Originally Posted by
Flyertall
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I'm often surprised when my (more often that not TOO wordy) posts are "liked" on the few forums I have frequented. The affirmation helps me know that there is at least some resonating frequency in common with others who feel the same way, even though they may not have had the time to articulate them.
I am equally edified (well, maybe more like mortified) when, after posting something I feel strongly about, and took great pains to advocate... is met with crickets.
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While I sympathise with the the affirmation part, I see trouble with a like/dislike voting system as it tends to make a forum very uniform. Those who gets affirmation keeps on posting, those who don't move on.
I have seen this in other places, where opinions have become very uniform to the point where I've have lost all interest in the forum. I think uniform forums does not drive anything forward, they just conserves everything.
So for the reason that voting systems tend to shape forums, I am against a like-button.