[ScottGem]

I like the Comments feature very much. I propose the following guidelines for using the Comments feature.

Positive comments should be given under the following circumstances:
1) From the asker as a thank you
2) From other members to ratify the factual correctness of an answer
3) From other members to agree with the opinions expressed

Negative comments should be given under the following circumstances:
1) From another member when an answer is FACTUALLY wrong
2) From the asker if the advice turned out to be wrong

Negative comments should NOT be given when:
1) there is a difference of opinion not of fact
2) when a response has been added to the thread disagreeing with the opinion

These are the guidelines I follow when I use the comments feature. Opinions anyone?

Scott<>

Note: The operators of this site have agreed with and approved the guidelines so they are now official.

[SALTYSARGE]

All it say's is was this information helpfull or unhelpfull I didn't know that it is a bad feedback but the question that I asked was not answered so I put unhelpfull I didn't mean to hurt anyones feelings

[sideoutshu]

ScottGem and I have had a private discussion about this and differ a little bit. Just a little background. I post primarily in the law forum (and not that often due to a desire to limit my "answers" to issues where I actually am an expert). The law forum is unique to some of the others because there isn't alot of room for personal opinion. people come to the law forum seeking FACTS. Often these facts involve extremely important and time sensitive issues.

I was recently faced with a situation where a question was asked on what may be a "hot button" issue for some with regard to the law. Now one of the "experts" responded by sarcastically preaching their personal values/politics to the poster, making no effort to answer the question. I responded by giving negative feedback in the form of

"this is the LAW forum, if you want to preach your personally beliefs, this isn't the place"

In my opinion, this is a just use of the feedback feature as I believe it will discourage those who would clutter what is inherently a fact-based area of expertise with opinion based non-answers. I am in complete agreement that it should be used when a difference of opinion is involved, but is warranted when a personal agenda is being advanced with no effort to answer the question posed. People come to the forums for answers. If they wanted a sermon, they'd go to church.

[Elisha Grey]

All your replies are from those in the upper echelons of your organization. For ac omment from a naive user.

The survey asks if the reply was helpful, not if it's correct or factually wrong (if the asker knew that why would he be asking in the first place?).

[Morganite]

Originally Posted by ScottGem

There are more ways to be helpful then answering the question. As I said in my other response I was trying to help you get help. Therefor my response was helpful. But you didn't think it would be negative to say someone's response was unhelpful or that someone would take excpetion at being told they were not helpful?

But my responses are for future reference so you can get the best help you can.

Helpful (or not) is in the eye of the beholder.

[labman]

The comments button is for both the OP and other members. It initially comes up asking if the post was helpful. Then it reports the comment as agree/disagree. With the administration supporting everybody's right to post to any thread, there are many factually wrong answers posted in what Scott calls technical forums. Yes you can post what ever you want to in any forum, but I think you should accept the risk of somebody having more experience and training giving you a bad rating. One of the things I like about the comment is being able to insert a comment into a post I find useless, counter productive, and even dangerous.

There is no way the administration can police all the forums for bad answers. It is well they don't try. The only protection those coming for help is their own common sense and others posts.

Perhaps it would be better if the OP tried the answer to see if it worked before commenting.

[ScottGem]

Originally Posted by Elisha Grey

All your replies are from those in the upper echelons of your organization. For ac omment from a naive user.

The survey asks if the reply was helpful, not if it's correct or factually wrong (if the asker knew that why would he be asking in the first place?).

Yes I understand the difference between what is asked and what shows. This has been discussed also.

I understand that you are new and probably were not aware of these guidelines. However, I maintain the advice Ben gave WAS helpful. It told you, that you couldn't do exactly what you wanted and asked for more info about what you were trying to accomplish. This was so he could understand better and maybe provide a better recommendation. Which leads to another point. I the answer asks for more into you should hold off rating until the course of correspondence is complete. After some back and forth correspondence you might find the exact advice you need.

[Elisha Grey]

I read a reply from Curlyben. It essentially said that a CD player couldn't play a text file, which I already knew (hence my question about converting to something a CD player could play) and asked what did I want to do, which I thought was already clear from my question. Then there came a line asking me to rate the reply, asking whether the reply was helpful or not. Since it wasn't helpful I said so. That's all there is to it.

I'm tired of this (did you see Curlyben's snotty second post) and can see no point of pursuing it further.

[ScottGem]

Excuse me, but you come here asking for help. The people who answer questions VOLUNTEER their time and knowledge to try to help. Fot you to tell them their answer wasn't helpful is a slap in the face. So who was being rude to begin with?

If you tire of this, then you may not have the temperment for a site like this. I beleive I gave you an answer that may have helped, though I guessed at what you were after. If you don't want to pursue it that's your perogative and I wish you good luck.