http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ Giveaway of the Day Forums Topic: Voting in the Comments Section en Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:47:25 +0000 http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680/page/2#post-36931 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:09:34 +0000 FABScott 36931@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>If there was another thumb up/down button for 'whether you like this type of software or you don't' then people could click that instead of rating what they obviously haven't tried. Maybe only allow clicking that or the rating vote but not both. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680/page/2#post-36033 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:09:05 +0000 shaynefruma 36033@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I find it very strange that instead of rating the <strong>software</strong>, we are asked to rate<strong> comments</strong>. When somebody posts that they've tried and liked the giveaway, some individuals give a negative rating because the poster hasn't given any advice, alternative suggestions, etc. What's wrong with an "I like" comment?</p> <p>I'd like to see a new system, maybe parallel to the current one of rating the usefulness of comments, with rating scales, like Amazon and other sites use:</p> <p>Ease of Installation: 1 - 5 stars or points<br /> User Friendly Program: 1 - 5<br /> Documentation: 1 - 5<br /> Overall Rating: 1 - 5</p> <p>This would be much more meaningful and helpful to those trying to make a download decision. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680/page/2#post-35877 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:46:40 +0000 MontanaGrandmom 35877@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I've just popped in here from the GGOTD site and wanted to post a comment regarding ratings and voting over there. I've not taken advantage of many of the software offers at GOTD but I think my comment would probably apply over there as well. I posted this in the comment section for today's game but thought I should put it here as well-even though no one has posted in this particular thread for some time!!</p> <p>I’d like to see a place to check a box for ‘looks interesting, I’ll try it’ or ‘No, Thanks. Not something I’m interested in’. If nothing else, this might give the hosts of this site some information about how they are meeting their ‘audience’s’ needs. Just a thought! I personally really appreciate what these folks are doing here and would hate to see them lose more potential users or contributors for lack of proper feedback. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680/page/2#post-27753 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:42:13 +0000 hotdoge3 27753@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>just thumb down or up if it 1/2 good? may be better star say one not good 5 stars very good can be 5 or 6 max or 10 if you like,you can still keep thumb it ok. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680/page/2#post-26926 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:24:18 +0000 jcu 26926@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>So what if we ALREADY know there is a problem with the software like will cause your system to have conflict with other problem (or even hang/blue screen your system). So we just thumb down since it is WELL KNOWN the software has problem????</p> <p>It made no sense to force people INSTALL IT first and then thumb down to indicate a KNOWN problem.</p> <p>If you check how many people post comments about they don't like the 'thumb down' system and people that actually downloaded the program, I think probably less than 10% of people complain about the system out of thousands or even ten of thousands of downloads each day. I doubt everyone agree this is a big problem.</p> <p>I personally think there is nothing wrong with what we have. The system right now is just thumb up/thumb down of the giveaway of the day for whatever reason.<br /> In the end of day, if MORE people like the software, it will have more thumbs up.<br /> If you want more detail about the product, then read the comment.</p> <p>I think most people feel the same way. There is room to improve but the thumb system work ok for what it is for.</p> <p>If you do anything to make it harder to vote, you will just have much less people vote and the result will be more likely toward people that really like the software.<br /> I think for people really like the software (or people related to the software company) will spend more time to try to vote. But for those people that have problem with the software or don't like the software, they likely won't even bother to spend more time on it if it will take them even more time for them to vote/rate the product.<br /> Going to make the vote/rate system even less accurate!!!</p> <p>If we want to do anything, should keep the easy thumb up/down system and add extra option to rate if people choice to do it. All those EXTRA should be optional to avoid making it too hard for people to vote/rate. Again, making it hard to vote/rate will just making less people vote/rate which the result will be less accurate. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680/page/2#post-25843 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:47:05 +0000 Steph 25843@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I agree that the current system is uninformative. At the very least you need to distinguish between people who tried and didn't like the software, and people who didn't want to download it at all. So I suggest doing away with the thumbs altogether, because they're misleading. The download count itself is a good enough measure of the number of people interested in evaluating the software. But in addition to that, you need a more meaningful voting system, based on feedback only from people who downloaded the software.</p> <p>I suggest including something to enable voting inside the readme file in the download. Either a voting code, which people would have to enter in a textbox along with their vote, or a unique url which would take them to a voting page for that product. And I think it'd be a good idea to ask for a 1-5 rating and a review comment. Comments from people who tried the software could be displayed in line with discussion from other users, but could be highlighted in some way.