Aug 8, 2017, 9:37 am
Last edit by: JDiver
The new "Like" "button"
When you click on the "Like" button, it registers the handle of the user liking the post in a horizontal box immediately below the "Like" button. "Liking" a post also optionally sends a notification to the post owner. "Like" notifications appear in Your Control Panel in My FlyerTalk.
To turn the notification function on or off, look in Your Control Panel and Settings & Options under Messaging & Notification:
Likes Notifications:
NOTE: Editing a post causes the "Likes" to disappear for a short period of time. They are restored after that pause.
To report issues, problems etc. please visit this thread in the Technical Support and Feedback forum: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/technical-support-feedback/1863159-new-like-button-information-issues-discussion.html
LIST OF SUGGESTIONS, PROS and CONS discussed in thread:
Please add all your suggestions since implementation, August 9 2017:
"Some FTers are supportive of like/helpful button. Some are not. Some on both sides of the issue have questions, concerns and/or need more info. This wiki attempts to highlight them in bullet format/"cliff notes" version from the 566 posts made in prior Talkboard thread, which had 700 posts. More detailed information regarding the pros/cons/questions/concerns/info can be garnered by reading the entire thread, where FTers on both sides of the like/helpful button have been eloquent/provided valuable input. When TalkBoard last polled FT members, the result of the poll was in favour of introducing likes (by a considerable margin)
Pros:
* Make Flyertalk more modern/more like Facebook, LinkedIn and many other social media sites
* A like/helpful button would minimize unnecessary replies such as +1.
* Streamlines posts
* The value add of showing likes, helpful votes, etc. is that it can surface good content and get more views for it
* Positive feedback incentivizes quality content/FTers will post more
* Some people won’t take time to write a thank you but will post a like
* Those with more likes/helpfuls are considered knowledgable
Cons:
* Makes Flyertalk more like Facebook/dumbs it down
* FT had rating system here years ago and it did not go well
* System can be gamed/cliques develop
* Clutters up posts/takes up valuable screen space
* Will not eliminate +1s/+1s also provide positive feedback
* Posts that have inaccurate info can also get likes/doesn't mean poster is knowledgable
* If FTers post info & it doesn't get likes/helpfuls, less incentive to post more
* Some who might have posted info in the past will now just post like, so less information provided to other FTers.
Questions, concerns about how it will work, and/or information based on brief internal trial already done (trial done last time it came up for discussion)
* If implemented, can FTers who prefer not to utilize the like/helpful button turn it off so that they don't see it at all?
* Is there a software way to separate likes of posts from posters? (Limited trial indicates no; don't know if software can be changed to do so)
* Can a post/day count be implemented before implementing for FTers, similar Omni/CC? (Yes)
* Can certain forums have it turned off such as Omni? (No, current software is it's either all forums or none)
* If a sitewide trial is created, what are the metrics for success or failure?
* What is the goal of this/how will the data be used?
* If customization of current software is required, will this take away from development on other projects such as a better mobile app?
* Will or can there be a dislike/unhelpful button?
* What happens if a post that is "liked" gets its content edited and ends up having a different meaning than it initially had at the time the post was "liked"?
* Can threads or individual posts deemed helpful be bookmarked/saved?"
IBobi responded to theses comments and questions here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28664495-post59.html
When you click on the "Like" button, it registers the handle of the user liking the post in a horizontal box immediately below the "Like" button. "Liking" a post also optionally sends a notification to the post owner. "Like" notifications appear in Your Control Panel in My FlyerTalk.
To turn the notification function on or off, look in Your Control Panel and Settings & Options under Messaging & Notification:
Likes Notifications:
- Enable Likes Notifications
- Disable Likes Notifications
NOTE: Editing a post causes the "Likes" to disappear for a short period of time. They are restored after that pause.
