Assalamu Alaykum,
The purpose of the Appreciate Topic button:
When a topic is appreciated, it can help in a few ways. It increase the priority of that topic in search results. It also encourages the member who started the topic to continue the good work. Many virtues and interesting topics have increased since the addition of the appreciate button Alhamdulillah.
The purpose of thumbs up and thumbs down on posts
When a user posts something on the forum and a member dislikes the contents for valid reasons or strongly opposes it on Deeni grounds, it can be given a thumbs down.
If a member strongly agrees with a post or likes it on any level such contents, messge, method, respect or even humour then it can be given a thumbs up.
Giving a thumbs up or down does not affect the topic in any way but does increase and decrease the reputation of the member.
Reputation:
Reputation is important to automate many aspects of the backend scripts. For example, a very low reputation means that the member has had many thumbs down and the contents may now need to be monitored. This means the filter on the posts are set to "strict" - The purpose of this since the beginning was to decrease Fitnah on the forum.
It also means that this member will not be permitted to give thumbs down as it is most likely that they will disagree much more and constantly rate posts down often. This does not help in any way as it simply becomes personal.
Those who have higher reputations have not just got it for free but have contributed positively towards this site and the forum for a long time and new members giving thumbs down constantly is a nuisance.
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From me:
These features were meant to be taken seriously from the beginning and its main purpose amongst others was to encourage good work.
Once concern was that disabling it for some and not the other is unfair and bias which on its own makes sense. I however feel that allowing new members who have not showed any signs of positive intentions on this forum should not be allowed to spoil the works of those who have more than proved their value.
Many sites restrict guests to a lot of things as they're not registered for security purposes. Some sites go further and require guests to register and even when they have, they still restrict a little more because they're still new and have not proven certain things. This is a standard procedure on many sites that do not have 24/7 monitoring as Alhamdulillah we have an image, quality and reputation to maintain.
Some new members have recently given 100+ thumbs down compared to approximately 10 thumbs up. Can you really blame us for putting a restriction.
Another member registered JUST to give thumbs down. There were no posts, no appreciatations, just thumbs down on almost evert post from a single topic. Brothers (and sisters), that was not the purpose of this. Arguing was hardly ever here until certain groups recently decided to become active here. Everyone is welcome to meaningful discussions but closed blind arguments along with damaging the features of the site such as ratings and rep is not welcome.
I once received a thumbs down because I laughed at something someone said which was taken in good humour. Now i'm seeing thumbs down Qur'aan verses, on explanations, on links, on attempts to answer queries.
Please ask yourself, if you were in my position, would you not limit it too?
Jazakumullah
