Like Button?

[Ruslan Rynar]

Hi,

I wondered if y'all had ever used/considered using a "like" button plugin. Other communities that I have been/am a member of that use Xenforo have had the button, and it made me wonder why this one does not. This is nothing important or anything, just a fun feature I've enjoyed using in the past.

Thanks for your consideration.

Ruslan

 

[Qamra Daielin]

This has come up a few times since we moved to XF. On XF1, you had to use their mandatory list of things, and you couldn't choose which ones to use. So it was thumbs up, thumbs down, happy face, angry face, etc. and many reactions could be taken in a negative light. So at the time we opted not to use it.

Now, we do have full control over that in XF2 and it hasn't really been something we have looked at since then. We could definitely explore this.

 

[Ruslan Rynar]

The other forums I've been on that I have used have only ever had the option to "like" a post. There were no negative reactions available. So maybe if it was just a way to be positive, it could work better?

ETA: Thanks for getting back to me so quickly; I appreciate it!!

 

[Qamra Daielin]

No problem!
I need a “this” button like on discord 🤣🤣

 

[Arinna Katal]

No problem!
I need a “this” button like on discord 🤣🤣

Okay, but seriously—I’m so spoiled by the “this!” emote on Discord and am annoyed by every other platform for not having it lol (especially texts). It’s the most useful thing!!!

 

[Nadezhda al'Lanahrin]

I'd love to see this!!

 

[Polegnyn Nemeara]

Would love the ability to turn this off if implemented. Or hide the negative reactions at the very least as Ruslan suggests above. Am a member of a community where use of "disagree" without explanation runs rampant and does nothing to spur constructive discussion.

 

[Megana Vallentin]

Yes pleaaaaase! I didn't know the why behind it being disabled until I read the reply here, but since that hurdle has been removed, I would love to see it as an option again!

ETA: That was an enthusiastic yes to a "like" or other positive/fun option. I also feel like negative reactions will only result in, well, negativity.

 

[Satara al'Caelahn]

I think I'm so used to the forums as they are that I don't look for a like button. Though I do for profile posts. I constantly think there should be a like button there.

I'd like to see us have a like option, just not a dislike option.

Though I worry about how that would impact activity if people just smash "like" instead of actually posting with commentary or feedback.

 

[Ivy Alathriel]

Unpopular opinion but I think we shouldn’t have a like button. Not having one requires us to respond in a post rather than just reacting to it. I’m someone that finds it difficult to talk to people, so if there is a like/reaction button I will most likely choose to respond that way instead of posting and adding to a conversation. I may be dramatic , but I really feel like not having one leads to more meaningful conversations & friendships.

 

[Satara al'Caelahn]

I think the only place that I've felt like we're lacking a like button is with profile posts. I constantly want to like certain ones, even when I don't feel like I have enough to say about it to actually post a comment.

Is there a way to enable likes for profile posts but not forum posts?

 

[Ivy Alathriel]

I think that's perfect!

 

[Ephrem Elpidius]

I think that's perfect!

Agreed! Ideas and teamwork!

 

[Ruslan Rynar]

Though I worry about how that would impact activity if people just smash "like" instead of actually posting with commentary or feedback.

I understand this concern, but on the flip side it does have the potential to increase interaction/engagement as well. For example, in the Servant of All forum there are a lot of posts I like/appreciate. However, I’m not going to post just to say, “this is awesome,” in a forum like that. In this case being able to like the post shows support.

Unpopular opinion but I think we shouldn’t have a like button. Not having one requires us to respond in a post rather than just reacting to it. I’m someone that finds it difficult to talk to people, so if there is a like/reaction button I will most likely choose to respond that way instead of posting and adding to a conversation. I may be dramatic , but I really feel like not having one leads to more meaningful conversations & friendships.

Devil’s advocate, seeing likes can show members that they have something in common with each other. This in turn could be the foundation of a friendship or at least the start of a conversation.

 

[Ivy Alathriel]

You make a good point! I didn’t think of that, it does make more sense to show support by liking a post when there are many posts you agree with/love etc in the same thread.

 

[Ruslan Rynar]

You make a good point! I didn’t think of that, it does make more sense to show support by liking a post when there are many posts you agree with/love etc in the same thread.

In other forums with the feature, I have found plenty of people who will like posts and then still post a dissenting or differing POV. You can like what someone said and still see the situation/subject differently.

 

[Satara al'Caelahn]

I guess it comes down to the question of if liking a post is going to count as activity.

I know the site has gone to lengths to incorporate Discord activity into overall member activity and I'm wondering how likes would fit into that.

 

[Ruslan Rynar]

This has come up a few times since we moved to XF. On XF1, you had to use their mandatory list of things, and you couldn't choose which ones to use. So it was thumbs up, thumbs down, happy face, angry face, etc. and many reactions could be taken in a negative light. So at the time we opted not to use it.

Now, we do have full control over that in XF2 and it hasn't really been something we have looked at since then. We could definitely explore this.

Just wanted to follow up on this. What does exploration look like?