Favoriting/Liking a Thread

[Fire Flyy]

If there was a way to implement this, I think it would be really neat. I know that there's a way to do this, as it has replaced the sometimes-ineffective 5-star system [which I noticed was removed in the graphics forum] on some other forums I've been to. Sorry if this is completely pointless, but I feel that the pros of having it are worth the work done implementing it [as its just a plugin I think], since it's a nice way to show your appreciation for a thread and allows you to identify 'good threads' easily, while people can't 1-star threads for whatever reasons.

 

[Honest]

The reason the higher ups wont do it, at least from what I remember, is that it'd be to Facebook-ish. And we don't really wanna fit into a mold like that, we like being unique.

 

[Fire Flyy]

The reason the higher ups wont do it, at least from what I remember, is that it'd be to Facebook-ish. And we don't really wanna fit into a mold like that, we like being unique.

Oh ok, I actually never knew that. Sort of defeats the purpose of this thread then lol. Thanks for clearing that up, bloodex.

 

[Honest]

Oh ok, I actually never knew that. Sort of defeats the purpose of this thread then lol. Thanks for clearing that up, bloodex.

No problem, I think I asked the same question a while back, like a year or two, and I remember getting that as a response, so yeah.

 

[Nihilego]

Actually, as far as I remember, the liking of posts was decided against unless there's been deeper discussion of this in HQ which I'm unaware of. I don't think there's ever been discussion of implementing the system for "liking" threads as a whole. And honestly, I like the idea. One of the major concerns aside from "facebookish-ness" with the idea of liking individual posts was that basically mods would get sucked up to and tight friend groups would just go around validating each other. While that could still be an issue with threads, I feel it'd be a much smaller one simply because people don't make threads as much as they do individual posts so it's harder to focus on a single person, regardless of rank or friendship group. Despite being well against the liking of posts, I'm in support of this idea.

I could be wrong here though. This is going off my shaky memory and I don't want to go digging through old threads right now.

 

[Honest]

Actually, as far as I remember, the liking of posts was decided against unless there's been deeper discussion of this in HQ which I'm unaware of. I don't think there's ever been discussion of implementing the system for "liking" threads as a whole. And honestly, I like the idea. One of the major concerns with the idea of liking individual posts was that basically mods would get sucked up to and tight friend groups would just go around validating each other. While that could still be an issue with threads, I feel it'd be a much smaller one simply because people don't make threads as much as they do individual posts so it's harder to focus on a single person, regardless of rank or friendship group. Despite being well against the liking of posts, I'm in support of this idea.

Oh, wait, I think you might be right actually. And comparatively, liking threads would be less of a pain, compared to liking posts. I still think it's a little Facebook-ish, but that's my opinion.

 

[droomph]

I think liking threads would be good.

The posts wouldn't be good that's true, but liking threads is good, and can replace the weird little 5-star thing with a more effective system.

 

[Sydian]

Why like a thread when you can just post in it? By posting, you imply your interest or dislike of the topic really, so...I don't see the point in liking it. Unlike Facebook, this is a forum for discussion. So it just seems more fitting for a forum to not have threads that can be liked (or rated really...idk, I don't like the rating system.) And as for non-discussion things like art threads, game dev, etc, like I said, you can just post your interest or the things you like about it, and that'd be more helpful to the OP than liking it.

I'm not opposed to the liking a thread option though, I'm just saying that I think actually posting in the topic usually determines if you like it or not, and it's just more effective because forums are for discussions. But I'm not gonna bounce off the walls and be pissed if this actually goes through, haha.

 

[Fire Flyy]

Yeah, I only meant liking threads, not posts, but I understand your concern with the similarity to facebook [although how big of an issue this would be I'm not sure]. You could always be clever the graphics used for the 'like button' or even the name, to distance the system from facebook so people don't constantly associate and hate on it [assuming this is the biggest con of implementing such a system]; the Smogon Forums use a Luvdisc as their like graphic and no one has ever complained about the system being similar to fb's, as in all honesty it's just a more effective replacement for the star system, over there.

Sydian, I get what you mean, although since it would just be a revamp of the 5-star system, it's likely that people could just leave a like and post, and they technically could do the same nowjust rating the thread 5 stars or whatever.

From my experience there, it was used to show appreciation for either a funny post or just to show you agree with the post and rarely involved cliques liking each other's posts. It might stop a stack of quoted posts saying little more than 'I agree with this'.

Good point here.

 

[Eruption]

I use a forum that has a system similar to this, it also allows likes for individual posts though.

From my experience there, it was used to show appreciation for either a funny post or just to show you agree with the post and rarely involved cliques liking each other's posts. It might stop a stack of quoted posts saying little more than 'I agree with this'.

