Down-voting without responding: intellectual cowardice?

I think everyone should put their big boy pants on stop crying....seriously, so you got a down vote....who cares? Do you explain when you give an up vote? I don't believe that anyone owes anyone else an explanation for their "vote". 9 out of 10 times it will just lead to a back and forth, endless conversation. I think we will all agree that there is already enough of that. Just my two cents though....who am I?

<p>If I dont get a down vote at least once&nbsp;a week, then I dont feel like I have contributed enough.&nbsp; Although people should agree with EVERYTHING I say that wouldnt be any fun.&nbsp; Im sure there's a few people out there that I can enlighten.&nbsp; Then there's always the possibility that I may be wrong one day, but it's more likely that someone has hacked my account and posted on my behalf.</p><p>All that to say I felt the same way initially about down votes, but if you dont say something to support it, I will just hunt you down in the threads when you finally do post something and engage.</p><p>DISCLAIMER:&nbsp; If you dont know me on this site yet, I use humor.&nbsp; It's up to you decide if how you take it.</p>

I consider it a mark of respect to explain to someone why I disapprove of their post. I won't down vote someone simply because I disagree with their position. I use a down vote for something I find to be patently offensive or disgusting. I can disagree with someone's position while approving of the way it is expressed. I feel it is important to explain why I myself, down vote something so that if I misinterpreted the post, the author can correct me. Or maybe the author just might decide to reconsider their position. Communication IS the key to change.......

PS: Perhaps the system should be changed to vote for agree, disagree, and offensive. with the "offensive" vote requiring a comment before it is posted......Just a thought.

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it...

I have grappled with this issue myself, but I say keep it. &nbsp;At first, I thought the thumbs down was pretty unnecessary. &nbsp;However, I have seen so many great discussion sites ruined by "trolls:" people who spew deliberately ridiculous commentary in order to draw attention to themselves. &nbsp;Assuming someone has any real concern for his/her profile, the thumbs down discourages that.<div><br></div><div>On the other hand, I see people creating white noise and pushing sincere, thoughtful responses to the bottom for the seeming purpose of pumping their standing on the leaderboard. &nbsp;I bothers me, but if that's what they wish to do, who am I to say they shouldn't be allowed to do it? &nbsp;Thumbs down feels too harsh.</div><div><br></div><div>I don't use it too much. &nbsp;I really don't think anyone does. &nbsp;I've had it used on me. &nbsp;Most of the time, the person posts an explanation, sometimes they don't. &nbsp;Sometimes I wonder what the silent ones think, but enough people with dissenting points of view post that I can gather what the general opposing points are, and I appreciate those people for not essentially making "me too" posts.</div><div><br></div><div>My bigger pet peeve: When a new point gets buried as a response to a comment instead of as a response to the main question. &nbsp;Oh, well, nothing/no one is perfect. &nbsp;I just feel that sometimes people have good points that get missed.</div>

And something that prevents someone from erasing what they posted AFTER being downvoted.

To heck with down voting.&nbsp; Regardless of agreements/disagreements I would rather hear and explanation and not just some driveby voting.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>

Capt Day, thanks for the feedback here. &nbsp;I addressed this issue this morning in another thread (link below), so I'll address it here just to make sure we are all on the same page. &nbsp;After reading this, please feel free to follow up with any additional questions/comments and we'll re-engage. &nbsp;Thanks again, brother!<div><br></div><div><span style="color: rgb(77, 77, 77); font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248);">I understand that some people may wonder why their posts/comments are voted down -- any member can vote a response down or up. It is nothing personal and should not be taken as such. We here at RallyPoint are working on broadening the functionality here, and in the future I would anticipate members being asked to clarify why they chose to vote something down. However, for the time being, if someone votes down your comment, please don't take it personally. Besides, if a bunch of people vote it up, then you're squared away anyway. But if a bunch of people end up voting it down, then it probably was not a good overall contribution.</span><br><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.rallypoint.com/questions/22301-a-new-twist-on-an-old-subject">https://www.rallypoint.com/questions/22301-a-new-twist-on-an-old-subject</a>&nbsp;<br></div></div><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="https://www.rallypoint.com/assets/fb_share_logo.png"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.rallypoint.com/questions/22301-a-new-twist-on-an-old-subject">A new twist on an old subject</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">I know we hit on this a while back but I found a great shot for the $15 hour McDonalds worker and their complaints of being underpaid.Let me know what you think, it made me laugh really hard when I fi...</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>

I agree!
"...speak needful words or none..."
If you have an opinion, share it well or remain silent.

If someone goes on a rant calling one names or insulting, I think its kind of implied.