1

Just wondering, when should you award a thumbs up when RC patrolling? I’ve been only awarding them for really thought-out, helpful edits, rather than every correct spelling change but I’ve been given them for literally just correcting a single spelling error or even removing an unnecessary *. Should I be much more generous or was that user over-using the thumbs-up tool? Or is it just one of those things that no one ever pays any attention to so it doesn’t matter what you do? Personally, I’ve never really actually looked at whether I’ve been given any thumbs up before, but was just scrolling down my user page and noticed it. Not that it really matters, but I’d just like to know, Thanks in advanced, TammySin

2

I try to be generous to newer users with the “thumbs” and add a personal note saying what I particularly liked about the edit and how it helps improve the overall quality. By doing this, I hope to encourage newcomers and let them know that all contributions are welcome, noticed, and valued. Even experienced contributors like a pat on the back, now and then, and knowing that their hard work is noticed and appreciated. Generally, I only convey these for an edit which is “above and beyond” the ordinary.

3

I thumbs up when I can see a patroller has really made an effort or if they have spotted something I would of missed, like small spelling errors or typos. Some people dish out thumbs up like candy, I like to just reward what I see as special effort. I will thumbs up funny edits, succinct edits, pertinent edits, etc. If I see someone new has done a lot of not so great editing, then there’s a diamond amongst the rough, I will thumbs up those too. I don’t think anyone gets too hung up about Thumbs Ups. Hope you find my point of view helpful.

4

I also like to give thumbs up if I see a user has performed the same task on a number of articles. While on one article it wouldn’t be worth a thumbs up, do the same minute task on 17 of them and I’ll thumbs up one, and send you a note saying it’s for your hard work on them all.

5

Thanks everyone, those replies are very helpful!