Thumbs Down to Users on StumbleUpon
Recently, a friend of mine was using the social networking site, StumbleUpon, when she received a nasty message from another StumbleUpon user (whose name and message I will not repeat here). It turned out that this other person didn’t like the fact that she had “thumbed up” a certain web site and thus, had a few choice words for her. As she sat there, perplexed at why someone would trash talk her for no real good reason, I began to doubt the value of social networking. After all, the whole point of “stumbling” is to review sites that you like or dislike and occasionally give a reason or leave a comment as to why you felt that way.
If you can’t express your opinion without having someone else berate you for it, then is social media really doing its job? We’re supposed to be building connections and discovering new things. Now, I’m not saying that we have to all get along; but shouldn’t social networking come with some sort of general protocol that everyone should adhere to? Clearly, cursing at someone or stalking someone on the Internet, leaving disparaging remarks at every presentable opportunity is not the way to build camaraderie while surfing.
If you don’t like a web site or you read someone’s blog and disagree, you should be able to disagree without being shot down. In the same respect, if you really like a web site or a blog, you should be able to leave a remark about it. The key here, I think, is always trying to find a way to channel your emotions. You may not agree with what someone else has to say or with their point of view. In fact, reading what someone has written, whether it be fact or fiction might even make you upset; but you can’t surf around putting down others who don’t share the same point of view as you. The world wide web would be an awfully mundane place if everyone shared the same view point. It is the diversity of information that is available to us at just the click of a mouse or a few keystrokes that keeps Internet readers coming back for more.
In the meantime, what can be done about users, like the one on StumbleUpon, who leave insidious comments? Does simply “reporting” them have any profound effect?
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Trolls and crazy people with nothing better to do than insult others are a constant to the online world. You find them in blog comments, on social media and social bookmarking sites, on forums, really everywhere. What matters is how many they are and how often they take action. I find it that StumbleUpon is not that bad in this regard. I got two extremely ugly reviews on an article of mine someone submitted that twisted the meaning and were filled with insults, but other than that, it’s been quiet.
I hope SU manages to keep trolls under control and it keeps being a great place. I hope other social sites manage to do the very same.
Your friend’s experience is interesting. I would have thought it would have been more of an issue if she had thumbed down a particular site.
For myself ,I refrain from using any thumbs it down. I just do not vote if the site or article does not resonate well with me. I choose not to “add” on to the negative energy on the blogosphere.
Yes…I’ve encountered a rare 1 or 2 experiences where others posted untrue remarks. I know how spiteful and vicious trolls can be.
Evelyn
SU should put some restrictions in when people are abusing their platform.
Although isn’t social media all about being able to take criticism. When we go to work people talk behind our backs. I don’t think it’s that different, except this time we know who they are by looking at their profile. When we say outrageous or even take things from a different angle we have to expect a little backlash.
I’m not saying that anyone should be allowed to insult other people. I think it’s disrespectful, but it’s going to happen and we just have to brush it off and move on.
I use the thumbs down VERY judiciously. Really just to help guide what content I like. I was getting a lot of odd religious stuff, couldn’t figure out why, so I started thumbing it down. It’s helped quite a bit.
Did I really dislike the odd religious stuff? No, but the SU engine needed a little guiding.
Sorry for your friend, but I agree with Alina, “Trolls and crazy people”. In real life, on the web, there will always be people ready to get aggro in your face about something. Ignore them, filter, block them.
The whole point of Stumble Upon is to find things you like, that you might not have found otherwise. Why let some jerk spoil that for you?
@Alina…I think SU is great right now and I totally enjoy every second of it..you come across a lot of interesting and humorous stuff, and I do agree with you in the fact that I hope they manage to keep it under control…
@Evelyn…I agree..I actually try to avoid the ‘thumbs down’ altogether and simply don’t rate the site at all..there’s no need to be cruel
@Karl…I do agree with the point that people inevitably will talk behind each other’s backs, but to put it out there so publicly for other people to see? Don’t you think it kind of goes beyond mere insults as far as the web is concerned? Negative comments could potentially ruin someone’s credibility too…(just playing devil’s advocate here)
@SomeAudioGuy….Thanks for the comment…I am not sure if she has blocked this person, but I’ll definitely let her know. As far as reporting people is concerned though, it’s good that you put “very” in all caps there to emphasize that fact…I would hate to see people getting reported and/or kicked out of SU all because they gave a thumbs down…