I'm really trying, but I just can't see any way in which the ability to give an up arrow can be construed as "nasty". How? It was certainly possible when there were down arrows. I'm not exactly sure about the "cliquey" charge either. How can you tell?

I agree with Rosbif - things here seemed grumpier when there were down arrows too.

I'm sure Fraser will be able to confirm how they are actually used, but they are useful if someone has made a point that I agree with : if I have nothing to add other than "I agree", then I click on the up arrow. They're also useful when someone has posted an entertaining link.

I think Fraser had said before that they were used quite a bit by people who don't post much, which seems to be encouraging wider interaction.

I'm interested to know why you see them as nasty.

I always thought there were points awarded. Points meaning prizes, the lucky posters accumulating the most points would get something like a free subscription or Fraser would come to your house and cook you dinner.

You got to, as Tom Waits reminds us, think in terms of that patio furniture.

Surely the up arrows are a perfect example of online democracy at work? Whether it's simply giving a nod of approval for a witty or wise post, or more seriously, showing disapproval by proxy if someone is acting like a total arse, I feel they do serve some sort of useful purpose.

... I receive an up arrow on this website a mysterious hooded archer attacks me with a longbow.

are we all happy now ?

Alan Merrill was my favourite.

it's be interesting to see the posts that have generated the most up arrows ever. :-)

always 'Karma Error'

1. I was impressed that there were no 'down' arrows - if you want to disagree, then you have to apply some brain cells to coming up with a response if you wish.

2. With the 'up' being above the name, I tend to click in response to what I've just read, rather than who wrote it.

3. My assumption was that the idea was to recognise erudition or wit or originality etc rather than to reward someone for sharing my impeccable taste.

4. As a newcomer, I have (rather pathetically) been chuffed by getting 'ups' and it has certainly encouraged me to contribute more.

5. It's t'internet. It's not important enough to get fired up over.

But I still don't like Richard Thompson, so there ;)

... As someone who posts and often rereads the next day and equally often thinks "I am the worst writer of all time. My grammer is rubbish, my spelling is appalling, my argument construction is non existent, I have killed this thread stone dead and where the hell do you start with Richard Blooming Thompson anyway?" I find the occasional up arrow a cheery sight. There are individuals here who are a genuine pleasure to read and others (like me), who really appreciate the encouragement when it comes.

It seems up arrows are quite popular. I'll bow to the majority.

I like to imagine I have a huge fan who is a gorgeous, millionaire, princess in her mid thirties who is plucking up the courage to ask for my hand and take me away from all this. *sigh*

for me is the chance to thank someone for making me smile or making a point that perhaps changes my view or perspective on something. The receiving of an up arrow for some of the rubbish I write is highly rewarding and as a slightly sad, miserable bugger can make a big difference to my day. I've been ignored, disagreed with, questioned, praised and on the odd occasion where I've got it right reached double digits in up arrows I can't even begin to tell you how happy that makes me. I work on the principle if I throw enough shit some is bound to stick and might strike a chord. If any forum can operate a simple system of acknowledgement then one of this level of intelligence, candour, humour, understanding and politeness should be able to. I had never even considered the use of an arrow as a method of ganging up, even when I got a gentle shoeing over the moon landings the up arrows were in agreement of what was said trying to convince me not a dig at me, or at least that's how I saw it.

Can we not have a sideways arrow for me to register my complete disinterest in anything anybody may have said

But I think this thread may hold the record for the biggest total of up arrows.
I can't decide what this means.

... apart from a Great Big Melting Pot, big enough, big enough etc, is to tackle what them on QI might call The Elephant In The Room: the patently phallic and, frankly, warlike arrow device.
I'm thinkin instead of those toy ones that in place of the usual poison-tipped arrowhead have a suction cup on the end. Puttin rubber on the end of one's pointy thing is bound to make the consequences much easier to bear, I've, er, come to learn..

Personally, I don't get out of bed for less than 5 Up arrows

of this blog arena for a little over a month and I definitely got off on the wrong foot by proposing that Steely Dan and Madness either mystified me or maybe weren't that great in certain areas.
For my efforts I received no up arrows.
I have shied away from abusing such sacred Word cows as the lack of ups had me weeping into my Cheerios.
I will stay on safer ground until I infiltrate a Massive meet up or go to blog school and study under the ever popular Captain or his ilk.

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/never-give-estranged-offspring

with a jaunty graphic of an up-raised thumb? Much more matey.

Encouragement is good ;-)

I'd like to see pants instead of what you guys call 'arras' and I see as 'Bad Karma Beckoning'

this thread started, I've had this bouncing round my head. I was caught humming it in the supermarket yesterday.

So I thought I'd share