dsource and ranking vs. rating

[Knud Soerensen]

On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:58:23 -0700, Walter Bright wrote:

> Knud Soerensen wrote:
>> What I don't like with these type of moderation systems is
>> that a expert option very often is down moderated by what I call 
>> school kids.  (People which blindly believe what they learned in school.)
> 
> Sure, that's the big problem with democracy. On the other hand, every 
> other system tried is worse.

First I don't think that you should uncritical compare a comment moderation
system with a system for electing government.

When I comments on slashdot.org i like to read good comments from expert
on the subject not the most comment option on the subject 
because that option I properly know already. The same way the
ranking/rating on dsource I see as tool to discover good software not just
popular software.

When making decisions for a whole group the option of the majority 
is the best way to go.

But to make a good decision about a problem it is important that 
the good solutions is discovered and analysed and it is this
discovery part we are trying to solve. 

And last if we should compare the ranking system to democracy it is not a
question of for or against but a question about what type of
voting system. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_system 
And my suggestion would be a systems that allow one 
to capture the voters option about each candidate 
and then allow one to calculate the result of a plurality, runoff, approval
or ranked vote.