PSA: Read the comments before you vote!

submitted by wizzwizz4 from (self.SaidIt)

TL;DR: Comments can call out inaccuracies in the post, link or multimedia content; you might be increasing the exposure of low-quality content without realising it!

I know that we all like to read titles, and vote on titles. This, however, needs to change. Too often have I seen articles or pictures posted here, with ridiculous numbers of insightful votes, but which the majority of the comments criticise. And I don't mean "I disagree"-type comments.

In more than half of these cases, the content has either been biased-beyond-reality or fabricated outright.

Please, do us the favour of reading these comments – and preferably the linked articles! If, after this, you still think the content is worthy of your vote, then feel free to vote! But don't support low-quality content.

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[–]Tom_Bombadil 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

This is an interesting statement.

One thing that I respect about SaidIt, is that it doesn't have a downvote.
This is a crucially important feature, because it prevents nefarious agents from suppressing popular ideas that resonate with many people.
Ideas are dangerous to those who benefit from the status quo.

The main methods of controling information in up-vote only forums are:

  • Controlling the terms of a debate through the comments section
  • Forum sliding (also controls the debate)
  • Vote reduction
  • Vote/voter influence/suppression
  • Others?

Please make suggestions to this list if you are aware of other methods of manipulation

Some may have noticed that I comment here regularly. I read many submissions, videos, articles, and other people's comments.

I haven't noticed any SIGNIFICANT inaccuracies in any submissions. However, I could have overlooked something.

Has anyone else noticed any inaccurate submissions?

I find any encouragement by others to change their voting preferences to be extremely suspicious.
Well intentioned, or otherwise.

As the SaidIt community grows, we should expect outside agencies to take notice of this site.

These groups will attempt to influence members behavior in various ways; always under the guise of well-intentioned recommendations.

My two cents.

[–]wizzwizz4[S] 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

This is also significant. Though individuals could also do this – one of the wonders of the internet is that you don't have to be a three-letter agency to act like one.

Ironically, your comment is likely to prevent people from voting on this PSA because they've followed its advice and read your comment which suggests against it… (My head's starting to hurt.)

There are three modes of influence I can think of:

  • Post
  • Comment
  • Recommendation

This proposal reduces the influence of posts slightly, in favour of comments, but also makes recommendations potentially more influential as people will become more accustomed to them.

Examples of stuff that reached the top of the front page but the comments disagree with:

[–]JasonCarswell 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

This meme reached the top yesterday with a lot of controversy: /s/conspiracy/comments/k3o/saidit_keeps_getting_nonsense_frontpage/

[–]JasonCarswell 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

If you believe in one side of the left-right paradigm then you might be able to claim there are comments "biased-beyond-reality or fabricated outright".

[–]Tom_Bombadil 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

That is certainly a possibility.
In that circumstance, evidence should be requested; and honestly evaluated on it's merits.

Conversely, there are some who comment to influence the discussion and steet it away from popular ideas, to avoid the appearance of a consensus on popular issues.
They are not honestly commenting, and they do not honestly consider evidence.

[–][deleted]  (2 children)

[deleted]

    [–]wizzwizz4[S] 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

    And that's fine. If you think what I call "low-quality" is insightful or fun, then vote accordingly.

    [–]Tom_Bombadil 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

    Good on you! Vote for your own interests. :-)

    [–]magnora7 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    I agree. On every social media site.

    The original post merely sets the topic. The comments hone in on the truth based on the original post.

    The real truth is often in the comments, it seems :)

    [–]AbeFroman 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    I noticed this today. Some headlines are eye catching, but you click on the article and it's over a year old!

    [–]JasonCarswell 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

    I would LOVE it if we could flag what was read to keep track. In posts like this with a lot of comments I just give everyone a vote even if they don't deserve it - just as a way to mark it read. Sadly.

    [–]wizzwizz4[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

    Oh, yes; I'd forgotten about this! Make a feature request. It shouldn't be too hard to turn on the Gold-only "highlight since last visit" feature for everybody, seeing as it's currently enabled for moderators.

    [–]JasonCarswell 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    It kinda works with RES. Sometimes.