Thumb Up Button with Counter for posts

[mikeomalley]

Good comment Bryan, therefore Thumbs Up.  Mike

 

[Sean7a]

Anyone familiar with the system that reddit uses?  I find it to be VERY useful and could possibly be implemented here.  Though it likely wouldn't be a bolt on for this forum architecture (disclaimer, I know nothing about this) and may require an entirely new foundation.  If that's the case, then I'd say it ain't worth it.

I do feel that the popularity concerns may be a bit overly sensitive, but if there is history here of it not boding well then I stand corrected.

 

[SittingElf]

Eons ago something similar was tried here and it turned out to be not such a good idea at that time.  Whether or not it would work better this time would be one question.  Another question would be whether or not there is a standard included module or function to perform this or would it require custom programming. 

I don't have the answers to any of these.

Peter

That function is already available on this theme. It has been disabled, but could easily be re-enabled. It's called Karma.
I know because I also disabled it on another forum I run with the same forum software and theme. It can get to be a little political in my opinion.

Frank

 

[Paul G]

The number of times that a thread is visited is tracked and shown on the thread list page. Sometimes the ratio of visits to comments is over 30 to 1 and so there are a lot of people that are viewing without making any form of contribution. This might encourage a bit more participation.

Depends what you mean by participation. By my experience though in other forums it decreased thread posts which can be viewed both good and bad. The ditto +1 posts annoy some folks so a like feature may reduce them. But it can also lead to complacency, hitting Like isn't much of a contribution unless we're trying to rank answer to questions as happens on some other Q&A sites. Anonymous likes add nothing but a vote popularity contest, I'd want to know who is doing the liking, but it's still lacking now without them saying why. Ultimately it will change the dynamic here, IMO not for the better.

If a dislike button were available I might have been tempted to click it on your post and walk away, but my taking the time to explain myself is far better don't you think?

 

[Stone Message]

The number of times that a thread is visited is tracked and shown on the thread list page. Sometimes the ratio of visits to comments is over 30 to 1 and so there are a lot of people that are viewing without making any form of contribution. This might encourage a bit more participation.

Depends what you mean by participation. By my experience though in other forums it decreased thread posts which can be viewed both good and bad. The ditto +1 posts annoy some folks so a like feature may reduce them. But it can also lead to complacency, hitting Like isn't much of a contribution unless we're trying to rank answer to questions as happens on some other Q&A sites. Anonymous likes add nothing but a vote popularity contest, I'd want to know who is doing the liking, but it's still lacking now without them saying why. Ultimately it will change the dynamic here, IMO not for the better.

If a dislike button were available I might have been tempted to click it on your post and walk away, but my taking the time to explain myself is far better don't you think?

Thanks Paul, I appreciate the comments and must say that when I posed this question in my opening post I did not realise the down side of such a facility.

When someone opens a thread seeking advice on the best way to do something then the "Like" feature might help him or her judge the opinion of the combined FOG community with people "Liking" whichever suggestion they prefer. In a way there is a sort of facility for this with the voting scheme although that does require the options to be created by the OP.

Peter

 

[Ivanhoe]

I belong to another wood working forum which has a fraction of the membership here with this "like" feature and it works well! I always chuckle at how this forum can get so wound up about such seemingly minor things.... Thank goodness for the majority of great posts.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Eons ago something similar was tried here and it turned out to be not such a good idea at that time.  Whether or not it would work better this time would be one question.  Another question would be whether or not there is a standard included module or function to perform this or would it require custom programming. 

I don't have the answers to any of these.

Peter

That function is already available on this theme. It has been disabled, but could easily be re-enabled. It's called Karma.
I know because I also disabled it on another forum I run with the same forum software and theme. It can get to be a little political in my opinion.

Frank

I actually like the idea of "liking" useful posts as a way to point out useful information (not as a popularity contest). Not only was the Karma system a bad idea, but the previous owner of this forum activated it with ulterior motives. He got busted manipulating people's Karma within days of activating it.

 

[JavierMoreno]

I like Peter's idea, and as newbie (I do not want to hijack the debate) I miss also something like a "Festool wiki" or a index, bringing together the fantastic information on this forum under headings such as "domino XL vs 500" , "Mini vs Midi" , '"What sander", "Parallel guides pros and cons" and so on. I think the 'like button' could ease some things for newbies. It would be like to know what ideas have more approval from the community, whatever that means for each.