I have no opinion either way on it being implemented though.

 

[Captain Fabio]

I agree with Sydian.
I feel it would detract from peoples involvement with the thread. They would just 'like' it and move on, instead of posting and getting involved.
It wouldn't happen for all threads and boards, but some would be affected by this, in my opinion.

I don't think I was ever too keen on this idea! :/​

​

 

[Platinum Lucario]

Hm... good thing I actually saw this thread, 'cause I was just about to make one myself. xD

Well yes, I can actually understand everyone's views on each side. I see that people that want to have a Like/Favorite on their posts for people to like... so that people may agree with some idea they may post in a thread. As for the people that think it's rather pointless... I can also understand their views to it as well, 'cause we do actually have a "reply with quote" button. I've seen many forums that do actually have a like button on their posts, but it also makes the "reply with quote" button seem very much a secondary option.

It's like how I was thinking of seeing of users being able to see deletion notices on threads, but I understand other people's point of views and then I agree with how it can be rather messy.

But let's just see what happens, shall we? This forum stays 2010 style, 'cause we're all about posting and chatting to others, rather than merging features from other sites such as Facebook. And I doubt the Like button is available for this version of vBulletin, I think it requires the latest vBulletin, unless there is a plugin for this version. PC will not upgrade to the latest vBulletin, 'cause this version of vBulletin works more efficiently, the latest version probably work with the old plugins or hacks, unless I'm mistaken.

 

[Kanto_Johto]

Favouriting would be an okay idea to implement, but not liking threads/posts. That will just cause people to like other people's posts in the thread instead of actually posting their own viewpoint/ideas in their own words. And it's also a bit too Facebook-ish.

 

[droomph]

Yes, but it cuts down on the "^This. Totally this." posts. I've seen quite a few and a like button would make the threads a bit cleaner.

Though it's not like it's spam, mods would have taken care of that if it was. I just see it rather useless to simply go ^this, but whatever you guys think.

 

[Kanto_Johto]

Yes, but it cuts down on the "^This. Totally this." posts. I've seen quite a few and a like button would make the threads a bit cleaner.

Though it's not like it's spam, mods would have taken care of that if it was. I just see it rather useless to simply go ^this, but whatever you guys think.

Thats why we have the 4/25 rule though, so that we don't just have one word answers, which usually prompts a bit more of a response when the posters who would usually just post "this" realise they need to type more than that.

 

[Oryx]

Would we even use it? That's my question. As far as rating, I rarely if ever see it used, and if it is it's just some minor troll one-starring every thread on the page and people freaking out and getting their friends to five-star it to make up for the troll. The only place where I could see it being used is in this forum in particular, where people can post a suggestion and instead of posting saying "I agree", you can just like it in support.

Can someone else point out some of the other uses of this button? I'm not against it really, but I would be sad if h-staff put forth effort to implement something that was then never used.

 

[Fire Flyy]

Would we even use it? That's my question. As far as rating, I rarely if ever see it used, and if it is it's just some minor troll one-starring every thread on the page and people freaking out and getting their friends to five-star it to make up for the troll. The only place where I could see it being used is in this forum in particular, where people can post a suggestion and instead of posting saying "I agree", you can just like it in support.

Can someone else point out some of the other uses of this button? I'm not against it really, but I would be sad if h-staff put forth effort to implement something that was then never used.

I know I'd use it, and a few other people in this thread like the idea. I see what you mean, but I mean it's pretty easy to just hit a button since it's right in your face and a bit more 'accessible' than the 5 star thing, and can just be like 'Oh, I like this' and call it a day or post along with the like. Wasted effort wouldn't be nice [although I think it's just a plugin for forums] although I'm not sure about being 'sad' x)

 

[Oryx]

I didn't ask "who would use it", I asked what it would be used for. Maybe I wasn't clear enough, sorry; I was asking for specific situations in which it would be an ideal solution as opposed to posting in the thread. I can see its usefulness in CQF, because I've seen in this section people that have nothing else to say than "I agree with the idea in the thread", but I can't see how it would be more used than the rating system already implemented for threads in other sections so I would like some specific examples on what it could be used for.

 

[droomph]

I've seen posts in discussion forums (eg Pokémon General, Other Chat & Discussion) where people just say that they agree with that idea. Not exactly a bad thing, but would make things a lot more involved (as people would come up with more topics rather than saying "I agree").

So that's another way we could use it. And if we were to do a "list by likes" thing we could see the most "relevant" threads. Though that's pretty much for snoops like me 8)

But that's pretty much it (for me at least). So if that doesn't suffice I don't think it's very useful.

 

[KyokuseiXRyusei]

I think liking/favoriting threads or posts would be nice. Maybe even a bit easier to go back to that specific thread.