</p> <p>It would be a bit of work to implement this but I think it'd be worth it. Switching to this kind of system would offer an increased incentive to actually try out the software, rather than merely visit GotD every day and make acerbic remarks. :-) </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680/page/2#post-22814 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:54:37 +0000 qb7894 22814@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I have read many good suggestions...neilc....RichU, ..Bubby...also a lot of useful comments by other regulars... I personally think a combo of RichU, and neilc programs would be far more enlightening to us "newbe's" than the current rating system. I'd much rather post a "not of interest to Me"..Than a thumbs down....And how can I evaluate a program I have no use for? Or one I did not download because I had no use for personally? If I have no interest in what it does, then of course I'll give it a thumbs down. Also I was of the opinion that the comments section was a way of letting the developer know of problems with, or suggestions on how to improve the program offered. There are far too many "off subject" comments allowed. That's what the forums section is for. Personal preferences aside...The developers of software "Give" it to us so that we can give them insight into what the general public, who has need of their product, thinks about the usability of their product.... All the dumb ranting in the comments section is one of the main reasons GOTD &#38; GGOTD are having so much trouble supplying content to us...the ungrateful public.<br /> Most of the regular commentator's on this site have helped me learn a lot. But a lot of persons who take for granted that everything they get for free here should be perfect really need to get a reality check.<br /> These developers are giving you their product free of charge. All they ask for is a fair evaluation of their product If it is of use to you. If you have a problem with it ...they want to know so they can fix it!<br /> If I have never used or do not try a cd writing application...How dare I tell someone that I give it a THUMBS DOWN? I would much rather just say that I personally have no use for this application....Or else not vote at all.<br /> But If I am a regular user of the site I would feel compelled to say "I have no use for this application" Just to let the developer know I had looked at his offering so that he would continue to offer his applications for approval....It would broaden his user base in order to make his applications more user friendly.....Consumer friendly...etc.<br /> The programmers &#38; developers need us as much as some of us financially unable persons need them, and I for one am happy to give them my fair opinion for their generosity.<br /> They gave it to me for free....If I tell them of a problem I have with it and they don't, or won't , fix it...well to bad for them..I delete it... No Harm... no foul... and I shall be aware, to watch other offerings from them.. I do purchase programs but only from companies with whom I have had GOOD experiences.<br /> This is usually why developers offer us Give Away's...</p> <p>This is why I check GOTD and GGOTD everyday and support their sponsors, Follow their forums, and support their Ideal. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680/page/2#post-22640 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:19:58 +0000 creamypretzel 22640@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I think that a lot of people are voting thumbs-down on a game simply because they have trouble getting it to work on their computer. Shouldn't the rating be based on the game, and not on whether your system can play it? I believe that anyone unable to load it, or having troubles with it, should leave a comment to that effect, but not vote on the game. This would give a clearer result as to the actual rating of the game by people who have played it. -Dan </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-21182 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:41:01 +0000 dcavern 21182@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I don't really have anything to add as the points made have all been good. Everyone agrees the "thumbs" system is not working.</p> <p>All I'll say about it is that I don't care if someone doesn't LIKE the program, or has no use for that genre of software or game. I want know if it functions, is not prone to crashing, etc. THIS is what the voting system should measure. Not someone's opinion on the particular genre.</p> <p>Kevin </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-20583 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:06:08 +0000 marksa 20583@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Honestly, I don't even bother reading the comments or taking the time to comment. At least, very rarely. Sometimes it's worth it just because of the entertainment value but never would I take the time to wade through all of the comments just to see if someone posted something worthwhile. It takes less time for me to download &#38; install the program, and come up with my own opinion.</p> <p>I'm curious what the point of the comment vote is supposed to achieve. Is it supposed to be a benefit to me or the software publishers? </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-20362 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:22:45 +0000 kalmanizer 20362@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I think that giveawayoftheday.com has to do something about the ratings of games and programs. I think giveaway should have it like this. </p> <p>If you like the game thumbs up. If you played game and didn’t like the game then thumbs down. If it isn’t your type of a game there should be a 3rd option to vote on. People vote they dislike a program/game just because it isn’t their type of program/game to play. You can’t get an actual idea if a program/game is good or not on this site. People vote they hate a program/game when they never even gave the game/program a try.