Thanks!

In reply to this comment by brycewi19:
*promote

The last sentence may remind some of you of these comments:

http://www.videosift.com/video/Take-on-Me-Literal-Video-Version#comment-538052
http://www.videosift.com/talk/Holy-crap#comment-310431
http://www.videosift.com/video/Bearforce-1-Music-Video#comment-578393

I guess I should have posted my original comment on this subject here, but I didn't know of the thread. In fact I don't know why it popped up in my sidebar right now, but that's how I stumbled into it. Well, rather than go through the whole thing again (discussion starts and ends in this excellent sift, for anyone who might care: http://www.videosift.com/video/Take-on-Me-Literal-Video-Version ), I'll just briefly add to the record that I think it is unfortunate that the system is set up such that:

1. a 'probie' is not entitled to display the same negative opinions others are. In fact it would make more sense to allow no voting at all rather than allowing just one sided opinions; instead the message is, "you can be positive, but that's it!"
2. a 'probie' is still a 'probie' even after years of membership and hundreds of posts and hundreds of votes cast

All presumably resulting from a fear that 'probies' downvoting will ruin the site somehow, despite similar voting systems on countless other sites, the viability of ventures like wikipedia, etc.

As a result of such a system, videosift favors only those who contribute (one half of the equation) while treating visitors (the other half) as second class citizens.

Just not a patch in any way on the Take on Me one I'm afraid.

sorry:
http://www.videosift.com/video/Take-on-Me-Literal-Video-Version

Yeah, fair enough, I guess we are all free to use our voting privilages as we see fit. I guess I had my idea of the downvote informed by it not being available until you had enough starpoints, hence having some real power and not to be used flippantly.

Hence I have only downvoted a handful of videos ever.

But, each to their own I guess.

In reply to this comment by xxovercastxx:
So as not to crowd the video with unrelated posts, I figured I'd take our discussion to profiles.

If the meaning of upvote and downvote were to be defined by the FAQ, I'd gladly comply; I'm all for working in a system. But, as it stands, it's left up to each of us to interpret them for ourselves.

I try to vote on every video I watch. Only if I really just don't know what to make of a video do I not vote, or if I feel somehow conflicted about it.

If I find value in the video, I upvote. If I don't, I downvote. Pretty cut-and-dry for me. I feel people are too concerned with getting videos published, any videos, rather than getting good videos published. I don't think it should be easier to get something published. If anything, I'd like to see it made more difficult.

In reply to this comment by spoco2:
See, I see things a little differently.

We have
Upvote: You think it's a great video, worthy of moving up higher on the site
No Vote: You don't like the video, or it left you 'meh', or you just thought it was pretty lame... you don't feel it particularly worthy to go any further.
DownVote: You really believe this video has no place on the sift, either it's horribly offensive, racist/bigoted, in really bad taste, is full on propaganda with no truth to it etc.

I really see the downvote as being reserved for those really bad videos. If you just don't like something then don't upvote it for god's sake, it's hard enough to get published around here let alone with people making life harder by downvoting for no real good reason.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

You have a point - but I would take issue that "garbage" will get you out of probie status. Most things that get published are fairly good, though maybe not your taste subjectively.

I don't think it's heavy burden to require that members are committed enough to contribute a good video to the community before gaining full membership status.

In reply to this comment by viewer_999:
Ok, that lays the concern out in the open at least. But it doesn't seem there is consideration given to time periods or participation in other ways (years of membership, hundreds of posts...).

Alas if that's how it is to stay, then that's that. One could always just get around the qualification by submitting some garbage which gets the minimum required votes. (Which again, I prefer not to do on principle.)

So as not to crowd the video with unrelated posts, I figured I'd take our discussion to profiles.

If the meaning of upvote and downvote were to be defined by the FAQ, I'd gladly comply; I'm all for working in a system. But, as it stands, it's left up to each of us to interpret them for ourselves.

I try to vote on every video I watch. Only if I really just don't know what to make of a video do I not vote, or if I feel somehow conflicted about it.

If I find value in the video, I upvote. If I don't, I downvote. Pretty cut-and-dry for me. I feel people are too concerned with getting videos published, any videos, rather than getting good videos published. I don't think it should be easier to get something published. If anything, I'd like to see it made more difficult.

In reply to this comment by spoco2:
See, I see things a little differently.

We have
Upvote: You think it's a great video, worthy of moving up higher on the site
No Vote: You don't like the video, or it left you 'meh', or you just thought it was pretty lame... you don't feel it particularly worthy to go any further.
DownVote: You really believe this video has no place on the sift, either it's horribly offensive, racist/bigoted, in really bad taste, is full on propaganda with no truth to it etc.

I really see the downvote as being reserved for those really bad videos. If you just don't like something then don't upvote it for god's sake, it's hard enough to get published around here let alone with people making life harder by downvoting for no real good reason.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

>> ^viewer_999:
In fact, it's sad reality that for those who are and choose to remain "Probationary" (negative connotation), the site really is only an affirmation site. We are not permitted to downvote video or comments. Is there some kind of fear that those who haven't submitted video will rise up and destroy the site?

