Article Is it time for the "Like" feature to return? Vote?

[confused2]

"Yes!"

---

I'm guessing that's a 'No'.

[Leigha]

@ stryder

Maybe offering a variation on the features shown on LinkedIn - such as “inspiring,” “I support this” and “that’s funny.” I think that “like” is too broad and overused.

Just an idea.

[Zinjanthropos]

LIKE could be replaced with the ‘I like it but I’m also aware of the injustice bestowed upon those whose comment I didn’t like’ button.

[stryder]

@ stryder

Maybe offering a variation on the features shown on LinkedIn - such as “inspiring,” “I support this” and “that’s funny.” I think that “like” is too broad and overused.

Just an idea.

I'd been considering that too. I thought about it after posting. One of the places I spend my time is admittedly on the Steam network. (an unfortunate game junkie) and one of the additions they have had is various "awards" that they can give forums posters paid for by a point system that people rack up buying games. While the awards themeselves to my knowledge don't do too much in the way of anything spectacular, they do have variety and emphasis posts. (I could probably rig up a filter if the rewards are variety)

Currently still brainstorming how to go further with it though. Theres a lot to consider like how much tracking goes on. While an anonymous vote to up a counter is possible, the problem is that it leaves it open to press it as many times as you want. Alternatively having it track the timestamp and user adds a lot of data accesses and depending on whether it uses a ladder approach or compiles it in to a premade cache defines how much of a load on the server would occur.

Further to that point there is also other variants that are currently beyond the versions currently considered. (I guess you can say I'm brainstorming a prototype for future proofing) however that could become a very large project and its own animal in it's own right.

Edit: Yet another version that could work. "Icosahedrons" (20 sided shape, that used both as a Dungeon and Dragons Dice as well as the bit the messages are on in a magic eightball)
That means there would be a north hemisphere consisting of 5 positive statements, a southern hemisphere of 5 negative sentiments and 10 middling sentiments around its middle. That would give a rather interesting method to pick what to use as well as method to apply a value to whats picked to rate a thread generally.

That means coming up with 5 positive statements, 5 negative (but not abusive) statements and some middling ones.

[Leigha]

@ stryder

Maybe offering a variation on the features shown on LinkedIn - such as “inspiring,” “I support this” and “that’s funny.” I think that “like” is too broad and overused.

Just an idea.

I'd been considering that too. I thought about it after posting. One of the places I spend my time is admittedly on the Steam network. (an unfortunate game junkie) and one of the additions they have had is various "awards" that they can give forums posters paid for by a point system that people rack up buying games. While the awards themeselves to my knowledge don't do too much in the way of anything spectacular, they do have variety and emphasis posts. (I could probably rig up a filter if the rewards are variety)

Currently still brainstorming how to go further with it though. Theres a lot to consider like how much tracking goes on. While an anonymous vote to up a counter is possible, the problem is that it leaves it open to press it as many times as you want. Alternatively having it track the timestamp and user adds a lot of data accesses and depending on whether it uses a ladder approach or compiles it in to a premade cache defines how much of a load on the server would occur.

Further to that point there is also other variants that are currently beyond the versions currently considered. (I guess you can say I'm brainstorming a prototype for future proofing) however that could become a very large project and its own animal in it's own right.

Edit: Yet another version that could work. "Icosahedrons" (20 sided shape, that used both as a Dungeon and Dragons Dice as well as the bit the messages are on in a magic eightball)
That means there would be a north hemisphere consisting of 5 positive statements, a southern hemisphere of 5 negative sentiments and 10 middling sentiments around its middle. That would give a rather interesting method to pick what to use as well as method to apply a value to whats picked to rate a thread generally.

That means coming up with 5 positive statements, 5 negative (but not abusive) statements and some middling ones.

Great! Fwiw, FB used to have a negative reaction or downvote as an option and they removed it because it deterred membership. However, it seems to work well on Reddit as that’s a popular site. Not sure if you’re concerned with growing your membership here or becoming “popular,” but there are additional things to consider, if you’re interested.


I’m interested to see what you come up with.