To report issues, problems etc. please visit this thread in the Technical Support and Feedback forum: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/technical-support-feedback/1863159-new-like-button-information-issues-discussion.html
LIST OF SUGGESTIONS, PROS and CONS discussed in thread:
Please add all your suggestions since implementation, August 9 2017:
- Modify Like button to take up less real estate - ie, put the button w/ the other buttons & likes under signatures or list only if hover
- Allow members to completely turn off the ability to see likes
- Use Helpful instead of Like
- Completely eliminate Like button
- Do not display handles of those who Liked the post
"Some FTers are supportive of like/helpful button. Some are not. Some on both sides of the issue have questions, concerns and/or need more info. This wiki attempts to highlight them in bullet format/"cliff notes" version from the 566 posts made in prior Talkboard thread, which had 700 posts. More detailed information regarding the pros/cons/questions/concerns/info can be garnered by reading the entire thread, where FTers on both sides of the like/helpful button have been eloquent/provided valuable input. When TalkBoard last polled FT members, the result of the poll was in favour of introducing likes (by a considerable margin)
Pros:
* Make Flyertalk more modern/more like Facebook, LinkedIn and many other social media sites
* A like/helpful button would minimize unnecessary replies such as +1.
* Streamlines posts
* The value add of showing likes, helpful votes, etc. is that it can surface good content and get more views for it
* Positive feedback incentivizes quality content/FTers will post more
* Some people won’t take time to write a thank you but will post a like
* Those with more likes/helpfuls are considered knowledgable
Cons:
* Makes Flyertalk more like Facebook/dumbs it down
* FT had rating system here years ago and it did not go well
* System can be gamed/cliques develop
* Clutters up posts/takes up valuable screen space
* Will not eliminate +1s/+1s also provide positive feedback
* Posts that have inaccurate info can also get likes/doesn't mean poster is knowledgable
* If FTers post info & it doesn't get likes/helpfuls, less incentive to post more
* Some who might have posted info in the past will now just post like, so less information provided to other FTers.
Questions, concerns about how it will work, and/or information based on brief internal trial already done (trial done last time it came up for discussion)
* If implemented, can FTers who prefer not to utilize the like/helpful button turn it off so that they don't see it at all?
* Is there a software way to separate likes of posts from posters? (Limited trial indicates no; don't know if software can be changed to do so)
* Can a post/day count be implemented before implementing for FTers, similar Omni/CC? (Yes)
* Can certain forums have it turned off such as Omni? (No, current software is it's either all forums or none)
* If a sitewide trial is created, what are the metrics for success or failure?
* What is the goal of this/how will the data be used?
* If customization of current software is required, will this take away from development on other projects such as a better mobile app?
* Will or can there be a dislike/unhelpful button?
* What happens if a post that is "liked" gets its content edited and ends up having a different meaning than it initially had at the time the post was "liked"?
* Can threads or individual posts deemed helpful be bookmarked/saved?"
IBobi responded to theses comments and questions here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28664495-post59.html
Suggest FT add “Like” button [implemented 9 Aug 2017]
Aug 17, 2017, 5:56 am
#211
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
There is the like button currently a text link and also the box listing who liked it. Is that box necessary? Could it just show as a +1, +2 etc? It would be less annoying.
Aug 17, 2017, 8:36 am
#212
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,850
Those that like like (including the maybes) - 13.
That that don't like like - 40.
Obviously there are more that don't like like (especially in its current incarnation) than do. So if the announcement saying we want your input holds true, this input should definitely be taken into consideration.
That that don't like like - 40.
Obviously there are more that don't like like (especially in its current incarnation) than do. So if the announcement saying we want your input holds true, this input should definitely be taken into consideration.
Having opened the input box, I suppose I could say that my personal impression is that so far - early days - this seems to have been a beneficial move in the fast moving British Airways forum. I highlight one such benefit. Every so often we get a stupid post, and within 20 minutes there will be 10 people "piling on" telling the poster what an idiot s/he is being. Within an hour the thread is completely derailed. Now one or two people pile on, and the most ornate reply gets 8 likes. End of, and the caravan moves on.
