Fixing the Thumbs down problem

[Strings and Verses]

I am persuaded that the current thumbs down system is definitely flawed and needs to be changed.

There is currently no safety net for people on the receiving end of the thumbs down. Often the recipient of the thumbs down, because he is a decent sort, has given a thumbs up to the thumbs-down giver, resulting in the travesty of the wrong rating being given to each player. Nothing currently exists to stop any user from breaking the site guidelines and assigning a thumbs-down contrary to the FAQ.

What's worst, a number of these thumbs-down givers no longer play on Board Game Arena; they left 6 months or more ago, yet the unjustified black mark they placed on you lingers forever. If I'm not mistaken, someone who hasn't even played you in a game can go to your profile and put a thumbs-down on you.

I propose as one solution to this problem is that at the beginning of every calendar month, one thumbs down is removed from your record. If it is objected that this would unbalance the rating system, then remove both one thumbs up and one thumbs down from each player at the beginning of each calendar month.

Other partial solutions would be to require the thumbs down giver to enter a reason for the thumbs down, if after reviewing the game in which the alleged offence takes place the site admins determine the person to be lying, then some penalty could fall. Another solution would be to make public who gives what rating. Another partial solution would be to conceal the thumbs-up and -down numbers from opponents until after they've submitted their rating.

I think the best solution would be that you would be able to assign a public thumbs down to someone if you've actually played against them twice.

[Krieger]

I cannot agree more with you.

It's a shame that some players simply thumb-down who beat them only by hating their superior skill or luck in the game.

But since you've posted this nearly two months ago, and no one has commented this topic yet (I'm first as you see), it seems that nobody cares at all and, sadly, nothing will be done to fix it.

;(

[Laci]

How ridiculous I get a thumbs down today, from some random person I have never played with. I have only play with my 3 real life friends so far who are also on this site. How can someone give you a thumbs down who has never played a game with you?

Time to find to different board game site.

[Phelan]

You can only be given a thumb down in a game you played, by one of the other players.

[Laci]

Phelan-

That is incorrect. You can give a thumbs down to anyone, regardless of whether or not you have played with them. Just click on someone's name, go to their profile, and rate them.

I mean why would you have to have an experience/interaction with someone to rate them or give them a thumbs up/down ......... oh wait.......

[aealbee]

If you have 50+ thumbs up, who really cares if you have a thumbs down? They only way I'd ever voluntarily not play with someone is if they have MORE thumbs down than thumbs up, which I have yet to see. People are going to give you a thumbs down from time to time... it's not a big deal.

[Phelan]

Phelan-

That is incorrect. You can give a thumbs down to anyone, regardless of whether or not you have played with them. Just click on someone's name, go to their profile, and rate them.

I mean why would you have to have an experience/interaction with someone to rate them or give them a thumbs up/down ......... oh wait.......

Huh. I was not aware of that. Sorry.

[acocle]

There is a good reason why you can give a thumbs down to anyone: imagine I am trying to play with you but you kick me out without telling me why, or you are aggressive outside of a game, or you go watch a table and start commenting and annoying the other players. I can think of many different scenarios that justify the thumb up/down feature to anyone, regardless whether you played or not with him.

And since they never disappear but can be given only once per player, overall and after some time, you will receive a rating vaguely corresponding to how nice and fairplay you are, knowing you will always get a thumb down once in a while. You will also notice that BGA reminds you when you try to play another game to a player you have given a "thumb down" helping you avoiding playing with them again. Not sure how that could be preserved if thumbs up/down were to disappear after some time.

The main flaw I can see with the current system is that if you are an occasional player or mostly play with your friends, you will not have representative rating but I suppose most people disregard rating when you have only received a few thumbs up/down...

[le Zakhan noir]

Hello (and sorry for my english, I'm not good with Shakespeare's language)

I agree with those who find this system a little unappropried. I'm not complaining for myself, I have a lot a red thumbs mostly because I can get angry wit many things (for a time it was against those who don't say hello AND goodbye), so I was involved in some argues...

But I had a recent proof that there is a problem with the system.

In the past, some players upbraided me because I was talking too much (don't remember if they put a red thumb). Recently, a player put me a red thumb because I was too silent! I found that stupid and I told to him, and he answered by quoting the thumb definition: "I didn't like this game this you", so, red thumb!

In the letter, he's right, if he didn't like to play with me, even for a ridiculous reason to my eyes, it's logical to put a red thumb

The problem is theses red thumbs "serve" for everyone without distinction. In my example, other people sees I have some red thumbs and think "ok I will not play with him, maybe he is talking too much", and they don't know that I received this thumb precisely for the opposite reason!!!

It should be a system of personal red thumbs, not general (not seen by everyone)


Once again, I precise I'm not talking for me, my red thumbs come from many reasons (and my greens too lol), but it can happens for nicer people than me and it's unfair...