</p> <p>This goes for both giveaway and gamesgiveaway. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19445 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:40:28 +0000 Buckleysmom 19445@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>@Hoss.....I like your suggestion to "display each commenters score below their comment". That would make sense b/c most times you can tell from the comment whether someone d/l'd or not. I ususally just take a quick glance at the thumb ratings just to see what the general concensus is but I don't use it to make my decision about downloading. One of the main things I used to look for in the comments was whether people ran into problems with the d/l or install. But I'm finding that even if they do, I don't. I think I only ever had a problem with an install once and never with a d/l. </p> <p>I am just very thankful for the GGOTD giveaways, I've never had such a collection of games before and some of them are downright fantastic. Hubby has also gotten some great freebees on GOTD and even if we decide not to keep something at least we got to try it. I've also met some really cool folks here. Thanks giveaway team! </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19190 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:37:13 +0000 HOSS 19190@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I would like to suggest a scoring system. Maybe a 0 to 5 scale that users could click on. Maybe something like; 0 = "this software is the worst I seen" up to 5 = "I love this software". And then the average score could be displayed. I would also like it if only the ones that downloaded can vote (not sure how to pull that one off though). I would leave to comment section the way it is now but display each commenters score below their comment. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19161 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:38:46 +0000 goodgotd 19161@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>oh, and as for cpu/ram/os- my first question is 'which computer'? The one I download with, or the ones I installed it on? </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19160 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:36:30 +0000 goodgotd 19160@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I'm gonna get roasted, but my opinion leans toward any system is going to be a terrible indicator just because of the spectrum of hit-n-git, don't care, who fills things in honestly users we never see aside from thumbs-up/thumbs down votes based on the screencap, title, and mood.</p> <p>but, if you want how I'd start out, reset the u/d count at 30 minutes, 1, 2, and 4 hours then let it accumulate- and post the u/d ratios &#38; counts from each reset in a line? </p> <p>that should start showing where the 'read it' and 'tried it' crowds start having an effect, without the kneejerk 'collecting personal info' paranoia. and still give *something* to guess from at all times. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19135 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:46:34 +0000 RichU 19135@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>BuBBy, Sorry, I didn't see your question about my comment before.<br /> "So in essence you are saying that after perhaps 2 or 3 hours, the lack of any strong negative comments could be construed as a positive indicator (even in the absence of positive votes)?" </p> <p>I guess you might say that, but "could" is the operative word. I might say that "the lack of any strong negative comments could be construed as a WEAK positive indicator."<br /> :^) </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19134 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:37:33 +0000 RichU 19134@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>To add a bit to my earlier comments regarding checkboxes on the comments page to easily differenciate between the types of votes and/or comments, I would also like to see a small profile to be filled out (could be stored as a part of the users GAOTD profile) if the comment is about a problem. This profile would include the type of operating system on which the problem occured and possibly the level of experience of the commenter.<br /> I find, as I read through the comments, that when a person is having a problem not being experienced generally, it would be very helpful for readers to know if they are on Vista, XP or Win98, etc. Occasionally, it would be helpful to know if they are using a dual processor, how much RAM, what video and/or sound card, etc.<br /> As we might know, people frequently do not read instructions or suggestions, or may not understand what they read, and the beauty of computers is that users can be gently guided to do what the web designer needs them to do.<br /> The nice thing about these suggestions, is that they can all be (easily?) automated, so the users fill out the profile once, when registering for GAOTD forums and merely have to check a box or two when entering a vote or comment. The small, user machine profile could automatically show up in the comment, with the user ID, and the type of comment could automatically be placed at the top of the comment. An added benefit of this system would be that readers could quickly search the comments to find, for example, installation problems or freeware recommendations or opinions on the Giveaway. BTW, one of the check boxes could be freeware recommendations, and a poster could check more than one box. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19124 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:19:43 +0000 M1ke 19124@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Apologies for triggering yesterday's exchanges on GOTD re voting. Time was short and to be honest, it never occurred to me to visit the forum. </p> <p>Being in the UK I have the advantage over many other GOTDers in that the download window seems conveniently timed to GMT. So if I can get an early-day opportunity to visit, I do so then. What was so disturbing about yesterday was the way negative votes for a fairly specialist software offering had already piled up so quickly -- yet without accompanying negative comments. </p> <p>I thought the developer concerned deserved better. I thought GOTD deserved better. Above all, I thought people who value the site deserve better, because when time is at a premium, as it so often is, I've often gone no further than the thumbs up, thumbs down percentage result. Presumably, so have others.