Aug 17, 2017, 2:23 pm
#213
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA, BA, Accor, Honors Diamond, IHG Diamond Elite and lots more....
Posts: 2,975
Ok, a quick review since like was enabled on FT on August 9th.
Parameters - I counted the posts on this thread since like was enabled on August 9th. I even included the maybes in the like part. If FTers (including myself & folk like JonNYC, etc) posted more than once I only counted our input once (which is what I did when I was a Talkboard member), unless the FTers changed their minds, which didn't happen in this case.
So results since August 9th when it got turned on & posted in this thread:
Those that like like (including the maybes) - 13.
That that don't like like - 40.
Obviously there are more that don't like like (especially in its current incarnation) than do. So if the announcement saying we want your input holds true, this input should definitely be taken into consideration.
And I would say to those who say to 'move on' - when did the minority decide for the majority?
I still stand by my initial point. I don't think like should be implemented, but if for some reason the CommunityDirector/IB decides it's important to keep it, then the following should be fixed/corrected:
* opt out - those who want to see likes can see them/those who don't won't. 'win-win' for everyone. why on earth would anyone be against a win-win?
* if it must stay, then fix it for crikey's sake - put the like in the button level & get the banner out of the middle of the posts. 'nuf said.
Cheers.
Parameters - I counted the posts on this thread since like was enabled on August 9th. I even included the maybes in the like part. If FTers (including myself & folk like JonNYC, etc) posted more than once I only counted our input once (which is what I did when I was a Talkboard member), unless the FTers changed their minds, which didn't happen in this case.
So results since August 9th when it got turned on & posted in this thread:
Those that like like (including the maybes) - 13.
That that don't like like - 40.
Obviously there are more that don't like like (especially in its current incarnation) than do. So if the announcement saying we want your input holds true, this input should definitely be taken into consideration.
And I would say to those who say to 'move on' - when did the minority decide for the majority?
I still stand by my initial point. I don't think like should be implemented, but if for some reason the CommunityDirector/IB decides it's important to keep it, then the following should be fixed/corrected:
* opt out - those who want to see likes can see them/those who don't won't. 'win-win' for everyone. why on earth would anyone be against a win-win?
* if it must stay, then fix it for crikey's sake - put the like in the button level & get the banner out of the middle of the posts. 'nuf said.
Cheers.
Aug 17, 2017, 2:25 pm
#214
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
Overwhelmingly, people post when they don't like something and are mostly silent when they do like it. This is for most things.
That's why you see so many negative reviews not only here, but elsewhere. Angry people have incentive to complain and try to have their voice heard.
That's why you see so many negative reviews not only here, but elsewhere. Angry people have incentive to complain and try to have their voice heard.
Aug 17, 2017, 2:29 pm
#215
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
Overwhelmingly, people post when they don't like something and are mostly silent when they do like it. This is for most things.
That's why you see so many negative reviews not only here, but elsewhere. Angry people have incentive to complain and try to have their voice heard.
That's why you see so many negative reviews not only here, but elsewhere. Angry people have incentive to complain and try to have their voice heard.
Aug 17, 2017, 5:25 pm
#216
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
While most of the people posting in this thread are unhappy with the 'like' button, many have posted concrete suggestions for improvement, including if it should be 'like' or 'useful' or 'helpful,' if there should be guidelines for what it means to click it, where the button should be, what it should show (e.g., just a count or count plus handles), and if it should be opt-out. I don't think it's accurate to characterize this as angry ranting.
Aug 17, 2017, 5:55 pm
#217
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Aug 17, 2017, 6:02 pm
#218
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Aug 17, 2017, 6:37 pm
#219
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Aug 18, 2017, 4:26 am
#220
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Overwhelmingly, people post when they don't like something and are mostly silent when they do like it. This is for most things.
