How you suggest we use 'voting' is how I have been using voting. I can't speak for others.

I do think we, as a community, could vote on answers more prolifically. Good answers don't get nearly as many votes as they could, or as I hope they would.

Also, for the record, few people seem to be using bounties.

I think I'll use my voting power to +1 this question purely on its merits :^).

I have felt that some people do read WAY too much into a question and assume a lot without any basis, but that is merely a function of how well (or not) they use critical thinking and how emotionally biased they are.

Then there are people who toe their particular sub-Paleo tribal line with almost religious fervor. I wonder if they ever stop and reflect that most of us have become some kind of Paleo by questioning and being open-minded, and not by forever blindly accepting assertions as universal truths? But seeing as most humans have evolved to be very susceptible to the lemming effect and to trying to maintain a fixed and comfortable world-view, I doubt that any new site policy would change this, short of turning Paleohacks into an elitist and hand-picked bunch of rational-thinking people. This would probably defeat the purpose of having Paleohacks in the first place.

Instead, I say use the downvote button on answers that preach too much and reveal too little real information, in order to make people think twice before clicking that post button. Again, your bringing this topic of emotionally biased voting out into the light is much appreciated.

The only things I can think of to remedy this are:

Perhaps there could be a 'like' tab near each post and/or thread in conjunction with the up-vote button. Thus, members could choose to merely 'like', or as you (Jack) pointed out, 'agree' with the response rather than up-vote merely for that reason.

There could be a limited number of 'up-votes' allowed per day (maybe even on an increasing scale in respect to one's reputation) and it would make members more sparing of clicking that lovely little triangle.

Also, there could be a prompt upon clicking the up-vote button reminding members what the up-votes are for and if they are using them accordingly. I think this would get annoying, but an idea nonetheless. It could always be a one day only thing.

And Jack, I understand where you are coming from. I agree in some instances (e. g. important physiological, biochemical, toxin related questions) where threads are not up-voted where it would be a benefit to the paleo community if they were. Maybe just by making this question you've helped elucidate that.

Hmm, and one last idea. For the questions you mentioned, that seem to lack sufficient attention (when it seems like they should), maybe there could be one more tab on the question home page for such questions. Thread starters could enter the question, and if it isn't getting sufficient attention, they could make a comment to the moderators explaining why they think it should and ask if it can be put in that special tab? Just an idea.

Oh, or maybe there could be a tab for such questions for a limited amount of time to draw attention to them ...?

Alright, I'll end my brain storming. Paleo makes my noggin feel like it's on steroids. XD

I like paleo hacks the way it is, but I'm new here, so perhaps I don't have as good an idea of the inner-workings as y'all do.

Cheers!

I confess I am sometimes surprised at what gets a lot of votes. But I don't find votes or lack of votes puts me off from the general usefulness of the site or any particular question and set of answers.

Value Jack, is in the eye of the beholder. To see the true value of a comment one has to understand the 3 ft view and the 30000 ft view and be able to be mentally facile to move amongst the layer of chaos and complexity. Some of the more interesting stuff on this site is not well read and infact dies on the vine way too often.....but I think it happens because many dont realize how germaine it is to what they are trying to do. I think the more one reads and asks questions the more one will come understand what is important. As Paleohacks evolves I believe "its" species will too

i'm new here, 22 days on 30 day paleo challenge.

i found found this site and the users invaluable to my learning curve and i guess i read questions of relevance to me and vote on the answers according to whichever one i feel answers the questions is the most relevant/valuable way (to me and to what i assume the questioner is asking in the first place).

i try not to weigh in on things that i have little to no knowledge about but when i do find something new/cool (usually about diet, lifestyle and the historical evoltuion of both, not the 'silly/fun' food Q's) i do vote, albeit only occasionally. i don't think i realised i can vote on the q's themselves, so will start doing this now!

The way voting is being used combines several different things: if you think the question is relevant, often if you agree with the point of view that is being expressed or suggested, sometimes if you think the question is deep or kind of fun, or even very well written. Yes a question could be very deep and attract few votes, perhaps because it is too technically loaded, perhaps because it suggests a potential flaw with something that is agreed by the majority here. Anyway I think the same may happen with any voting system.

Good point, Jack, and agree need to upvote substantial questions.

Still, good to upvote fun stuff, since it draws eyeballs from latest Numa-Numa video, might bring people deeper into the scene.

I have also experienced and thought upon this issue. It is my opinion that those questions that are more UNIVERSAL in scope are not answered as often despite their value for all people not simply:"check out what I ate Yesterday DUDE(pardon the 80s vocab)." Maybe the PALEOs should focus on addressing things that can reach the most amount of people and orient their voting in this direction: ie. greatest good for the greatest number.