Selecting against bad advice on forums

[PlaqueBuster]

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Ok so I don't really know where to post this but after spending a year reading threads on this forum and then posting my own threads for a few months, I think that there is a lot of crappy advice being given to those that have genuine questions. I think we need a feature, other the "like" icon, which lets people look at good advice.

I suggest that we have a thumbs up and thumbs down feature at the bottom of a thread, where people can agree and push that notification up. And all the crappy advice gets voted down. If anyone is familiar with reddit then they will know exactly what I am talking about. Even if pushing the notification up or down cannot be created, I think we should atleast we able to highlight good advice and condemn bad advice by having a "dislike" icon.

So far, I tend to only listen to posts of people I trust (adcoms, attendings/fellows/residents and some medical students) but for newer members this takes quite a bit of time to sort out the trolls etc. So let me know what you guys think and if this can be possible to implement on this forum.

 

[Feelgood Inc]

I think the system's already fine. You can tell what advice is better than others based on the quantity of likes and the people who agree with it, and if a message responding to a previous message gains significantly more likes than the quoted message that speaks of the quality of the respective advices as well.

Plus, reddit's system leaves a lot of room for subjectivity and a con to a downvote system is that people could just downvote what they don't like to/want to see or even manipulate the system so that their own advice is seen more.

 

[GomersGoToGround]

I think the problem is that unpopular, dissenting opinions will be downvoted, creating the illusion that they have no merit, when in fact, they are just fine, but merely ruffle up a few feathers.

There are usually enough posts on the threads that correct for crap information.

 

[LChristmas]

I think the reputable people on SDN do a good job refuting the poor advice that creeps its way in here sometimes. I do see what you are getting at, though.

 

[NYCdude]

I don't recall any instances in which genuinely terrible advice was allowed to just go unchecked. lol

I think SDN, for all its neuroticism, displays a great deal of selflessness and willingness to help others.

 

[584376]

A voting system like reddit's discourages ideas that conflict with popular opinion. Let people read any post without the bias of seeing it is already heavily down voted. People need to be able to think for themselves.

 

[Psai]

I look at the name. Unfamiliar? Then I look at join date and post count. There is a strong correlation between post content and length of stay

 

[Lysinee]

So far, I tend to only listen to posts of people I trust (adcoms, attendings/fellows/residents and some medical students) but for newer members this takes quite a bit of time to sort out the trolls etc. So let me know what you guys think and if this can be possible to implement on this forum.

Don't neglect premed and med students when you are applying for med school and residency. They are in the same boat as you are and their info will be more recent than someone who applied years ago.

Take my advice with a grain of salt

 

[Gurby]

I think SDN, for all its neuroticism, displays a great deal of selflessness and willingness to help others.

That, or we're all just on here procrastinating when we should be studying, and posting advice makes us feel like we're being productive instead of wasting time...

 

[GomersGoToGround]

IMHO, SDN already does a good enough job shouting down the patently wrong or bad advice.

Down voting just encourages herd mentality and ganging up. Just look at reddit's med school page - if you don't tell everyone they are a beautiful and fluffy unicorn who will definitely get into Harvard even with that 21 MCAT you get down voted.

Strongly agree. Herd mentality at its finest.

Reddit doesn't breed "trueness".

Five thousand like-minded individuals can still be five thousand like-minded WRONG individuals.

 

[GomersGoToGround]

especially when you are in an environment where the ignorant (***I truly mean no disrespect to pre-meds in this description - just that they haven't gone through the process or seen the other side of the curtain***) vastly outnumber the informed.

Correct.

 

[mimelim]

I think the problem with that is that unpopular, dissenting opinions will be downvoted, creating the illusion that they have no merit, when in fact, they are just fine, but stir up a few feathers.

There are usually enough posts on the threads that correct for crap information.

+1

A guide to picking out the good stuff might be in order, but down-votes can be fairly detrimental.

 

[TREDWISE]

Let's make SDN a place where nobody has to think because there's a number next to their posts. Yeah.

 

[Gauss44]

Ok so I don't really know where to post this but after spending a year reading threads on this forum and then posting my own threads for a few months, I think that there is a lot of crappy advice being given to those that have genuine questions. I think we need a feature, other the "like" icon, which lets people look at good advice.

I suggest that we have a thumbs up and thumbs down feature at the bottom of a thread, where people can agree and push that notification up. And all the crappy advice gets voted down. If anyone is familiar with reddit then they will know exactly what I am talking about. Even if pushing the notification up or down cannot be created, I think we should atleast we able to highlight good advice and condemn bad advice by having a "dislike" icon.

So far, I tend to only listen to posts of people I trust (adcoms, attendings/fellows/residents and some medical students) but for newer members this takes quite a bit of time to sort out the trolls etc. So let me know what you guys think and if this can be possible to implement on this forum.

Sometimes it also pays to read the responses to questions when you already know the answer. This way, over some time, you will get a sense of which members consistently provide reliable advice. You are right to pay attention to who is talking.