inflammatory, and absolutely unnecessary.

There's no reason to eliminate comments on screenshots. Everyone who posts a screenshot is given the option to choose whether or not comments and ratings will be allowed on each screenshot. I do agree with the people in this thread that claim a User shouldn't subject his/her screenshot to ratings and comments if s/he isn't "thick-skinned" or s/he actually cares what people think of his/her image.

However, THAT is NOT what this discussion is about ... at all.

There's no reason to eliminate the comments section itself ... RATHER what's being requested in this thread is to eliminate the [-] button used to "rate" the comment, NOT the screenshot itself.

Sevourn, save your hyperbole and masturbation for 4chan or some other website where more than 3 Users appreciate it.
To those of you calling for "bring back the [-] for posts!!!", find another outlet for your angst.

...sigh.

What?

problem solved!

Just do what they did with the forums to submitted pictures who ever [-] the comments put his or her little avatar at the bottom so we can see who votes down just to be a ***!

Hurrray!

Iv been wondering what those pics are for.. just never got around to finding out..

I totally agree with you that most SS arent ffxi related and shouldn't belong here.

It would probably be better if we weren't allowed to post unraleted FFXI SS at all, but it would prolly be harder for the moderators and that would prolly make ppl alot more angry then just take off the [-].

This mentality is a folly, and a very common one.

This typically oozes forth from individuals who think themselves to be "tough" or "seasoned". I get that you think others are "weak" and would be better off if they could just "grow a pair" and be tough like you. (this is all not intended to be specifically directed at Celestius ... he just happened to be the latest, of many Users, to post a sentiment similar to the one quoted above)

The problem is that you missed the boat completely. Maybe you were too busy flexing your muscles, I dunno.

No individual is going to die from "negativity", yes that's true. However, those Users calling for elimination of the [-] features are NOT (in general) crying or cowering in a corner. RATHER, they are bright (or sensitive, or both) enough to understand that negativity breeds contempt, feuds, and an atmosphere that is non-conducive to genuine discussion, sharing, and community growth.

The internet (and gaming forums in particular) has PLENTY of outlets for drama, feuding, sparring, and "teh lulz". FFXIAH.com is one of the few taking a stand against that cesspool. Whether it's for financial reasons, moral reasons, both, or neither, I don't care; the end-result is a unique community that frankly is better than everything else out there.

Was a way to say that you went emo mode.We are just asking to take down the [-] so ppl don't get nice comments hidden because of some random haters not to take off any social <.<

I am just saying that we are first an informative website then social, but rating down ppl for the sake of it has nothing social into it.

Apparently the internet and specifically this site needs to be made of puppies, sunshine and lollipops. Reality, gtfo prz.

Well in all fairness, we play FFXI to escape reality to a degree, right? Why should being social amidst a community revolving around that game be so different?

Then again I do frequently get involved in political/religious debates and get my world news and WTF news here lol.

I think what would be interesting is if we gave the [-] option back, but give it the same form of identity as the [+]s do now.
Perhaps someone genuinely does not like what you had to say or disagrees with your stance on whatever subject matter is at hand; or maybe someone just wants to be a negative douche bag. Either way they'll be exposing themselves, and can therefore take on repercussions from that point forward; hopefully through PMs if there really is a problem between each other.

Just an idea.

I don't know, I honestly think it'd just create even more drama than anonymous -s.

You should GTFO, just because you told me to.
Stop being emo, no1 is asking the website to be made of puppies, sushine and lollipop.We are just asking for some decent social exchange not made full of QQ's that have nothing else to do then put their hate on others.

If you want that, then plz go on BG.

Who honestly is petty enough to rate down someone anyway? What's the point? It's not like you aren't able to rebuttal if you find something totally disagreeable.

Point was missed apparently. Not everything is puppies, sunshine and lollipops ALL THE TIME. Not even FFXI(or any other game).

He was pointing out the fallacy in your argument. This isn't just an informative site. If anything it's more social than anything for the users who actually participate in forums, screenshots, commenting, and all the things we're talking about. Therefore, "we should remove ratings because that's not the purpose of the website" is by analogy the same as saying we should remove the forums.

I realize all you want is the [-] gone, but you have to realize this is what you've included.

Idk, i never rated someone down for no good reason, but i start to understand why people are doing it <_<

The ones getting butthurt by [-]'s are the ones QQ'ing...

Might not create as much of a douchebag deterrent as I would hope.
After all, most jerks are full aware that they're ***, and carry on their usual business without hiding behind a veil of anonymity.
I guess it was wishful thinking that having your name exposed in the negatives would make others think twice about doing it for whatever reason they're doing it, and thus facing potential confrontation.
But what are the odds that will be civil, right?

Nothing is made of that, except maybe be heaven?I dunno I never went there.

This thread is simply ridiculous. I don't know why I came back to read it once again.

A [-] here or there never hurt anyone.

Honestly all these social issues that people are going on about... it's in your head. Get over yourself and move on.

There is simply no reason to remove the rating systems on screenshots or on the comments.

You got a bit carried away Vaness.

Who said we are butthurt?
You assumptions are hilarous.
The fact you care so much about some1 asking the [-] to be removed, pretty much shows that you are one of those abusing it.Otherwise you would pretty much not give a ***.

Are you 12? How is that emo? I did not tell YOU to gtfo. Please learn to read. I'm not even the one complaining here, lol.

It's mildly amusing that people care about rate downs. If there aren't rate downs, there will most likely be more negative comments made. Sure, people don't -need- to make negative comments and you can say whatever you want about those that do this. But it's still there.

Sticks and stones, my friend.