I appreciate this has been discussed before in 2012 and again in 2015, so it seemed fitting, three years on to perhaps explore the idea of this again.
After reading through the threads I think I understand the reasons against, but it seems people are missing a very large argument for some sort of "like" button. And internet life has become more social since it was last discussed in 2015. Here's some thoughts:
It doesn't have to be a "like" button:
Other forums have "agree", "helpful", "informative"... whatever. It works well and allows me to see other peoples opinions on information. It's not particularly about the person whose posted it, but what has been written that I am more interested in.
I see the "like" button as much more than a single "like" button.
We must have a "Disagree" button:
No... there doesn't have to be a disagree button. Again, many forums don't have any negative interactions... perhaps it's the whole "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" mantra (yes, I appreciate I am a prime contender for that!)
Posts will drop as people will just "like" instead of replying:
Will they? Is this fact, or opinion?
I like to show support for some posts but have nothing to add to the thread. I don't really want to send a private message to someone just to say thanks, although have posted on their "wall", but it's a lot of hassle.
I've seen many people on other forums respond as well as "liking". Equally on this forum, I've seen an increase in people replying to say "like" and suggesting they'd have prefered some sort of "like" button rather than inflating the post count of the thread simply saying "like".
It'll create a culture of "friends":
Will it? I mean, I see certain people always posting in favour of each other anyway so either that culture is already here, or it actually won't encourage that sort of business.
You will always have small numbers of people who will "like" all their friends posts but I'd rather that than some replies that are full of drivel as an excuse to support someone else.
It'll create a culture of indirect bullying:
I understand you might get someone who will say "I don't like your post" and then loads of people may "agree" with them and thus the first poster may feel like they've been targeted. But does this happen now? Not really. So it's safe to say it probably won't happen with a "like" button.
Just because other forums have it, doesn't mean we should:
I appreciate that. But we have polls, (what I see as pointless) forum games, lots of other things other forums have. It's not about following the crowd, but keeping up to date with how people communicate.
I understand the resistance but can't help but feel many of the discussions against introducting a "like" feature (remember, it's more "agree", "helpful", "informative" than a single "like" button) are "what ifs" rather than looking at the positives.
And yes, I also appreciate there will be a number of people who will think their reply to this topic is hilarious by replying with "like" or "I dislike your post" <-- oh the irony!
Any thoughts?
After reading through the threads I think I understand the reasons against, but it seems people are missing a very large argument for some sort of "like" button. And internet life has become more social since it was last discussed in 2015. Here's some thoughts:
It doesn't have to be a "like" button:
Other forums have "agree", "helpful", "informative"... whatever. It works well and allows me to see other peoples opinions on information. It's not particularly about the person whose posted it, but what has been written that I am more interested in.
I see the "like" button as much more than a single "like" button.
We must have a "Disagree" button:
No... there doesn't have to be a disagree button. Again, many forums don't have any negative interactions... perhaps it's the whole "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" mantra (yes, I appreciate I am a prime contender for that!)
Posts will drop as people will just "like" instead of replying:
Will they? Is this fact, or opinion?
I like to show support for some posts but have nothing to add to the thread. I don't really want to send a private message to someone just to say thanks, although have posted on their "wall", but it's a lot of hassle.
I've seen many people on other forums respond as well as "liking". Equally on this forum, I've seen an increase in people replying to say "like" and suggesting they'd have prefered some sort of "like" button rather than inflating the post count of the thread simply saying "like".
It'll create a culture of "friends":
Will it? I mean, I see certain people always posting in favour of each other anyway so either that culture is already here, or it actually won't encourage that sort of business.
You will always have small numbers of people who will "like" all their friends posts but I'd rather that than some replies that are full of drivel as an excuse to support someone else.
It'll create a culture of indirect bullying:
I understand you might get someone who will say "I don't like your post" and then loads of people may "agree" with them and thus the first poster may feel like they've been targeted. But does this happen now? Not really. So it's safe to say it probably won't happen with a "like" button.
Just because other forums have it, doesn't mean we should:
I appreciate that. But we have polls, (what I see as pointless) forum games, lots of other things other forums have. It's not about following the crowd, but keeping up to date with how people communicate.
I understand the resistance but can't help but feel many of the discussions against introducting a "like" feature (remember, it's more "agree", "helpful", "informative" than a single "like" button) are "what ifs" rather than looking at the positives.
And yes, I also appreciate there will be a number of people who will think their reply to this topic is hilarious by replying with "like" or "I dislike your post" <-- oh the irony!
Any thoughts?