That's why you see so many negative reviews not only here, but elsewhere. Angry people have incentive to complain and try to have their voice heard.
That's why you see so many negative reviews not only here, but elsewhere. Angry people have incentive to complain and try to have their voice heard.
Most people don't even publicly complain about most things which they don't like. Overwhelmingly, most people on FT don't post whether they like a given thing or not. Even the most customer-unfriendly changes in the FF programs of the US3 cartel kingpins don't seem to get most of the FTers involved in such programs to post when such threads come up.
That people share their idea about how they find something to work (or not work) is something that I consider a good thing. Silence and ignorance combined doesn't improve much of anything.
Aug 18, 2017, 5:55 am
#221
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
I wonder how soon like is coming to the mobile experience of FT? 
(Hopefully never.)
(Hopefully never.)
Aug 18, 2017, 7:01 am
#222
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,706
I can only assume that IB is pushing this oddball, text-only, ugly, low-feature, behind-the-times "like" text (it's not even accurate to call it a button) for one reason only: Because they feel they can make more money with the feature.
I'm assuming they can monetize the clicks somehow - perhaps the clicks on "like" can be shown as additional traffic to the site, allowing IB to raise ad rates.
I can't imagine any other reason why this clunky text would appear. And if true, then I would posit that all of our feedback will have the same effect as trying to move a building by blowing on it.
Aug 18, 2017, 8:30 am
#223
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
While most of the people posting in this thread are unhappy with the 'like' button, many have posted concrete suggestions for improvement, including if it should be 'like' or 'useful' or 'helpful,' if there should be guidelines for what it means to click it, where the button should be, what it should show (e.g., just a count or count plus handles), and if it should be opt-out. I don't think it's accurate to characterize this as angry.
Angry? Not so sure it has anything to do with anger.
Most people don't even publicly complain about most things which they don't like. Overwhelmingly, most people on FT don't post whether they like a given thing or not. Even the most customer-unfriendly changes in the FF programs of the US3 cartel kingpins don't seem to get most of the FTers involved in such programs to post when such threads come up.
That people share their idea about how they find something to work (or not work) is something that I consider a good thing. Silence and ignorance combined doesn't improve much of anything.
Most people don't even publicly complain about most things which they don't like. Overwhelmingly, most people on FT don't post whether they like a given thing or not. Even the most customer-unfriendly changes in the FF programs of the US3 cartel kingpins don't seem to get most of the FTers involved in such programs to post when such threads come up.
That people share their idea about how they find something to work (or not work) is something that I consider a good thing. Silence and ignorance combined doesn't improve much of anything.
Aug 18, 2017, 9:46 am
#224
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,213
Sharon, the global announcement has received over 6,000 hits and counting. While it is great to read the feedback posted here, there is a reasonable assumption to be made that there is now a substantial number of members who are now aware of the new feature and happy to get on with it.
Aug 18, 2017, 10:54 am
#225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,195
Answer: As soon as possible if it is a monetization feature.
I can only assume that IB is pushing this oddball, text-only, ugly, low-feature, behind-the-times "like" text (it's not even accurate to call it a button) for one reason only: Because they feel they can make more money with the feature.
I'm assuming they can monetize the clicks somehow - perhaps the clicks on "like" can be shown as additional traffic to the site, allowing IB to raise ad rates.
I can't imagine any other reason why this clunky text would appear. And if true, then I would posit that all of our feedback will have the same effect as trying to move a building by blowing on it.
I can only assume that IB is pushing this oddball, text-only, ugly, low-feature, behind-the-times "like" text (it's not even accurate to call it a button) for one reason only: Because they feel they can make more money with the feature.
I'm assuming they can monetize the clicks somehow - perhaps the clicks on "like" can be shown as additional traffic to the site, allowing IB to raise ad rates.
I can't imagine any other reason why this clunky text would appear. And if true, then I would posit that all of our feedback will have the same effect as trying to move a building by blowing on it.