Why give negative ratings to discussions you don't agree with?

I give neg ratings but not to topics or responses I disagree with. We are all entitled to our different opinions. I only give them to idiotic one line or one word responses or where the respondant obviously hasnt read the post and posts drivel.

I think it is wrong to give negative rating for responses which does not agree with your topic. AFter all it is only the opinions people express and they have every right to express what they want (if they are not using abusive language). Thousand people in thousand ways. I in fact thank those who do not agree with my topic for their originality and their different way of thinking.

Get a grip. ha ha Your right. It is sad that people will give a negative rating to someone that they do not agree with their opinion! We are here to discuss ideas and such. The idea of many different people coming together as a community is that they will be different. And hopefully, they will also teach others something...like tolerance and fairness. I just hope that these people learn and come to understand that passing out negatives is just plain mean unless the person really deserves it for their rudeness, lack of reading the details of the discussion, or one word answers.

I've also noticed lower ratings for people who are outspoken or have a habit of expressing themselves in a strong way, regardless of their opinions. And people who joke around in their answers also seem to get lower ratings.

I never have or ever will do that. I very seldon give a (-) and when I do I post comment saying why. I rate for quality whether they agree or disagree. BTW how do you know which posting has received a (-)?? I don' know of anyway to see that!. I have been guilty of not giving any rating because the posting was pathetic but I feel that the person should not be given a negative when they had really been trying

I do agree, I don't rate people bad when I don't agree with there answer or there response. The only people I have rated negative are the ones who respond I don't know, and the ones who have cut and pasted discussions as well as responses.

I agree with you ..we should be negative on our ratings if we don't like a topic..we should simply skip the topic completely and be nice..Mylot is all about community..and there are lots of different people that make up a community..We don't all have to have the same tastes but we should all respect each other's taste:)|+

Hi there Emisle, I have noticed that to and it is not on. If someone disagrees, why rate them down? I still mark a plus, as at the end of the Day, I asked for an Opinion, it did not mean that I want everyone to agree with me. I think some People need to read the Guidelines again very carefully.

yup i agree with you why must negative if you can positif rate, if we disagree why you discuss with them because no body perfect in the world, so being agood friend aren't we

I agree with you on this. Sometimes I get annoyed when I read the viewpoints of someone who I do not agree with, but they are as entitled to their opinion as I am, and I would never negative rate someone just for thinking differently from me. After all, it is a free world.

I rarely do give negative ratings. And I don't do it because I don't agree with them. I am more likely to do it to someone who is offensive. People are entitle to their opinion as long as they keep them for themself. If they want to go around and provoke people with offensive point of views... they need to be prepare for the consequences. If myLot has a feature to give negative ratings... it is because it wants people to use it. You can ask myLot to remove that feature... but you cannot blame the people for using it. Nor can you ask them not to use it.

You have to admit, though that sometimes some people's statements are so bigotted and biased that they deserve to be given negative ratings. I do give these people negative ratings.And I will continue to do so.

I try to give positive ratings to posts that really seem to contribute something useful to the topic but so far I have seen no reason to give out a negative to anyone, but I haven't been here very long either. I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion and should be allowed to speak it so long as it is not in a hateful manner.

as long as they are downright rude, they shouldnt get a negative rating as these are opinions and we each have our own and everyone wont agree on everything!

i would never give a negative rating to someone who disagreed with me, i think such people are purile. I have given best responses to people who have disagreed with me, I have come accross people who give negative ratings out because they have got upset. GIVING NEGATIVES OUT TO ME IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OFF TOPIC , if they are abusive of the site then report them to mylot, is this really hard to do?

WELL SAID!!! I couldn't agree more. That's NOT what those ratings are there for. I hardly ever use (-) unless someone obviously didn't even read what I wrote, or they leave "I don't know" or something like that. I'm in a disagreement with a certain two individuals on here and I don't even mark them (-) even though I should because they have went to all my discussions and marked them negative. My points have dropped from a 94 to an 89 TWICE becuz of these two. I don't do it because that's not what those are there for and even though these people tick me off and I totally disagree with what they say, I still don't mark them negative. People that are abusing our rating systems need to stop being so darn childish and grow up!

I have only given a negative rating a few times on here- And that is when someone is totally offensive to me. Anyone can think or believe what they choose- and if it is different than how I think or how I feel- I just voice my opinion. I have had some people actually call me stupid or make deragatory remarks at me personally-- they get negative ratings- There is no need for that! They could just voice their opinions in a nice matter.

The only reason I give negative rating is the discussion seem like a spam . Those respond that are one line or out of context will also be given negative rating. I personally sick of the spammer or those new comer. They create allot of nonsense discussion just to earn few cent more.

I personally think that people give out to many negative ratings.I think the only things the deserve a negative rating are these. Off topic posts, copy / paste posts, posts the are only spam, or when the post is straight out abuse, racist, or one word type answers and meaningless posts / discussions. Giving people a negative rating, simple because you disagree with them, even if the person is a bigot, seems childish to me..

I don't believe in copy and pasting unless your taking the questions from a survey or something. But I agree with you. I read a lot of post here and I notice the ratings as well. Trsut me, there are a lot of things I do not agree with that poeple post here. But I give them a good rating because if they can make me disagree and respond to them I think it was a good topic for conversation. Plus that is what we are all here for. Well some of us. Some are here just for the money. Others, for conversation and to view everyone else's opinions.