Yes.

>> ^viewer_999:
In fact, it's sad reality that for those who are and choose to remain "Probationary" (negative connotation), the site really is only an affirmation site. We are not permitted to downvote video or comments. Is there some kind of fear that those who haven't submitted video will rise up and destroy the site? Is there no consideration of time as a member which enters into a regular member's "Probationary" status? How long would be long enough, to no longer be "Probationary?" How does 2.5 years sound?
Nope.

Hilarious video, by the way.


You make a very good point. It is a sad thing, but perhaps necessary. Being able to downvote would let people make countless accounts and downvote to hell. I mean, it's already imbalanced (see the ukelele video for proof), so i'm not sure whether the probie-downvote would make it worse or even it out.. let's assume that any false vote is bad for the site and say "probably make it worse".

I actually aim to get stars via comments, doing quite well so far, but i had to submit a video or two to get off probationary.. i had something like 3 applauded comments but still the little P because i hadn't submitted a video. In the end i posted some run of the mill trash that i knew would easily get upvotes just to get the video in and done. And if you check the sift as often as i do, you'll see people doing the same IN ORDER TO GET 250 STARS (or 500, or 100, or whatever). Music video after music video that has no real value. But then some people would say they do have value, and i can live with that. Personally, i only post what i think is top quality. And most of that stuff i get beaten on, but i don't think "omg i could have had a star", i just think good, the sift has profited.

>> ^spoco2:
See, I see things a little differently.
We have
Upvote: You think it's a great video, worthy of moving up higher on the site
No Vote: You don't like the video, or it left you 'meh', or you just thought it was pretty lame... you don't feel it particularly worthy to go any further.
DownVote: You really believe this video has no place on the sift, either it's horribly offensive, racist/bigoted, in really bad taste, is full on propaganda with no truth to it etc.
I really see the downvote as being reserved for those really bad videos. If you just don't like something then don't upvote it for god's sake, it's hard enough to get published around here let alone with people making life harder by downvoting for no real good reason.


>> ^xxovercastxx:
>> ^T-man:
But can't he just downvote and then STFU? People are obviously enjoying the video. Why mess with that?
I prefer making the one comment for everyone to take their frustrations out on. If I don't, then I get half a dozen people getting pissy with me individually.


To each his own I guess.

BTW, I shouldn't have said "STFU." Sorry about that.

>> ^T-man:
But can't he just downvote and then STFU? People are obviously enjoying the video. Why mess with that?

I prefer making the one comment for everyone to take their frustrations out on. If I don't, then I get half a dozen people getting pissy with me individually.

>> ^dannym3141:
>> ^youdiejoe:
>> ^xxovercastxx:
Why do so many of you think this is an affirmation site? Expecting everyone to tell you what a great job you did all the time is childish. I will not hang your crappy drawings on my fridge to make you feel good about yourself.
I didn't find this "comedy" video the least bit funny. I downvoted it. This really shouldn't be such a big deal to anyone.

Here, Here! well said. This is what voting is all about folks, xxovercastxx cast a no vote, I cast a yes vote. I also cast a no vote on his calling the video "Insanely stupid." because I didn't like his view. Down or Up, the vote is the right thing to do. </soapbox>

Here here


Hear hear on the 'here here'. Fun video, and I'm not shocked to see a downvote or two on any given video. That was keeps the flava here at VideoSift - active engagement in quality control. The comment may have been unnecessary, but let's move on.

>> ^youdiejoe:
>> ^xxovercastxx:
Why do so many of you think this is an affirmation site? Expecting everyone to tell you what a great job you did all the time is childish. I will not hang your crappy drawings on my fridge to make you feel good about yourself.
I didn't find this "comedy" video the least bit funny. I downvoted it. This really shouldn't be such a big deal to anyone.

Here, Here! well said. This is what voting is all about folks, xxovercastxx cast a no vote, I cast a yes vote. I also cast a no vote on his calling the video "Insanely stupid." because I didn't like his view. Down or Up, the vote is the right thing to do. </soapbox>


But can't he just downvote and then STFU? People are obviously enjoying the video. Why mess with that?

>> ^youdiejoe:
>> ^xxovercastxx:
Why do so many of you think this is an affirmation site? Expecting everyone to tell you what a great job you did all the time is childish. I will not hang your crappy drawings on my fridge to make you feel good about yourself.
I didn't find this "comedy" video the least bit funny. I downvoted it. This really shouldn't be such a big deal to anyone.

Here, Here! well said. This is what voting is all about folks, xxovercastxx cast a no vote, I cast a yes vote. I also cast a no vote on his calling the video "Insanely stupid." because I didn't like his view. Down or Up, the vote is the right thing to do. </soapbox>


Here here