Rule no. 1 of the forum. " Expect others may disagree with you - that is what a forum is about - ideas, opinions and discussion." - Quote
I'm all for robust discussion, and a forum where everyones opinion counts; no matter how unpopular that may be. Part of living in a country where free expression of ones opinion is supposedly paramount in our right of free speech. Yet when we have this little subtle system of green/red thumbs - giving approval or disapproval, it is nothing but a discreet form of censorship. By giving people the option to green thumb/red thumb a forum poster you them a power to legatimise (green thumbs up) or negate (red thumb down) their opinion - counter to the forum rule no. 1. If you want true free discussion Laurie get rid of the thumbs up/down - or should this remain a popularist forum where majority rules?
Ok...I don't use them...basically as you said..freedom of speech and
a forum is a place to discuss things, whether you disagree or not, ...so what happened to you why have you re joined today? or have you?
Do an amount of red thumbs ban you or something? Well I am blonde and as I don't use then..I did not need to know to much about them!
Cheers
all the moderaters get aroused by the thumbs.
they secretly wish that they could holiday with a 6 inch fleshy thumb and that they could call it mavis.
I think they are a great feature. If you don't agree with someones advice you can red thumb it and give your own advice. When enough people use this system it becomes so much easier to pick the good from the bad when searching a particular subject.
It's also fun to red thumb mark_Australia .. haha, just kidding, it wasn't me .. honest 
Welcome to seabreeze for your first (?) post KazeRonin. 
>> Yet when we have this little subtle system of green/red thumbs - giving approval or disapproval, it is nothing but a discreet form of censorship
The thumbs give visual feedback, much like body language - not every form of communication is written or spoken.
Not sure I see the connection to censorship? .. i.e. posts aren't removed or promoted based on the status of the thumbs?
Another forum member has said these words and I quote...
"the thumb thing is a total wank and I believe it should be removed from the forum. the whole idea I thought was to post your thoughts and comments and ideas etc and if you have got nothing to say about a topic then just S.T.F.U !!! and move on. If you have something to say or don't agree then post it and have your two bobs worth - get some balls and get involved and stop hiding behind a mouse click on the red thumb. Why the hell are we given the option to vote with a thumb on what someone says - we aren't here for votes we are here for expression. To me the thumbs are just a w.o.f.t and detract from the topic at hand"
I agree with him 100%
Thumbs are good,.......... just try giving a hand without one it don't work
With a thumb I can say , I agree with that , if its green and I don't need to
repeat content. I don't suffer censorship pangs
With a red thumb i can disagree without giving a foul mouthed comment. Also
a green thumb can provide encouragement.
Red thumbs are for babys to suck
. I'm for Thumbs
If the THUMB was good enough for Ceasar at the Colleseum, it's good enough for me. Long live the thumb.
Can Laurie do a search on top 10 most green and red thumbed users. Like the weekly thumbed leaderboard.
hey Mark_australia,
like the new upgrade on the avatar
sort of a cross between jim cary in that xmas film he did and Avatar
It's kinda like parliament, the red thumbs are the jeers and muttering, where as the green thumbs are the hoorays and whistling........
