It's not fair getting rated down. I'm an adult (33) like everyone else and I deserve some respect. I've only just started on this last week and already people are thumbing me down on my answers.

Hi justlucky,

While people may not always agree with you, it doesn't mean that they hate you. An "unhelpful" rating should only be used when the response is factually incorrect. Some may use it when they feel that a post is inappropriate or potentially harmful. Those types of posts can be reported for the moderators to review.

"Helpful" and "unhelpful" ratings are not used to determine whether someone is liked. As you said, everyone deserves some respect.

Continue to answer questions that you feel you can offer some suggestions and/or factual information on.

Hey justlucky,
You shouldn't take thumbs down personally. If you get a red one, it's not that someone is personally booing you. Also here, I've seen that there are certain characters that'll give a thumbs down on a post for no reason at all. I too have got my share of -ve points.

It's volunteering for helping someone that matters, if you want to help people by giving answers and your opinions, then don't let the thumbs down bother you.

Some people give disagrees just because they don't like the way a post is worded. The long time members only negatively rate a post that is factually incorrect.

Either way, lately reddies (a thumbs down) are being passed around like candy, so I wouldn't take it too personally. If it's happening often, or you're not getting any positive feedback, then perhaps take a look at your answers. Are you answering questions in areas where you're knowledgeable, or are you posting answers to questions where you really don't have any expertise? For example. I never post in the automotive forum. I have a car, I drive my car, but that doesn't make me an expert on cars. I also never answer questions in the computer forum, even though I do own a computer. Why? I have no expertise in that area.

Many forums require expertise. I looked at your posts after you posted this question, and I've noticed that you answer a lot of questions in the pregnancy forum. Do you have expertise in that area, or are you just posting based on your past experiences?

Maybe you should search other forums, forums where you have more expertise.

But as the others have said, a thumbs down has nothing to do with whether someone likes you or not. It's nothing to do with you as a person, it's just the answer you've given. It's nothing personal at all, and shouldn't be taken that way. :)