Maybe these ideas will be my bias as a professional journalist    ??? [crying]

[I edit to change "domino XL vs 400" for "domino XL vs 500" ]

 

[richy3333]

I don't like the 'like' function on forums and it's one reason I like FOG so much. I'm on another forum that has the like function and also 'thanks' (for useful posts). There are a couple of forum bullied that the moderators don't, well, moderate. They'll say something inflammatory or nasty and you see the same old sicofants that then 'like' their post(s). They've racked up tens of thousands of likes.

I like the fact that FOG encourages thoughtful replies/comments rather than quick hit responses.

 

[DB10]

If Peter's idea stops people from typing + 1, then give it a go.
  The same people who + 1 regularly add nothing to the forum apart from wasting the time of those reading it. If they want to up their post count type something of meaning.

 

[Jaybolishes]

Let the fog decide after a vote? I'm indifferent about it.  But I do think it could  encourage more participation from folks. But the negative I see from it would be on controversial topics,  which I think the moderators should  have the ability to remove the like function if it seems needed. 

 

[Paul G]

The number of times that a thread is visited is tracked and shown on the thread list page. Sometimes the ratio of visits to comments is over 30 to 1 and so there are a lot of people that are viewing without making any form of contribution. This might encourage a bit more participation.

Depends what you mean by participation. By my experience though in other forums it decreased thread posts which can be viewed both good and bad. The ditto +1 posts annoy some folks so a like feature may reduce them. But it can also lead to complacency, hitting Like isn't much of a contribution unless we're trying to rank answer to questions as happens on some other Q&A sites. Anonymous likes add nothing but a vote popularity contest, I'd want to know who is doing the liking, but it's still lacking now without them saying why. Ultimately it will change the dynamic here, IMO not for the better.

If a dislike button were available I might have been tempted to click it on your post and walk away, but my taking the time to explain myself is far better don't you think?

Thanks Paul, I appreciate the comments and must say that when I posed this question in my opening post I did not realise the down side of such a facility.

When someone opens a thread seeking advice on the best way to do something then the "Like" feature might help him or her judge the opinion of the combined FOG community with people "Liking" whichever suggestion they prefer. In a way there is a sort of facility for this with the voting scheme although that does require the options to be created by the OP.

Peter

Yes, I can see where it would be useful, but imagine it's use in the next 'my Kapex casting doesn't look like the hood on my BMW' thread.

 

[Stone Message]

Yes, I can see where it would be useful, but imagine it's use in the next 'my Kapex casting doesn't look like the hood on my BMW' thread.

You made me look again at the BMW colour chart - the car that I've ordered is grey but slightly darker - phew.  [smile]

Peter

 

[Paul G]

You made me look again at the BMW colour chart - the car that I've ordered is grey but slightly darker - phew.  [smile]

Peter

Please tell me there's some Festool green in there somewhere

 

[Rick Christopherson]

For the discussions regarding the negative aspects of a like button, are they really referring to the negative aspects of the feature, or are they comparing it with forums that have poor etiquette and poor moderation?

 

[Paul G]

For the discussions regarding the negative aspects of a like button, are they really referring to the negative aspects of the feature, or are they comparing it with forums that have poor etiquette and poor moderation?

I'm speaking from the experience of a moderator at a web dev/domain investing forum and active participant in similar forums. Where implemented the like/dislike feature ended up being mostly used in controversial topics as opposed to the instructional ones. Of course every community is different, just sharing my observations.

 

[Stone Message]

You made me look again at the BMW colour chart - the car that I've ordered is grey but slightly darker - phew.  [smile]

Peter

Please tell me there's some Festool green in there somewhere

I may have to look under the hood or maybe on the satnav screen !

Peter

 

[woodguy7]

Don't you mean bonnet Peter  [blink]

 

[Stone Message]

Don't you mean bonnet Peter  [blink]

Of course but Paul G is from the US and so I was giving him the courtesy of using the US name but I drew the line by not starting this sentence with "Och aye" (if you see what I mean - and I hope I spelt it correctly).

Peter

 

[woodguy7]

Im from the UK & use UK words.  I don't change my language to suit whatever nationality might be reading.  I know most American words & I'm sure Most Americans know ours.  I treat people like they are intelligent enough to figure out what I'm talking about.  I don't appreciate the "och aye" statement by the way.