"Like" Button?
 

Ok, I searched for this topic in this forum and didn't see it. I have this sense that this has been brought up before, and I'm posting something unnecessary. I sincerely apologize if this is the case.

That said, a "like" button would be nice to minimize unnecessary replies and provide an option for folks to say "I hear you."

Again, please disregard if this has been discussed or dismissed before. I've not posted in this forum before, so I'm not up on the etiquette. Thank you!

There was some type of rating system here years ago and it did not go well. Birthday threads were given thumbs down, for instance, and the whole system was anonymous. Unless you can come up with some way to have the system not be anonymous, not sure there's much to be gained here. Might check in the Technical Issues forum to see if the tech support staff can even set up such a thing before asking the Talk Board to implement it.

Milepoint does have software that allows you to give a thumbs up to a thread, but the positive there is that your screen name appears at the bottom of the post you rated and it identifies you. It can't be done anonymously.

Thanks for the background! I have a friend who runs a very active sports blog and uses Disqus to host and moderate comments. Disqus does have an option to identify posters who have given up or down votes to various posts. Their screen names appear when you mouse over the respective "up" and "down" buttons. I'll ask how he set up the capability and write to the tech folks with the information, as perhaps it can be duplicated. Then, they and the Talkboard can decide whether it's something that is worth pursuing. I'm not sure a down vote button is necessary, as it is more effective to voice disagreements and the reasons for them in an actual post. An up vote button, however, might help cut down on people essentially repeating each other's responses.

I know that newer versions of VBulletin have this functionality built in almost exactly as you describe -- the ability to "like" a post with the user names of those that have "liked" it displayed at the bottom of the post. Here's a screenshot from another forum I read:

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3563/ofkr.jpg

It's just a question of whether this functionality can be brought to the older version of VBulletin that FT is built on. :rolleyes:

-S

I wouldn't object if it appeared like this. ^

I would actually find this very distracting and busy.... I honestly want to read the posts for content.... not who else liked it. And it will take up valuable screen space!

Speaking as a regular FTer & not as TB member, I agree (especially if someone posts something that everyone likes - the list of those liking could be longer than the post :D).

Cheers.

So this is how a post actually looks.

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/6805/mvtn.png

As you can see, the "like" list is truncated. Clicking on the "7 others" link will expand the list to show all of the usernames. Until you click it, though, the list remains short.

Personally, I like the functionality and have seen on other boards that it does seem to cut down on the posts that just say "+1" to something that someone said earlier. I also don't feel that it makes the screen look cluttered, but that's obviously IMHO. :)

-S

While I can see the benefit of obviating all the "+1" posts or those that merely say "I agree" and understand the intent is to recognize helpful contributions the "like" icon to me is just another reputation tool that can rewards familiarity & frequency as much as quality.

A member who posts occasionally in a few forums offering insightful contributions or sharing a great fare find won't become as well known as those who post more often but perhaps on a broader range of topics over multiple fora and so their reputation won't build to the same level but that doesn't mean they are any less valuable a contributor but rather just participate differently.

I'm okay with us not having this type of tool in out FT toolbox, though that's merely MHO.

Meh... Too much like FB.

I'm a bit confused by this post in that having like button and displaying a (truncated) like list is very different from having a website calculate some reputation metric and display that rating. While likes are likely to be part of a reputation score, the two concepts are logically different in that each post could report likes without FT going beyond this to compute and reveal reputations. I thought the OP and others in this thread were talking about just having the possibility of a (truncated) list of likers at the bottom of each post.

FWIW & IMO - some people will still post +1 or I agree even if there is a like button, so it's not going to eliminate a perceived problem.

Cheers.

Yes, OP did talk about "like" without linking it to some reputation metric as I've seen at work, for example, on MP but expected if FT was to upgrade that it would follow along similiar lines and not go part of the way with a "like" icon only.

I have also seen this feature on other BB's and not only like it but use it.

+1

I rest my case! :)

I see a big difference between like & +1

Like = you appreciate or value the post

+1 = you agree with the post, as in you have experience or knowledge with this issue & agree with the post

The two are very different.

I would also see the I-Like-That-Poster mentality & clicking like regardless if the post is of any real value.
--

:like: and +1

:D

IMHO, some posts have merit. Others do not. What I care about is whether *I* think a post has merit, not whether other posters think so or not.

