Reply #35: Don't have a clue what you are saying.

[Ms. Toad]

I didn't say a word about whether I fond "Rec this post" offensive. I was responding to the concern you expressed that you felt your right to give someone a pat on the back was somehow jeopardized by this new system.

You seemed disturbed by the fact that the recipient of your pat won't be able to see your "pat" because someone else who doesn't think the story that you liked belonged among the greatest current stories on DU and gave it an "unpat."

If that is your issue there is an easy solution - list both total "pats" and total "unpats," rather than the difference between the two - as originally implemented by Skinner.

My concern has to do with the overall impact of the unopposed recommend function. Whether or not a thread ends up in the "greatest" has nothing to do with whether there are dissenting opinions or offensive posts - that is a red herring. All those dissenting opinions and offensive posts will still be there, right where the author of each post put them (unless they are so offensive the mods delete them). The thread, however, just won't be as easily whisked off to the latest and greatest room (or land on my front page) because those who don't think the thread is really all that hot will have a chance to say, "I don't think so."

I'm happy with the system as it has been implemented - it addresses my concern. It could also easily address the concern you expressed - but it sounds as if you would rather complain than suggest anything that actually addresses that concern. Enjoy your whine.