[quote=svelte]On one hand they can show those who are legends in their own mind exactly what the community thinks of them (a plus) … [/quote]
Well, no, it can’t show exactly what they think. It can only show that they don’t like a post. A thumbs down could mean “I think you’re wrong” which, with no argument to back it up means nothing. It could mean “you’re just a troll” but, if that’s not said, no one would know that’s what it meant. It could mean “I have no valid argument, and you’re right, but I don’t want to admit that” which, of course, is lame, but which could result in a thumbs down. It could mean “you hurt my feelings.” It could mean “you made me look bad and I don’t like that.” It could mean, “you’re a democrat and I’m a republican, therefore I don’t like anything you say.” I’d wager everything I own we’d see a few of those thumbs downs. It could mean a whole bunch of things, but if all we have is a thumbs down, we don’t know which of those many things that it means.
I think that if you can’t come up with a valid counterargument to something, you should either admit that or not say anything. Not just vote thumbs down. If you don’t like something for another reason, and you want to indicate that you don’t like it, you should indicate the reason.
