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philipy philipy
 

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 M¢25  Funded By Mahalo ? |  March 01, 2009 02:09 AM

What are your criteria for when to mark an answer unhelpful, and when not to?

I think there is case that being able to mark answers unhelpful at all is more trouble than it's worth. That feature does seem to cause a lot of upset!

However, assuming we continue to have the feature, what are your own criteria for when to mark a question unhelpful, and when not to ?

When is it clear cut, and what are some things that might be on the borderline for you?

Example:

An answer seems to be well intentioned, but I can't see how it answers the question at all. Maybe there's some connection that I'm not seeing, and it might make sense if it was better explained. But it looks like probably the answerer missed the point of the question. Should I mark it unhelpful or not?
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Best Answer  Chosen by Asker

angilla angilla
 
 March 01, 2009 02:28 AM
I've only rated an answer unhelpful one or two times since I've joined, and it was for idiotic responses to serious questions. Answers that were obviously not thought out, at all. They didn't even try. And it wasn't like the question was a joke so it warranted joke answers.

If someone tried but missed the point, I don't rate it unhelpful. (Unless they're blatantly wrong, then I would.) At least they tried. Maybe they saw some connection from their point of view, but I just don't get it from mine. Maybe they just didn't get the point from their head to the computer screen well. Maybe it'll be helpful to someone else who does get it. *shrug*

And I don't rate joke answers to joke questions unhelpful because, well, the question deserves it lol.
Asker's Rating:
• All the answers were good and helpful. Several could have been chosen for Best Answer. I like this one as it gives me the clearest picture of how the person thinks about when to mark things unhelpful.


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philipy philipy
 
March 01, 2009 02:58 AM
Good answer.

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oboewan oboewan
 
March 01, 2009 02:16 AM
In your case, it's unhelpful.

I mark questions as unhelpful if they either (a) do not answer the question in a way that I can understand or (b) are known by me to be wrong.

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pwagner28 pwagner28
 
March 01, 2009 02:58 AM
I agree. It isn't rude to mark it unhelpful if it's true. Some people might take offense to it, but... you can't please everybody.

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thelastsci... thelastsci...
 
March 01, 2009 02:20 AM
I just posted a suggestion on this topic.

http://www.mahalo.com/answers/community-service/should-the-ability-to-choose-unhelpful-be-only-given-to-the-person-asking-the-question-community-suggestion

I would also submit that It is the opinion of the person asking the question that should really matter. If you allow the person asking the question alone the ability to mark things unhelpful on all answers related to his/her question you will automatically help limit the use of the tool as a negative influence. You would also get a more accurate profile of what is helpful in the eyes of the person asking the question without others biased perspectives coming into play.

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philipy philipy
 
March 01, 2009 02:25 AM
I think that suggestion is a worthwhile one.

Does that mean you personally never mark an answer unhelpful?

If you do sometimes use the feature, I'd be interested to know the criteria you use.

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thelastsci... thelastsci...
 
March 01, 2009 02:37 AM
You know philipy I have used the unhelpful button.
I have also used it incorrectly. Since I have come to the conclusion that the unhelpful feature does more harm then good and that my opinion of the questions answers does not matter... It does not matter... (the only person who has the proper perspective to judge if a questions answer is valid is the person asking)... And, since I have not used the unhelpful feature.

What did I use as criteria. Personal perspective and my own subjective opinions.

That is why I can't and won't use the unhelpful feature anymore unless I asked the question.

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philipy philipy
 
March 01, 2009 02:57 AM
Lastscion, I didn't know if you used the unhelpful feature. I don't follow your doings that closely! :)

I don't use it much, so I can sympathise with your approach.

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lesliec lesliec
 
March 01, 2009 02:25 AM
I very rarely mark something down as unhelpful, while it might not help me it might help someone out there.

I do however mark them unhelpful if its just plain bull that someone is saying.

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chazzyfen chazzyfen
 
March 01, 2009 02:30 AM
The questions/answers that I mark helpful or unhelpful are usually the ones that catch my eye. If it looks like somebody put some serious thought and emphasis into the answer/question, then I will usually mark it as helpful. However, if they put up a random nonsensical answer, then I'll mark it unhelpful.

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morriss003 morriss003
 
March 01, 2009 02:47 AM
Sorry, but I've given up marking "no" to the answer. I was not very comfortable with it in the first place and when I saw people marking "no" to answers to questions that were a matter of opinion and the answers were not silly, I became even more uncomfortable. I think that viewers should only be allowed to encourage people by saying "yes," that was helpful or remaining silent. And I think that people who leave an answer shouldn't vote at all.

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philipy philipy
 
March 01, 2009 03:03 AM
I think there's a lot to be said for that approach.

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rosshann rosshann
 
March 01, 2009 03:06 AM
I am not exactly sure how many times I have hit the button of tumult (unhelpful) and lately I have made a conscious decision to not use it at all. I am in the position that it should be for the person asking the question. This would eliminate any other necessities as anyone who answers a question and get an unhelpful vote can go directly to the person who asked the question. There is no guessing game and would be effective to eliminate retaliation.

But to completelty answer your question @philipy my criteria would be if a person was being disrespectful or incoherent or just basically not contributing in a forward way. I have had answers that I got an unhelpful vote for and I have no understanding as to why and I have no idea who to ask why they voted that way. It can be frustrating.

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bbrookin bbrookin
 
March 01, 2009 04:12 AM
I don't generally mark an answer unhelpful unless the response was rude or the answer was perpetuating some well-disproved bunk.
On the other hand, I rarely use the "Helpful" button, either, unless it's in response to a question I asked. How am I to know if the answer is helpful to someone else?

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philipy philipy
 
March 02, 2009 12:36 AM
Informative answer. Thank you.

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