A little history of the rec\ unrec feature

[nadinbrzezinski]

For those of you who have been here on the old DU for a LONG time you KNOW this has been on the wish list for a good while.

You MIGHT even remember it being tested, and it was clunky about a year ago. The logic of it is not to suppress speech, but to allow people to unrec what they feel has gotten too many recs.

Yes, it is that simple.

Now some of you are afraid of change... human nature. Me I could care less... but the truth is we will really not know the true effect of it until it has been working for a tad. So seat back, relax, and take it easy.

By the way the whole process now is easier from the end user, good work Elad.

Oh and all of you saying that it could be abused. Yes... and so does the rec feature, any other questions?

Now can we get back to some discussion?

Thanks to management for actually implementing what many folks have asked for ahem, years. You may not be seeing them saying thanks because well, it is nice to see something they wanted implemented. What we are seeing though is a lot of what will this do to the old place, fear kind of posts?

Seat back, this novelty shall pass too.

[leftstreet]

1. Who was wishing for it?

:shrug:

I've never seen members asking for it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. People have, and if you look into the archives you will also

find the slew of comments over the 24 hours or so that it was tested last year.

[leftstreet]

8. This was already tested last year?

Guess I missed that

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. It was, and it was clunky as hell

Oh and the same threads you are seeing now appeared back then

[Ohio Joe]

14. Not exactly this but...

Something similar, the same general comcept. I think it was more of a first attempt at it. I'm not sure what the issue was that they removed it but it was only on a short time.

[Sherman A1]

18. Agreed

I don't recall any great call for this and I have been here a few years.

[malletgirl02]

2. Greatest Page

I checked the greatest page, and I think the quality of the posts there has improved.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. I haven't even bothered with that

After all I seldom do

:-)

[rpannier]

5. I find your post patronizing So I 'unrecommend' it

I'm sure you're okay with that

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Sure, it is just an internet board

it is not like I know you from SHINOLA...

:-)

And yes, that will happen.

But there is also the I PM you to ask that you recommend my pet post.

[bridgit]

7. "Seat back"? Well, your edification is still, I suppose, appreciated

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

9. here you go, off to the least greatest page

:}

[Selatius]

10. No, we don't want discussion. We just want to unrecommend your thread.

:P

[Raster]

15. The tyranny of the majority is ever present and constant.

To be able to recommend is to give your voice wings. To unrecommend is to be able to pull the wings off someone elses voice.

If you don't fucking like it, don't recommend it. Better yet, don't read it. Best still, come up with something better.
:kick:

[Selatius]

17. Wow, I was joking with the person. No need to write in GIANT LETTERS at me.

Nadin has been familiar with some of my posts for a while and I with Nadin's.

[Raster]

19. Sorry.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

12. The phrase is

"I couldn't care less." A common mistake, and, when used correctly, it expresses clearly how I feel about this whole recommend/unrecommend feature.

Congruity - it's a beautiful thing...........

[Lithos]

13. As another long time member

This is pretty much a good synopsis. I know Skinner has put a LOT of thought into this and has invested some programming time to try and do this right. It will not be perfect, but it is an attempt to be responsive to the requests of the members of DU. If it doesn't work, then Skinner will have the concrete evidence to show and answer. If it does, then DU is better off. It is really a win-win situation.

L-

[optimal-tomato]

16. Maybe not the best place for brainstorming, but...

Why not just have the Unrecommend votes subtract from the score, but not go into negative territory? So if you see something you think shouldn't be in the greatest, you can vote it down, but there aren't dozens of >0 threads of unknown quality?

All this is moot for me, I don't check the Greatest anyway...

[Vektor]

20. The abuse that can occur is a bit different though.

Unrecommend gives trolls the power to unrecommend any and all posts that actually support Democratic ideals - which is the whole entire message of DU.

A person can choose to recommend (or not) any post on DU and it will only garner as many votes as those who find it outstanding.

The problem is that a great post that supports the democratic ideals that DU promotes can be completely wiped out by trolls - it's happening quite a bit already.

How else do you explain 13 unrecommends for an OP decrying Free Republic calling Malia Obama a "ghetto piece of garbage" and a "whore". You know no DUer would do that.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. I like it

Been wanting this feature for a long time.

[Liberal In Texas]

22. Good rational explanation. I think if there becomes a problem with swarms of freeping trolls

you could change it to only logged-in donors could recommend/unrecommend. Or perhaps just unrecommend.

I think this needs a few months, not just days or weeks, to see how it's going to shake out.

By and large, I like it.