[confused2]

Classify posts from amoebic to dolphinic .. even extra-terrestrial ?

[stryder]

Current potential of paired words:

Code:

Like <> Dislike
Love <> Loath
Agree <> Disagree
Awesome <> Trash
Brilliant <> Rubbish
Thumbsup <> thumbsdown (emojis)
Wink ;)  <> tongue out  :P  (emojis)
follow <> avoid
cat alive <> cat dead (emoji)
X <> O (hugs/kisses?)
Interesting <> Boring
Smart <> Silly

Some of these words could trigger certain things (like filters... for follow/avoid) others would be more cosmetic but could still be used to search things that match it.

I'd also look at how to create a similar category variant, however saying that I'm actually thinking what would be cool is if the categories weren't hardset like they currently are and could be either found from what exists or created on the fly per post. That will take some looking into.

[confused2]

Live cat and dead cat wouldn't be too bad (I'm not really a fan of the whole idea)

[C C]

[...] Great! Fwiw, FB used to have a negative reaction or downvote as an option and they removed it because it deterred membership.

Which is why I'd (personally) try to avoid the use of a "negative reaction" as much as possible (my alternative, I guess, would be no evaluation at all) unless it's spam or something really despicable. In which case I'd probably be making use of the "report" feature, anyway.

However, it seems to work well on Reddit as that’s a popular site. Not sure if you’re concerned with growing your membership here or becoming “popular,” but there are additional things to consider, if you’re interested.

Really, I reflexively described this topic wrong to begin with. A "like button" would be more of a convenience for those already here than necessarily increasing membership (though the latter would certainly be a nice side effect, too.)

SV is never going to be as popular as big name places. Going beyond just this item: We shouldn't be flirting with anything volatile or potentially backfiring that scares the ordinary public off. Having the standards of "Physics Forums" in a place that doesn't even have any working or retired mentoring scientists as regulars at the beginning (or students seeking a workshop) would be the kiss of death for a board that was not created in the late 1990s and early 2000s (when there were far fewer media options for professionals and apprentices to go to).

[Leigha]

[...] Great! Fwiw, FB used to have a negative reaction or downvote as an option and they removed it because it deterred membership.

Which is why I'd (personally) try to avoid the use of a "negative reaction" as much as possible (my alternative, I guess, would be no evaluation at all) unless it's spam or something really despicable. In which case I'd probably be making use of the "report" feature, anyway. 

However, it seems to work well on Reddit as that’s a popular site. Not sure if you’re concerned with growing your membership here or becoming “popular,” but there are additional things to consider, if you’re interested.

Really, I reflexively described this topic wrong to begin with. A "like button" would be more of a convenience for those already here than necessarily increasing membership (though the latter would certainly be a nice side effect, too.)

SV is never going to be as popular as big name places. Going beyond just this item: We shouldn't be flirting with anything volatile or potentially backfiring that scares the ordinary public off. Having the standards of "Physics Forums" in a place that doesn't even have any working or retired mentoring scientists as regulars at the beginning (or students seeking a workshop) would be the kiss of death for a board that was not created in the late 1990s and early 2000s (when there were far fewer media options for professionals and apprentices to go to).

Yea, gotcha. I understand. Just some random ideas to throw out there, and not every site needs to be popular and worried about attracting and retaining newcomers.

Going back to the conversation happening on SF, I'd say that what transpired there has been a slow fade. Nothing catastrophic happens overnight, when it comes to these things. Kind of like a leaky faucet, slowly dripping every day for years, until someone opens the bathroom door, and a gush of water floods the hallway. The slowing of traffic there and on other forums, has a lot to do with the growing popularity of FB, IG, and Twitter, which seems to demonstrate an inclination towards self-absorption, rather than debating/discussing topics on anonymous forums, such as this one or SF. There are other ''reasons'' that I've shared over there this week, and those issues happened over a few years, as well.

On another note, I've always found it so confusing that Reddit has lasted as long as it has, and thrives, actually. I've never liked the way they format threads; it's just not aesthetically pleasing to me. Their threads have this odd waterfall/cascading effect. See? Ya can't please everyone.