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Despite the fact that votes mean something different on meta, or at least can mean something different on meta, the mouse over text when hovering over the up/down vote buttons on meta sites is the same as in the main sites:

We all know we get an inordinate amount of whining about downvotes; I have often had to explain to new users on different sites that downvoting on meta means something different. It simply means that "I don't agree with your proposal". Could we make that more explicit in the mouse over text? Perhaps something like:

• Questions

  This question is useful/I agree with it

  This question is not useful/I disagree with it

• Answers

  This answer is useful/I agree with it

  This answer is not useful/I disagree with it

I am not hung up about the wording, I am sure it can be improved. What I'd like to see is a message clearly explaining that downvotes on meta sites are something you should take even less offense at than downvotes on main sites. I feel that would help new users understand how meta sites work better and might even decrease the whining.

I am aware of Change upvote/downvote tooltip on meta sites however, that recommends changing it completely and while it has overwhelming support, the only "official" answer (which has been downvoted to oblivion) argues that this is not a good idea because not all meta posts are things one can agree or disagree about. Fine, in that case why not have a message like the above (or a better worded version thereof)? We already have two separate reasons for voting on questions, based on either clarity or usefulness, so why not simply take a similar approach on meta, giving more than one reason to vote one way or the other?

Important note: Please bear in mind that this is not a request about meta.so, this is a special meta and is the only one where votes affect reputation. My request is aimed mainly at the various "normal" meta sites, where voting does not affect reputation in any way.

Despite the fact that votes mean something different on meta, or at least can mean something different on meta, the mouse over text when hovering over the up/down vote buttons on meta sites is the same as in the main sites:

We all know we get an inordinate amount of whining about downvotes; I have often had to explain to new users on different sites that downvoting on meta means something different. It simply means that "I don't agree with your proposal". Could we make that more explicit in the mouse over text? Perhaps something like:

• Questions

  This question is useful/I agree with it

  This question is not useful/I disagree with it

• Answers

  This answer is useful/I agree with it

  This answer is not useful/I disagree with it

I am not hung up about the wording, I am sure it can be improved. What I'd like to see is a message clearly explaining that downvotes on meta sites are something you should take even less offense at than downvotes on main sites. I feel that would help new users understand how meta sites work better and might even decrease the whining.

I am aware of Change upvote/downvote tooltip on meta sites however, that recommends changing it completely and while it has overwhelming support, the only "official" answer (which has been downvoted to oblivion) argues that this is not a good idea because not all meta posts are things one can agree or disagree about. Fine, in that case why not have a message like the above (or a better worded version thereof)? We already have two separate reasons for voting on questions, based on either clarity or usefulness, so why not simply take a similar approach on meta, giving more than one reason to vote one way or the other?

Important note: Please bear in mind that this is not a request about meta.so, this is a special meta and is the only one where votes affect reputation. My request is aimed mainly at the various "normal" meta sites, where voting does not affect reputation in any way.

Despite the fact that votes mean something different on meta, or at least can mean something different on meta, the mouse over text when hovering over the up/down vote buttons on meta sites is the same as in the main sites:

We all know we get an inordinate amount of whining about downvotes, I have often had to explain to new users on different sites that downvoting on meta means something different. It simply means that "I don't agree with your proposal". Could we make that more explicit in the mouse over text? Perhaps something like:

• Questions

  This question is useful/I agree with it

  This question is not useful/I disagree with it

• Answers

  This answer is useful/I agree with it

  This answer is not useful/I disagree with it

I am not hung up about the wording, I am sure it can be improved. What I'd like to see is a message clearly explaining that downvotes on meta sites are something you should take even less offense at than downvotes on main sites. I feel that would help new users understand how meta sites work better and might even decrease the whining.

I am aware of Change upvote/downvote tooltip on meta sites however, that recommends changing it completely and while it has overwhelming support, the only "official" answer (which has been downvoted to oblivion) argues that this is not a good idea because not all meta posts are things one can agree or disagree about. Fine, in that case why not have a message like the above (or a better worded version thereof)? We already have two separate reasons for voting on questions, based on either clarity or usefulness, so why not simply take a similar approach on meta, giving more than one reason to vote one way or the other?

Important note: Please bear in mind that this is not a request about meta.so, this is a special meta and is the only one where votes affect reputation. My request is aimed mainly at the various "normal" meta sites, where voting does not affect reputation in any way.

Despite the fact that votes mean something different on meta, or at least can mean something different on meta, the mouse over text when hovering over the up/down vote buttons on meta sites is the same as in the main sites:

We all know we get an inordinate amount of whining about downvotes; I have often had to explain to new users on different sites that downvoting on meta means something different. It simply means that "I don't agree with your proposal". Could we make that more explicit in the mouse over text? Perhaps something like:

• Questions

  This question is useful/I agree with it

  This question is not useful/I disagree with it

• Answers

  This answer is useful/I agree with it

  This answer is not useful/I disagree with it

I am not hung up about the wording, I am sure it can be improved. What I'd like to see is a message clearly explaining that downvotes on meta sites are something you should take even less offense at than downvotes on main sites. I feel that would help new users understand how meta sites work better and might even decrease the whining.

I am aware of Change upvote/downvote tooltip on meta sites however, that recommends changing it completely and while it has overwhelming support, the only "official" answer (which has been downvoted to oblivion) argues that this is not a good idea because not all meta posts are things one can agree or disagree about. Fine, in that case why not have a message like the above (or a better worded version thereof)? We already have two separate reasons for voting on questions, based on either clarity or usefulness, so why not simply take a similar approach on meta, giving more than one reason to vote one way or the other?

Important note: Please bear in mind that this is not a request about meta.so, this is a special meta and is the only one where votes affect reputation. My request is aimed mainly at the various "normal" meta sites, where voting does not affect reputation in any way.