A suggestion to DU's admins regarding the 'rec' feature.

[Matariki]

One thing about DU that I find unfortunate is that certain topics which are highly contentious will float to the top for days, while very good, well written or informative posts often sink quickly when there's nothing in the post that gets people arguing.

To help even this out a bit, I'd like to suggest that recommending a post kicks it to the top of the page in the same way that posting in the thread does.

[Ken Burch]

1. They'd have to keep the "rec" feature open to do that, rather than close it after 24 hours

BTW, does anybody know WHY they close it after 24 hours? Why should it be a bad thing for people to KEEP rec'ing a thread as long as it continues to exist? I've never heard any real explanation for the "no rec's after 24 hours" policy.

[Matariki]

5. Hadn't thought about that. But still not sure it matters.

I've seen interesting stuff with lots of 'recs' sink to page two within a few hours. At the same time someone can just type the word 'vegetarian' (et al) and that post is on page one for days.

Not complaining about the latter as much as the former.

[blondeatlast]

2. I prefer kicks to recs and when I post something I think is of particular import,

I ask for kicks, not recs.

[davidinalameda]

3. in the same amount of time it takes for you to recommend a thread

you can post in it, kicking it to the top

why make the admins waste time and money fixing something that isn't broken

[virgogal]

7. Right----just a simple dot will kick it up.

[Matariki]

8. Yeah, except that rarely happens.

[NYC Liberal]

4. So...will unrec sink the post? nt

[Matariki]

6. I'm not going there.

;-)

[hendo]

9. That would be nice. ;) NT

[sandnsea]

10. rec feature was supposed to be an answer

The most stupid and contentious threads have always been at the top of the heap on DU. Good informative threads have always dropped like a rock.

They implemented rec to try to give people an opportunity to put quality threads on the home page, while letting people still have the spirited discussions.

Unfortunately, there are some people here who are just not happy with that and have to play rec/unrec based on personal spats instead of the qualify of the posts.

[Matariki]

11. I rarely go to the home page and forget about that feature.

I don't mind the 'spirited discussions', just wish that non-contentious posts would get some equal footing, visibility-wise.

[TexasObserver]

12. Because the other 4000 times someone suggested this, they didn't read it.

[Matariki]

14. I've never seen it suggested before.

But knock yourself out being snarky if it makes you feel good.

[TexasObserver]

13. Addendum: only if an Unrec sends it to the second page ....

[Matariki]

15. ?

[Greyhound]

16. That would 'democratize' the board too much.

Why do you think it was changed in the first place?