New feature: Like and Dislike added to posts

In my wise and almost always correct opinion, this will turn into the same thing as the old rep system, a popularity contest and process used not based on merit but rather on partisanship and cliques.

 

I think it's nice. Thanks, owner.

 

New features are always appreciated. Thx!

 

I have only one reservation about this feature - I would have preferred there not to have been a dislike option. Like negative rep, that is something that contributes little to civil discussion. Just a thought.

 

Agreed but it is similar to the yahoo comments sections and I am very popular there so this is a good idea overall.

 

I was messing around with this feature earlier. Why should there be a "like" or "dislike" or "agree" or "disagree" feature, in all honesty? Isn't that the point of actually making a post which expresses exactly that? I mean the reputation system is fine and good without negative reputation, that's been there for a long time and you can privately commend or compliment someone for a post you think was well written. That actually serves a semi-useful purpose. What is this "like," "dislike," "agree," "disagree," etc. feature going to contribute? It'll likely end up serving as a tool of laziness... I was messing around with this feature in a particular thread earlier and even as I voted a few posts up or down just to see where it displayed, what it did, etc., I just thought to myself, "if I really genuinely wanted to disagree with a post or express my distaste for it, I would formulate a reply." I mean, if someone did disagree with a post, prior to this feature being implemented, if they wanted their opinion to be seen, recognized, and/or understood, they would make a post explaining their thoughts. And if they were going to take the time to do that anyway, why then, would they also click on this "dislike" or "disagree" button when their post would already convey their thoughts about whatever they're responding to? On the other hand, someone who does not wish to contribute thoughtfully to the actual discussion can simply browse and click on the "dislike" button without explaining why or giving any kind of insight for others to learn what their particular view is and how it can compare and contrast to other views--both similar and different.

In my opinion, there is absolutely no need for a button that automatically voices your opinion without any kind of elaboration or reasoning given. Intellectual debate and discussion thrives based on participants who actually take the time and effort to explain their reasons for disagreement and formulate arguments for the opposition and audience to consider. I do not believe this feature will serve a beneficial purpose to a forum board which wishes to encourage intellectual political debate. The rep system has already been in place for agreement and private compliments, it seems redundant to duplicate it with a "like" system and then it seems almost backward to add a "dislike" button in place of where a member or discussion participant could express not only their disagreement but the reasons for and/or sentiment behind their disagreement as well.

That being said, while my feedback on this particular feature is negative, I do appreciate the efforts of the administrator to provide for the members, working on the forums in general and experimenting with things, including additional features. I simply do not believe this particular feature will serve to benefit or encourage intellectual discourse, conversations, etc.

 

For example, clicking on the "like" button for this post I have just quoted accomplished nothing that people couldn't already see for themselves, because if they had taken the time to read through the posts in this thread, they would have come across mine directly above, which basically conveys my similar criticisms of this feature anyway.

To be more specific regarding my agreement with or "like" of this post I quoted, I am inclined to agree that this will simply encourage blatant partisan voting, popularity contests and other completely unnecessary elements which very well may result and at the same time, will probably not encourage members (especially new members)--who may be uneasy or on the fence about jumping into a thread--to participate and share their views, as they will have the option to simply click a button and move on rather than taking a brief moment to express their full thoughts and/or arguments for other discussion participants and the audience to consider.

 

I think it's superfluous, unless it's to replace the rep system.

 

Cool. We have either rep or a 'like' to choose from. I am concerned that I will get a ton of dislikes because some think my posts are so annoying, lol.

 

Who cares what others think , providing you are true to your heart and brain
My personal wish is to see Racists of all sorts plus Homophobes clearly identified by their fellow contributors .
My guess is that was a key thought behind the introduction .
It will fail long term , based on personal observation elsewhere, IMHO . But I wish it well .

 

so you think I am a racist and a homophobe then. You even gave me a like and a dislike for one post and then a dislike for another. I have no idea why.

 

I like this feature, because others can see what we like, or dislike, and it may cut down on off topic remarks....hopefully.

 

Although I'm grateful for the new features, I have to agree with the poster above who said offering a negative vote serves no real purpose. I'm just a little curious about the like/dislike feature because it seems so much like Facebook. Other versions of this software I've seen on other forums use THANKS and REPS which makes a lot more sense than like/dislike.

One other comment... listing the donors is a bad idea unless they've given permission to have the amt of their donation revealed. Personally, I would not be interested in appearing on that list... amts should be kept private.

Just my $.02... glad to see things movin & shakin here.

 

So the new feature would be better as "likes' only, as we did away with neg reps some time ago?

 

How do we prevent these reams of ' dislike post ' messages appearing in our Notifications folders ? I don't want to be notified every time some inarticulate fool ticks a box.

 

Smartie, you can turn off your donation status from your settings.

moon, we will have to check on that option.

 

I hope you don't have to refer back to the Inarticulate Fool Committee .

 

I love the way you invent things and then comment on them as though you were rebutting some personal criticisms .
Whichever way I look at my post , I can see no mention of you by name or by implication .Did you mistake IMHO for ALEXA ? Easily done .

From memory I went to give you an Approve Mark , but managed to hit the wrong button .I cannot find a way of cancelling a mistake , so continued by also giving you what I had first intended .
If this comes across as a hint that you , could do even better , consider that as a sub text .
And stop writing about Effing Scottish Independence coming soon .The anticipation and general stress are making me ill . Every day I wake up thinking , Is it here yet ?

 

Not with me !!!
I have seen it manipulated by groups of people to try and bring pressure on individuals .
Perhaps the nasty Americans ( most of them) might see it as a Forum technique for Destabilisation and even Destabilisation by Proxy , if they choose to play dirty .


Imagine a few Smileys if it makes you feel better .

 

I haven't thought about that. I already gave out 6 dislikes, 19 likes, like a judge, I enjoy it, the new function is giving me a lot of fun right now.

 

You can give them back dislike too. They give you their piece of mind, you give them back.

It sounds fun to me.

 

Hey! I'm just grateful the Admin left this thread up so folks can speak their mind! Much more pleasant when info flows both ways!