Need for a LIKE function

[JWR]

The TBN forums badly need a "like" function -- some way to register enthusiastic agreement with a particular Post. It should NOT require a full fresh post taking up all that real estate and wasting so much time and resource on everyone's part. I'm no designer but a BIG red checkmark appended by the commenting person's nickname -- inserted within the applauded Post -- for example √ JWR seems ideal and should be easy to implement. Why not ??? We could get fancier with "small, medium and large" checkmark choices. Like √ √ √ to indicate degrees of enthusiasm, etc. but I would be really happy with just one available. Many others have agreed this would be a useful feature.

 

[Citydude]

The TBN forums badly need a "like" function -- some way to register enthusiastic agreement with a particular Post. It should NOT require a full fresh post taking up all that real estate and wasting so much time and resource on everyone's part. I'm no designer but a BIG red checkmark appended by the commenting person's nickname -- inserted within the applauded Post -- for example √ JWR seems ideal and should be easy to implement. Why not ??? We could get fancier with "small, medium and large" checkmark choices. Like √ √ √ to indicate degrees of enthusiasm, etc. but I would be really happy with just one available. Many others have agreed this would be a useful feature.

 

[UpstateSC_Papi]

I would "like" this, but...

 

[Diggin It]

VEHEMENTLY opposed.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Make the check mark function as a follow button so I could add the post to My Home without posting a reply.

 

[Citydude]

VEHEMENTLY opposed.

 

[JWR]

OK, Diggin It -- I hear you loud and clear, in fact VEHEMENTLY loud and clear. Just not heard any reason why you are that strongly opposed. Why is that ?
Maybe you have a great set of reasons or a logical view that we just have not heard or thought of. Let's hear them, please.

 

[Diggin It]

Make the check mark function as a follow button so I could add the post to My Home without posting a reply.

Upper right corner of the thread area >> 'Thread Tools' >> 'Subscribe to this thread'.

 

[strantor]

Not sure I've been here long enough to have an opinion, but I agree. Most forums have a "like" button and it serves a purpose. It's a great tool. To the noob who asks a question and gets a volley of opposing answers, he/she has no way to resolve who knows what they're talking about and who doesn't. Add the "like" button and things become more clear. You see a post with 57 "likes" opposing a post with 2 "likes" and the expert answer speaks for itself.

I do however (on other forums) wish that the "like" button was more descriptive. An "Agree" button might make more sense, I don't know. I suppose "like" works just fine, but it's just that "likes" start getting handed out for funny comments and when someone goes political and starts getting "likes," they never stop. It shouldn't be a popularity contest, but it becomes one anyway. Maybe that's not the end of the world though. I think the pros outweigh the cons.

 

[Diggin It]

You see a post with 57 "likes" opposing a post with 2 "likes" and ...

.. you see who the 'cool kids' are in the clique.

Most forums do NOT have it, at least not the 20 or 30 or more I've been on in the last few years. It does become 'political' and I've seen boards almost get destroyed because of it.

 

[JWR]

That's in a room full of childish people if not actually kids. TBN seems to me to be a whole lot more mature than that. I do understand the concern and I certainly never thought of that.

 

[ning]

I've seen forums with a karma system - vBulletin apparently as I found a handy description there (copy/pasted):

• each registered member starts out with 10 karma points in their pocket
• you can rate any post by clicking on the small reputation button
• you can only rate each post once
• each time you rate a post you affect that poster's karma
• the amount that you affect their karma depends on a few things, but basically an older member with lots of posts and lots of karma will affect someone elses karma much more than a new member with no posts
• generally someone with high karma is a respected person and someone with low or negative is either new or a jerk

It works out pretty well. As you can see, you can't just spew karma out (positive or negative) as you only have so much to give, so it's tough to abuse. Theoretically, you could have a setting for screening really negative karma posters, though I certainly wouldn't have that on by default.

That said, I'd also appreciate a specific-post like system, especially if you could sort or search by best-liked -- someone new to TBN could easily learn a ton without searching just by reading the top-ranked threads.

 

[Diggin It]

especially if you could sort or search by best-liked -- someone new to TBN could easily learn a ton without searching just by reading the top-ranked threads.

Again, absolutely DISagree. 'Most liked' does not always equate to most correct or trustworthy. In the short time I've been here, I've seen that often with one poster who frequently posts multi-line diatribes. They get a lot of replies saying 'Cool post Bro' even though their posts are mostly useless scattershot drivel that I simply scroll past unread.

I've never been into Attaboys or joining the various fads of backslapping. I can tell if a post is valuable to me without seeing if everybody or anybody else did.

Karma can really bite.

 

[/pine]

This topic gets brought up at least a couple times a year and is always shot down by sage members and rightfully so...
Message boards are not popularity contests (although some seem to think they are)...quality posts get recognized plenty well enough...TBN is not elementary school where gold stars get handed out like M&M's for good behavior...

millennials and face book etc. addicts are always looking for instant approval etc...IMO TBN is much closer to the real world where most contributors are not looking for a pat on the back or butt...!

 

[JWR]

I do not see it that way. I say TBN forum users are a generally more mature audience. As a psychology thing, nearly all would be interested to know when another user, particularly a highly respected colleague, agrees with them (or disagrees) before they go on too much about the topic. All of it is statistical and "there are all kinds."

I do not see TBN veering off into a popularity contest atmosphere at all. AND, it's not like we are frozen in space. If that ("agree button") got out of hand, eliminate the mechanism (assuming someone with reasonable judgement, an adult in the room is the overseer.) Might be nice if we had a voting mechanism (which we do not have either) but the need for that is very rare too.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Upper right corner of the thread area >> 'Thread Tools' >> 'Subscribe to this thread'.

Thank you!

 

[YLee Kioti]

Take a gander at this forum for some of the tools
There is a way to say thank you for the info plus likes/dislikes.

Toyota Tundra Forum - Active Topics

The Ford Truck Enthusiasts News - Ford-Trucks.com forum has a reputation feature for participants to add reps for a post that helps them out.
So lots of different features that may add some pizzazz or...not.....

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yes, the Sheep like such "tools" to help them know what to like.

 

[LD1]

I am also opposed to any such feature.

As others said, its just a popularity contest. And most popular is not always correct.

There have been a few threads about a few different topics (in hydraulics specifically), where SOOOO many people had an incorrect understanding, that the few who DID understand were probably out numbered 5 to 1. But with many many pages of posts and examples and learning for all....I think many came to the correct understanding.

But as those threads start....the "popular" answers were "incorrect" answers. And with a system of "likes" how many negatives would I have gotten trying to correct the information out there?

Thats just one example. There are many more. We dont need a pat on the back, or instant gratification. I dont need any gratification at all.....I enjoy helping people when I can...and am thankful for the help I get when I ask.

IF you want to agree with someone, or thank them for someone, do so with a post....not a stupid "popularity" button

 

[Locoweed]

The forum has managed to get this far without this "feature". I see very little need for adding it.