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1 Feature request: Make downvote reasoning mandatory
This just happened to this answer on a Xbone S I can’t properly fix unless the downvoter comes forward and while it’s happened before, it’s particularly troublesome for answers where I need to know what you’ve tried so I can rule some things out. If anyone cares, this is what triggered this request: https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/4606...
I’ve done my best to fix it, but I know that the downvoter isn’t coming back to confirm or deny my revisions fix the errors made. This is troublesome since I need to know what I did wrong to look into it further so I can make a proper correction besides mentioning the HDMI IC not liking hot plugging. The points don’t matter; it’s more to do with not knowing why in cases like this. While it’s usually not an issue most of the time, I need to know what part of the answer is bad information; especially on a answer where board level work is involved and knowing there are other potential points I can reference that are known trouble spots.
I don’t care *who* did it - I just need to know *why* in cases like this. It’s more then reasonable to let the downvoter remain anonymous if they so choose to if they fear retaliation (which I wouldn't do but if it's happened before it will make sense why). I know the major answers participants don’t do this, so it’s someone who may not know providing a reason for doing it is a courtesy the author should get or someone doing it for no good reason.
I don't do it unless the answer is really wrong but that's because I'm against downvoting for a correctable error - I'll tell them they need to fix X error and if it's not done within a realistic window then I may downvote.
Is this a good question?
2 Comments
Hi Nick,
I think this is a fair suggestion. After all, we want the community to offer up constructive criticism when needed and not downvote for the sake of downvoting. I'm not sure if this is something that we've considered in the past, but I'll see what the team here thinks.
by Kristen Gismondi
@kristen we can't trust the downvoters to do it on their own merit more often then not. If these cases were not as frequent then it may not be as much of an issue. It could be a required comment before the downvote goes through or a feedback note that comes through notifications. It personally takes a lot for me to downvote - think major error or flat out wrong. It is a final option action at most.
In the case of that answer I was quite fortunate in the sense I knew how to revise it properly and bring it up from check for HDMI damage and was more or less able to stand my ground with a revision. The only thing I wasn't sure about is if the One X reference point is correct - I think it is but forewarning it may not be is CYA.
by Nick