</p> <p>But it wasn't until yesterday when I realised just how witless, how pointless, and how misleading that percentage "score" actually is.</p> <p>There's no reason for that. If I go to Amazon UK, for instance, to check on a product price / product availability, as often as not there's a user rating that's not only crystal clear for all to see, it's a user rating derived from the comments left by previous product purchasers. </p> <p>But GOTD "User Rating" suffers from total disconnection. And not only from user comments. As one poster repeatedly asserted yesterday, a "User Rating" can with justification (?) be given by a non-user. </p> <p>On which basis, the next time I visit Amazon UK I'll find it packed full of negative ratings because for every person who may have bought a product, there'll be several hundred who didn't and don't want it but who have nevertheless registered a vote that others may take as a verdict on product quality, rather than a wholly unnecessary expression of some unknown individual's likes and dislikes.</p> <p>Obviously, a nonsense. </p> <p>There were some good suggestions on the GOTD page yesterday, and now I see some similarly thoughtful ones here, all of them prompted by the desire expressed in neil's excellent preceding post to this: to help make GOTD more meaningful and more useful.</p> <p>My apologies again, then, for raising the voting issue yesterday; I certainly won't do so again. Hopefully GOTD will sooner rather than later act to implement a better and more credible voting / comments system, to the benefit of developers, trial users, and ultimately, GOTD itself. The way things are at the moment, I wouldn't embrace GOTD as a medium for user-group sampling of my product when it's not even clear who has used my product and who hasn't. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19086 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:22:11 +0000 neilc 19086@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Apparently this is an ongoing issue that won't go away on it's own given the diversity of the GOTD community and the absence of any clear, simple definition/ explanation of purpose for the Thumbs Ratings, the Comments, or the Usefulness of the Comments Vote.<br /> I am not a long term user of GOTD but since being introduced to the site am a daily visitor and a grateful and better educated user. I am by no means a newbie or technically challenged. I cut my teeth on a Radio Shack CoCo and have worked on or with many different OS's (including every version of Windows and most flavors of UX). These days I consider myself to be a general user, as I believe the large majority of personal system users are, "in varying degrees of ability."<br /> In no way though, do I consider myself a Systems Guru or an Expert User in any area of Application Software. I depend, a lot, on Thoth and others who do have knowledge of, and experience in, a given area to help me make good choices re: the software tools I use to do the things I want to do on my computer. Thus I appreciate and respect the opinions and suggestions of such people when they take the time to help me, and the developer, through their comments. Their opinions on whether the package 'does what it says it will' (I accept that it's my job to READ that); on the usability and adherence to standards in that application; and on the quality and integrity of the software ie. comparisons to features in other packages, bugs, download and install problems, and general personality quirks help me to make better performance/ price choices. They help the developer produce a better, more marketable product. I only wish I didn't have to do so much reading to find these gems.<br /> I believe that the indication of market opportunity, and GOTD focus, could be served by making the thumbs question "Do you use, or have a need for, software that performs this function?"<br /> Question 2 becomes, "Having installed and looked over the software, would you care to comment on it's look, feel and functionality, and also to advise fellow users and the developer of any problems you had downloading, installing or running the package ?"<br /> "Did you find this comment useful?" would be a useful, user based, indicator for the administrator/ moderator to keep or delete a comment so as to keep the list shorter and relevent to the question.<br /> A simple TIPS posting might also help.<br /> 1) Please read the software description first.<br /> 2) Don't understand the description? You probably don't need the software.<br /> 3) Please tell us WHY you like or don't like something. Someone may have a<br /> solution or suggestion. It also lets the rest of us make decisions with our<br /> eyes wide open and makes the developer aware of the problem.<br /> (Shouldn't offend too many. Most of those it's not meant for will know that.)</p> <p> No major changes, just a clearer indication of what is wanted. Not kidding myself that it will solve all the problems and satisfy all the expectations different people have, BUT, it might help to make it more meaningful and as such, more useful.</p> <p> Again, thank you and keep up the good work GOTD crew. It's nice to have acess to such a pool of freely shared knowledge, experience and character(s). To Bubby, a big thumbs up for his recent input to the review comments. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19081 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:01:24 +0000 Lockett 19081@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>It would also eliminate the need to write a new plugin, as the original could be duplicated with no loss of function.</p> <p>It would be good to make the "User rating" password-protected, and the password would be provided with the giveaway activation. It wouldn't be too hard to lock the vote section behind a password. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19068 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:08:58 +0000 Dlira 19068@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I look at the thumb ratings, and find them interesting.