Get rid of negative endorsements

[ZuluFoxtrot]

I think that the site could be better if negative endorsements were removed. I don't see how the feature is helpful. Many people give negative endorsements because they couldn't install the mod properly, and didn't even bother asking for help. They don't provide valid feedback because the descriptions are so vague, and oftentimes people just click one at random (or the one that is selected by default, I can't remember if there is one). I mean, really? "The file did not fit in to the user's personal tastes or beliefs, etc."? If you don't like it, don't download it. That said, all they really serve as is a blemish to any mod. If there's a big problem that people need to be aware of when about to download the mod, they'll find out in the comments, I would say.

 

Anyone agree?

 

Thanks,

Fox

Edited February 26, 2011 by ZuluFoxtrot

[Herculine]

Leaving downloaders no ability to make constructive criticisms in the endorsements or comments of one of my uploaded files to me would feel like I'm this little kid who's just done some crazy piece of artwork and I'm showing it to the rest of the class with the teacher standing behind me making sure nobody says anything to hurt my feelings.

 

I don't want the site to get into a state where I can upload any old set of ugly deformed companion characters with no worries because I know the site doesn't allow anyone to say anything other than good things about my submissions.

 

I understand there's a difference between constructive criticism and insults and that commenters sometimes seem to not know the difference, but this is another topic that has been debated here more than once.

 

The bottom line for me is that I want downloaders to be able to tell me what they think of my work one way or the other. Whether or not I allow their input to influence my future works is entirely up to me.

[David Brasher]

I disagree. The 1-10 rating system was taken away from us, and now there isn't as effective of a way to rate mods as there used to be. It would be sad if the last way to rate mods (Thumbs-up, thumbs-down) was taken away from us.

 

There are a lot of really really bad mods out there that deserve thumbs down. These mods need to be debugged and fixed and have improved documentation so that nobody will have the overwhelming urge to give them thumbs down. I personally issue lots of thumbs-down ratings. I would rather be giving out thumbs-up ratings, but I keep stumbling into really trashy poorly made mods.

 

But I have a personal honor code about thumbs down ratings. They can only be given for objective verifiable bugs and technical problems, not for artistic reasons. Every thumbs down I give must come with an explanation of what is wrong, and sometimes a suggestion of how to fix it. Thumbs down rating are always reversible. I notify the author that when they can prove to me that the mod is fixed and my issues are gone, then I will remove the thumbs down, and if I really like the mod, I will endorse it.

 

When in doubt over whether a thumbs-down on a bad mod is justified. I refrain from rating and just leave negative feedback with constructive criticism explaining where the errors are.

 

I do think the Nexus site would be improved if gamers were required to type in a paragraph explaining their thumbs-down before the computer would accept it.

[Yamcakes]

Positive Endorsements are just as superfluous. As you said, comments are where you should really gauge the mod's strength and weakness, but there are people with little time or inclination to read them all, so that's where endorsements come in. I agree the feature would be way useful if you had to put in a certain amount of text for each negative endorsement, and I think it should go for positive as well.

[baduk]

Maybe the suggestion about requiring some sentences of feedback for an endorsement would go a long way to filter out some of the negative endorsements. A large percentage of which being given because of stuff like exclamation points, purple or chameleon textures. The mod downloader would simply prefer to think that it is caused by the incompetency of the mod creator rather than their own.

 

Requiring feedback for positive endorsements would reduce the number of endorsements you could expect for your mods tho. It is already not a lot compared to how many downloads you would expect.

 

We hope that the endorsement system serves to reward and encourage modders. I will go out on a limb and suggest that wanting less negative endorsements is not a meaningful motivational force for modders to invest effort into the quality of their work.

 

It is possible that wanting less negative endorsements does motivate mod uploaders to try to write a clear and comprehensive readme for their mod, but readmes only go so far as they are being read.

 

I think someone only should be punished for their upload if they have broken the rules in regards to the content of their mod.

