Can I just quickly insert here with a slightly off-topic injunction? I want to say this every time there's a contentious issue at WoWInsider:

STOP DOWNRATING POSTS SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU DISAGREE WITH THEM.

Remember that downvoting works a bit different from upvoting. Upvoting a response makes it more visible which is fine- superior (or funny) posts should be made available for easy browsing. But keep in mind that when you downrate something you are essentially silencing a person by making their post less visible, and eventually, invisible. This is not a simple "dislike" mechanic, you are literally casting your vote saying that the person's opinion is not worth seeing.

One of the reasons I love reading the comment section here is to see the viewpoints of a diverse playerbase whose experiences differ from mine, and I hope the other readers out there have a similar motivation, rather than to high-five people who think like you. So yeah I get it- the majority of vocal players on this fansite dislike the current cataclysm playstyle and think that's directly to blame for the dip in WoW's subscription numbers. But keep in mind that's your opinion. It may be the dominant opinion, but it's still just your opinion. You have at best anecdotal evidence. So think long and hard before you decide someone else's view is no good and not worth being expressed.

I don't think that most people are downvoting posts out of a malicious intent to see a contrarian viewpoint silenced, but rather because they didn't think through the implications of downvoting. My hope is that they'll start to consider what it means to bury a post. But those of you who are actually trying to bury opposing views I'd like to loosely quote ASoIAF: When you silence someone you don't prove them wrong, you just show that you are afraid of what they have to say.

Reply