Having used the rating system for a while, I question the usefulness of the thumbs down. I think the rating sytem would still work fine w/o it.

I would prefer instead for the system register each time a post is read. Reader gives a thumbs up or moves on w/o voting on the post. But at least that way we know whether a low rating means we have read your post and not many think it rates a thumbs up or it means we do not think it is worthwhile to read whatever you have to say. Could save people alot of time and effort posting, as well as cut down on the number of messages posted. And it should not detract from what most here deem important/intesting/worthwile. IMHO Opty