So I think a 'like' feature is worthless.

But others feel differently and if someone wants to make a compelling case for them to convinces me that functionality would have benefit for some, I would be up for asking IB to look into it.

Two thoughts here based on my experience with this feature on other boards.

1) The semantic difference between "Like" and "+1" is not reflected in how people actually use the "Like" feature -- people use the button to express agreement with the content of the post.
2) I have not seen the "Like" feature become a popularity contest -- people are generally pretty good about using the feature to highlight the content rather than the poster.

If the wording of the feature could be changed to be "+1" instead of "Like", would that change people's opinions?

-S

Valid point.

Agree with koko - not sure if that's a +1 or a Like :D

Cheers.

Hi everyone. I'm new here but yeah, a "like" button or any sort of thumb up would really streamline things and make it easier to read through :)

How does a "like" button make it easier to read through a thread? I can't quite grasp how it does that.

My guess is that the person feels a like button would reduce the number of "+1" or "^" posts in a thread, thus making it easier to read the rest of the thread.

+1 :)

Do +1s take up that much real estate/make it hard to read? Doesn't seem like it to me.

Cheers.

It can mean a thread going to multiple pages, depending on your options.

Correct.

For me, the rationale is cutting down on multiple long answers that say the same exact thing (a nice side effect would also be a decrease in "^^" or "Yes, yes, yes +1" posts). Note that I am guilty of this at times, which is part of the reason for the suggestion.

FTers are generally encouraged not to create new threads or even new posts with questions if the answer can be found using search functionality. It is also the case that one question may have multiple valid answers. In order to help folks comply with the board's wishes that new threads and posts be kept to a minimum while maximizing the usefulness of existing threads, a "like" or "+1" button might cut down on repetitiveness, thus making threads easier to navigate and generally digest for someone seeking information.

That's my thought, at least. Whether it actually works in practice remains to be seen. :)

One of the things that may be helpful is to change your page options so that it shows 20, 30, or even 40 posts/page.

That was one of the first things I learned on FT. That & "My Flyertalk" are 2 things that make FT easier.

Cheers.

Concur. And SkiAdcock's suggestions are also quite helpful. And speaking of repetition and screen real-estate, turning off seeing folks' signatures can make a huge difference

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why 40 posts per page, in the year 2013, isn't the default (at least for new members).

Maybe I should make a TalkBoard motion to change that. ;)

Or just ask IB to implement it ;) I can't imagine why anyone would want to go through more pages. But that's a separate topic.

I was thinking today when I posted :D :D after a post if that counted as a +1 or a 'like' :D

Cheers.

This would be a great feature. Could also call it "Thanks" feature (instead of "Like"). It would actually save a lot of posts, and it would be a good way to reward especially useful posts. German website http://www.vielfliegertreff.de has this system, and I have found it really, really useful. It's a friendly, positive feature with practically no potential for abuse.

I like the idea of having it be "Thanks" instead of "Like". ^

-S

Me too... :cool:

I support the "like" option, which is used on all the other forums I visit. A simple indicTion of agreement and/or appreciation. Quick and easy.

I deplore the "+1" posts, which not only clutter the threads but also indicate, on the forum index, a "new post" ... which on subsequent inspection says nothing new. That's a waste of my time!

I totally agree with your assessment. There is nothing wrong with using a "like" button displaying a truncated "like" list and it will eliminate all of the +1 posts by implementing this feature.

IMHO, using "Thanks" instead of "like" is simply a matter of personal taste and there is nothing wrong with the description "like".

Me three. For example, this is how it would look with a similar vbulletin theme to FT:

http://i.imgur.com/oBJeiYt.png

Yes, Yes, Yes! I love these features on other community sites, and it would be a great add to FlyerTalk. (Likes, thanks, either way)

And I agree with this as well

Yup!


:like: and +1 (redux)

+1

I think the place that it brings the most outsized value is when there are contradictory posts. It can be made clear to newbies or to those who don't know the answer, which of the contradictory posts is correct.

But in general, I just like positive feedback. I think it incentivizes quality content. If I receive 10 Likes for a post, it makes me more likely to take the time to contribute quality content in the future. It's just human nature that we like having our efforts appreciated. And appreciated in a way that doesn't sidetrack and clutter the thread.