Edited February 26, 2011 by baduk

[Eiries]

If the negative endorsement system has to stay, I would like to see it be mandatory to leave a statement with it. If it's a technical issue, it can be beneficial to the uploader as they'll know what to fix. If it's a personal taste thing, then they'd better phrase their statement carefully, since they're being so bold as to degrade a mod based on their own opinion anyway.

 

I oftentimes find negative endorsing to almost be a way to troll a modder without any reparation. How many times have you come across a wonderful mod, only to see it has one negative endorsement from somebody that's never even posted a comment before because it didn't fit their personal tastes. Give me a break.

 

The negative endorsement system could have been useful if it wasn't so exploited. So I suggest requiring a comment to give a negative endorsement. That way if it's an important issue, it can be dealt with. And if it's someone whining that they don't like it for stupid reasons... well, that can be dealt with too.

 

I will not give this file my endorsement because there were important files missing (animations, textures, etc.) that meant the file didn't work properly.

 

There is far too many bugs here. Incorrect install paths, floating tilesets, and a useless readme to boot. I may remove this in the future if these issues are ever addressed, but as it stands right now, this mod is barely playable, and it shows.

 

I will not give this file my endorsement because after playing the file it doesn't fit in to my personal tastes or beliefs, etc.

 

this is gross u r gross whats wrong with you making porn naked mods get off my site u perv u make me sick get a gf

 

See what I'm getting at?

[Fatalmasterpiece]

I don't see what all the fuss is about. So you have a mod with 300+ positive endorsements and 3 negative. Why should the mod owner worry about 3 frustrated people when they are obviously doing something right. Just ignore them.

[ZuluFoxtrot]

@Herculine: I never said anything about leaving downloaders with no way to give negative feedback. Send a private message to the author, or make a comment. But negative endorsements don't give helpful feedback. If it doesn't fit your personal tastes or beliefs, don't download it, no big deal. There's no need to put a massive, red symbol on the file page screaming "SOMEONE DIDN'T LIKE THIS". It's obvious, everyone has different tastes. If it genuinely has an issue, then negative endorsements are still not helpful. Leaving a comment or contacting the author makes it much more likely for the problem to be resolved, where as the negative endorsement does not give any information about the problem at all. It's completely useless, and completely ugly.

 

@David Brasher: The positive endorsment system is great because it allows for the ranking of mods. I probably couldn't live without the Top 100 lists, or the ability to organise search results by endorsements. You say that there are a lot of mods with problems that deserve negative endorsements because they need to be "debugged" and such. Read above. Sure, it's a good system in theory, if everyone was sensible and gave reasons for their endorsements, as well as removed them when the issue was fixed. But right now it's abusable, and abused often. Not your sort of file? Thumbs-down, no explanation, possibilty of never logging on again. Broken file? No effort to inform the author of the issue, just a thumbs-down alongside a randomly selected, vague reason. That said, there is no need for this feature. Without this feature, people would actually comment and contact the author about issues, which is how it is meant to be. People can still see if a file has issues simply by reading the comments. And people who do not like the file in particular, due to their tastes, would be forced to just move on, as they should do.

 

@Yamcakes: Positive endorsements are very useful, I'd say, as they contribute to the site rankings (Top 100 lists, for example). Also, whilst just as useless in the sense of sitting there on the file page, they can at least be worn proudly.

[blove]

...

I oftentimes find negative endorsing to almost be a way to troll a modder without any reparation.

...

 

I agree. Negative kudos, "boodos", as a recourse would be nice.

Edited February 26, 2011 by blove

[XTR3M368]

The neg people either look like tools or complete newbs. There are some "legit" neg endorsements, but that is a small percentage. I really don't care about neg endorsements either. It is just someone, in most cases, just being a jerk or proving to us that they are a newb that won't ask for help.

 

An old saying comes to mind when I see those misguided or malicious neg endorsements....

 

"It is better to say nothing and have people think you are a jerk/newb, than it is to open your mouth and remove all doubt."