How do YOU vote on Gather?

That is true that is very wrong and unfair. Each and every article is great in itself!

I vote a 10 when I really feel it is deserved or like you controversial so will most likely get a lot of comments. I never give anyone anything less than a 5. I guess I have not run into many dingbats or moondongs or whatever here maybe one or two. I see some people I do not always agree with but they make things interesting anyway and so like them and thier style. Well I am up WAAAAAAAAAY past my bedtime again. Lately been doing that grrrr and it is catching me. Night ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

I rarely award 10 stars. When I do it is because the article is superbly written or has outstanding content. And sometimes I award the maximum to new comers who need encouragement. I never award just one star. The drivel, and there's a deluge of it, I mostly leave without rating or commenting - I vote with my mouse and get away. If the author continually produces mindless stuff, no matter if well written, I avoid him or her.

I agree the voting system needs a tune-up. I personally believe that comments are way more valuable than ratings are. I don't think the 1 through 10 sytem without a comment attached to the vote has any real value at all.

I give you baby-dolls all 10's.

If I do not comment, then I do not vote. It is difficult sometimes to know how to vote but giving an article a one because they disagree with it, is completely wrong, in my opinion. I think all of us have had the experience of drive by raters.

I give low marks on those articles that have poor punctuation and spelling errors because there really is no excuse for them with a spell checker on board. I deduct one point for each error in an article, and if those points go below 4, then I do not vote. I give higher marks on creativity and composition and for informational value.

(this article received a ten for creativity and for informational content value plus good punctuation and spelling)

Since my critique would be of very little real value. I don't usually rate or comment on creative endeavors I don't like.

Even if it's an opinion I totally disagree with, I will rate it well, if it is well written.

I would never drop anything lower than a five on anyone, and then only with a comment.

I will however leave a drive by 10, if I can't think of anything intelligent to say.

I only vote if I comment, and never lower than a six. I hate the people who do drive by ratings of 1. I don't understand why you rate something a 1 if you dont comment, but whatever. I rate a ten when I think something is deserving, has meaning or can make me laugh.

I agree that the voting system is in need of alteration. I will give a 10 if I like the piece, but I rarely will give less than a 10. I want to encourage people to post and I appreciate effort, but how can someone be rated on this kind of scale? To what are they being compared? Are the standards sliding in consideration of abilities to express oneself? I will try to give constructive criticism on a piece if I think the person put honest effort into it but their presentation or mechanics were rough. It is the intention and effort that I will rate, for isn't that the idea behind communication anyway? I applaud those people who take the time to write about something, to put forth the time and energy to send forth a part of themselves for viewing and critiquing by others, whether or not they can articulate as clearly as they would like. I enjoy seeing 10's given to my work, but I am grateful for comments and appreciate those as a more personal connection. Perhaps if there were a thumbs up/thumbs down/neutral rating... or even a choice of 1 or 2 thumbs up or down.
I whole-heartedly agree that agreement or disagreement with a person's posting is not what the rating sytem is set up for. If I do not agree with what someone says, I may not vote, but I certainly will not give them low votes for their opinion. I will vote low for things that are demeaning, negative, hurtful, spiteful or otherwise ill-intentioned. We do not need this kind of energy on Gather, let alone anywhere in the world.
Nice thoughts... I'll give you a 2 thumbs up!

I usually base my rating on how much thought someone's put into an article, not necessarily the punctuation and spelling. I try to remember that everybody who publishes here may be from another country, or just not a typist and take that into consideration. I do not rate on "opinions"... if an opinion is published that's interesting and well thought out, it gets a high rating whether I agree or disagree. I mean if we all thought alike, we wouldn't be writing here. Often when I read, I don't rate at all if I have no comment, which happens quite frequently because a one word comment to me for a point isn't really why I'm at gather.

I vote very nuch as Michael does. When I don't like an article, I usually don't vote or comment. If I don't have any interest in the topic, I usually don't feel qualified to comment, unless I think it is particulary well written. I usually don't read long articles which aren't divided into paragraphs, and I don't like disregard for capitalization and punctuation. That is laziness. When it is a severe challenge for the writer, I prefer it when the writer resorts to complete capitalization. I appreciate the writers sincere opinions and stories, and don't want to miss them. If the author thinks his article is worth posting, it deserves his best effort, but it doesn't have to be perfect. We all make honest mistakes, and I certainly forgive them if they will forgive me my mistakes. I don't like intentional disregard for the rules of writing English. That is just encouraging the relentless slide into mediocrity.

I like the wide range ...... think of grades with A as a 10 and D- as a 1.

Generally I give a score of 8 or higher. If it is a worthless piece I skip it and do not leave a comment or a score.

I do not give points for every item even if I like it. Much depends on my feelings.

I usually don't vote at all, but I give 10s when something really grabs, excites, or moves me. Sometimes I give 10s to articles that really piss me off, because I admire them for making me react. The system is just plain stupid, frankly.

If I can give a 10, I do. If I can't I don't rate at all. It seems to complicated to figure out a rating of a 7 for example. I don't finish reading articles that appear to be a 1 in my mind so I don't rate them at all. I think the system should be retooled to be more fair. There are many good writers getting these drive by 1s and many bad writers getting 10s from their fans.

I've given a drive-by *10* when other's comments have succinctly stated what I thought, rather than just repeat a compliment.
I will rate a *1* when something IMHO is too stupid either in concept or execution. I am not above leaving rude comments on same.
If I like an image, it is an automatic *10* (especially if it is a cat!)
I gave this article a *10*.

To me, this rating system is all about sorting reviews so non-members can be directed to the best stuff first... so that is how I rate. Well-written articles get a 10, pasted email jokes get a 1. And yes, I do paste in emails occasionally, and I fully hope they get rated what they're worth in the grand scheme of things.

I do not think a rate requires a comment.

And oh yeah... I do use the full range of numbers 1-10 depending on errors and what have you.

I agree with Dan. Some idiot went and rated pics I had of my kids (that I like to direct relatives to) as a one. I wasn't putting them up for some idiots professional judgement - I don't long to be a professional photographer. That said, I've done drive by 10's but I don't do drive by anything else. I comment on that which I rate. And honestly, I can't remember giving ones out to articles - even those who deserve them.

My history (pregather) was seeding message boards and the like. I tend to unintentionally post in tht frame of mind sometimes. Sometimes I'm not trying to post the world's greatest article, but instead start the world's greatest discussion.

I only vote if I comment, I dont do drive bys, that is childish. If I take the time to read the article and post on it, I vote. My vote is not based on agreement or disagreement, it is based on the thought the author gave to the piece, and whether it made me think or not. I have voted high on something even if I didnt agree with its content.

Like anything else a vote of any kind is how you perceive what you read.

Either you Vote for me Nigel in 2008 or I'll bite you!
Send Nigel to Olympia 2008
" a chicken in every pot"