</p> <p>I'm thinking along the same lines as Lockett, and would suggest two sets of thumbs up / thumbs down: One for the usefulness of the program, and one for the quality. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19067 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:12:24 +0000 ZF 19067@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I only wish to note that I don't look at the thumb ratings and I've never given a thumb rating, on principle, because such things are almost useless considering the way that can be clicked in. I just read comments to find out what's what (in addition to web research), while ignoring the whiners and haters. Thumbs up or down do not influence me in the slightest way. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19053 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:08:07 +0000 MASA 19053@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>They use a plugin to do so. I don't know if they know if they know how to change the plugin to do that. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19048 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:04:57 +0000 Lockett 19048@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>I like the idea of having a "User rating" and an "Interest rating" more. As somebody else said, there are plenty of people who would just post random comments to vote. Besides, they'd probably just say things like "It's useless" or "I'll try it" - which is the exact thing that we want to get rid of. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19034 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:42:36 +0000 Lee 19034@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Bit hard for doing it on the 'now activated page' as you may need to close your browser to either install it or maybe you have not tried it out or you have to reboot.</p> <p>Just my tuppence. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-19030 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:32:34 +0000 haalam 19030@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Today (2/21) commenter Mike made a suggestion for the thumbs up/down rating saying it should be mandatory that a comment be posted before doing a rating. I somewhat agree, but as someone who has often downloaded but did not have time to do a comment (or there were already enough of them or too late to matter), my suggestion would be to make the thumbs up/down rating ONLY available on the "Now Activated" web page. This would require the user to leave it open in their browser while reviewing the product, but would also allow the user to skip doing a comment.</p> <p>There is way too much trash posted in the comments, so I usually do look at the ratings before sifting through the comments for worthwhile content. I suppose too there have been a lot of suggestions on what to do with the worthless comments, and those ideas may be good to implement as well.</p> <p>My two cents. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-18567 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:00:19 +0000 Archangel 18567@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>Its funny how many people either didn't read the statement about comments regarding voting be made here (BuBBy even created the link for ease of usein the comment section) or disregarded it. </p> <p>With that said, people are going to do whatever they want no matter what rules are made to follow regarding voting in the comment section. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-18559 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:21:14 +0000 BuBBy 18559@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>So in essence you are saying that after perhaps 2 or 3 hours, the lack of any strong negative comments could be construed as a positive indicator (even in the absence of positive votes)? </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-18558 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:13:49 +0000 RichU 18558@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>"...When the reverse is true, and people are happy with the software - their contentment isn't usually accompanied by a need to "vote"."</p> <p>Bubby, I agree with this statement in general, but in the specific case of GAOTD, there is an extenuating factor. Namely, if a visitor downloads and tries a program which causes problems or is not appropriate for their needs, they usually will know this immediately. On the other hand, they might not have the time within the less than 24 hours that the program is available to them, to fully access how much they like it, and then to submit that positive comment. In other words, it might take just one bad experience with a particular program to submit a negative vote, while a positive vote may take much more extensive positive experiences. Additionally, the user might feel that a positive comment submitted at 11:00 PM would be useless, because mostly everyone would not be reading the comments when the giveaway is almost over. </p> http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2680#post-18547 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:37:40 +0000 BuBBy 18547@http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/ <p>It is perhaps reasonable to assume votes will always be negative as usually this is how people express their disapproval. When the reverse is true, and people are happy with the software - their contentment isn't usually accompanied by a need to "vote".</p> <p>Voting can be sometimes seen similar to working on a "complaints desk" or "help hotline" - the only people who can be bother to make contact are usually people with problems or issues. Not very many people contact a help hotline or complaints desk to let them know "everything worked just great - I'm very happy".</p> <p>Many users express that they completely ignore the voting figures - as they really don't mean anything at all. (users who complain about the voting - perhaps don't understand how statistically invalid the results are).</p> <p>One suggestion - instead of displaying a net total for comments - instead display in the same format as the overall with a total for both TU and TD. </p>