# Like button/User Karma **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 9, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293 "2016-12-09T17:13:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/21 "2016-12-10T20:10:22Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Amen, Brother! QFT ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/22 "2016-12-10T21:13:12Z")
Agreed. In spades. Does a like mean you like the poster, the post’s position, or the post’s writing? Seems to me a “like” mostly means you’re too damned lazy (or clueless) to say anything useful. Better to lurk than to clutter up the place with useless "+1"s. For somebody like Facebook, which exists to monitize your every entry, “likes” serve the very valuable purpose, for them, of highlighting what’s “trending” so they can sell ads on it for more money. What any of the rest of us get out of this is bupkiss. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/23 "2016-12-10T21:59:23Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I would hate to see the introduction of such a button here. The emphasis of this board is on words: not pictures, not gifs everywhere, not thumbs up or thumbs down buttons. Smilies are fine, they are extremely useful for indicating tone of voice, but as for the rest, no thank you. If you approve or disapprove of a post then say so. In words. Right on! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/24 "2016-12-10T22:12:23Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It’s been brought up before. > **[Like button](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=761178)** > > Has anyone ever toyed with the idea of installing a like button option on individual posts. I got spoiled by it with facebook. > **[Will SD ever add a "Like" Button?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=677806)** > > You guys really oughta revamp the SD Board bringing into the 21st century. With a little creative thought, adding Like buttons and even more creative features… BAM! You can kick this Board up a Notch! 😉 > **[Will SD Add a "Like" Button?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=621486)** > > It’d be soooo convenient if SDopers could simply “like” someone’s post rather than clog up the SD server with all kinds of superfluous posts that equate to a simple “like”! (Or, does Zuckerboogie hold the patent on the “Like” button?) > **[FB-Style "Like" Button? Oh C'mon!](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=577015)** > > I know we’re stoics over here, who post witticisms for the sheer joy of making them - but couldn’t we add some kind of “Like” button? To let people know their efforts are appreciated? Not a public scorecard for people to obsess over. And certainly... > **[Why No "Like" Button?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=587933)** > > In this day and age, why doesn’t the SD introduce a “Like” button for each remark within any given thread? Sometimes, that’s all one requires to respond! hint hint hint… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/25 "2016-12-11T01:07:50Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Word. Bird. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/26 "2016-12-11T01:19:16Z")
> [@JeffB](#): > > Bird. Rock Lobster. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/27 "2016-12-11T08:02:46Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I really don’t like karma/reputation ratings. Too often it can turn into a popularity contest rather than judging the value of a well articulated but unpopular opinion. I’m boards with like buttons. I have never witnessed this. I swear the luddite Dopers just have this fear of modern message board features that they assume every message board the implements them automatically turns into a cesspool. That and near fetish for the written word. Funny, you’d think the idea that we’re so special and smart here would conflict with the idea that idea that we’d automatically abuse any new feature. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Does a like mean you like the poster, the post’s position, or the post’s writing? It means you like that particular post. The meaning is pretty clear. > [@running\_coach](#): > > Seems to me a “like” mostly means you’re too damned lazy (or clueless) to say anything useful. Better to lurk than to clutter up the place with useless "+1"s. Better a like button than “+1” or “me too”. I know I’ve frequently looked for a like button when I’ve wanted to show appreciation for a post I’ve liked and didn’t want to add a “me too”. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/28 "2016-12-11T09:21:07Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > It means you like that particular post. The meaning is pretty clear. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/29 "2016-12-11T09:46:20Z")
All I know is my gut says maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/30 "2016-12-11T12:02:32Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Funny, you’d think the idea that we’re so special and smart here would conflict with the idea that idea that we’d automatically abuse any new feature. Well, clearly _I’d_ use it properly, it’s the rest of you that would mess it up. I just don’t think it adds anything. Reddit and Facebook use it to decide which posts it’s going to show you in which order. Forums like [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com) (for instance) use it purely to score ‘internet points’, and you do get posters on there ‘karma whoring’. It’s a problem we don’t have here, and I don’t think we’d gain anything at all if we introduced it. And it won’t get introduced, even if everyone here thought it was a good idea. So there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/31 "2016-12-11T12:47:32Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > All I know is my gut says maybe. Reach for the pepto. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/32 "2016-12-11T14:07:31Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Reach for the pepto. The regular suggestions of adding ‘Like’ buttons here has me on a regular regimen of Prilosec. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/33 "2016-12-11T14:49:35Z")
Be strong, Doc. Not speaking for management, here, but I’d be opposed to it, as well, should anyone in a position of authority ask. We’re a board about discussion, sometimes of the Debate variety and sometimes a bit less take-yourself-too-serious. I think it would actually begin to curtail debate instead of enhance it. Give people an easy response and they’ll use it instead of making their own post. In response to the ‘+1’ and ‘me, too’ argument, above, I’ll say that we try to discourage such in Great Debates and Elections. It’s not against the rules but too much of it has the potential to disrupt debate and that’s a bad thing. Plus, as with the ‘like’ button proposed, it kills debate. And just speaking as one of the moderators in GD, I think you’d be able to measure in nanoseconds the time between implementation and the first time the number of ‘likes’ of an argument was used to somehow provide weight to the righteousness of the argument regardless of its actual worth. Call me cynical. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/34 "2016-12-11T17:59:39Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Agreed. In spades. > > Better to lurk than to clutter up the place with useless "+1"s. This. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/35 "2016-12-11T18:04:10Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > This. Well said. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/36 "2016-12-11T19:20:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Well said. Hear, hear! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/37 "2016-12-11T21:27:55Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Be strong, Doc. > > Not speaking for management, here, but I’d be opposed to it, as well, should anyone in a position of authority ask. We’re a board about discussion, sometimes of the Debate variety and sometimes a bit less take-yourself-too-serious. I think it would actually begin to curtail debate instead of enhance it. Give people an easy response and they’ll use it instead of making their own post. > > In response to the ‘+1’ and ‘me, too’ argument, above, I’ll say that we try to discourage such in Great Debates and Elections. It’s not against the rules but too much of it has the potential to disrupt debate and that’s a bad thing. Plus, as with the ‘like’ button proposed, it kills debate. > > And just speaking as one of the moderators in GD, I think you’d be able to measure in nanoseconds the time between implementation and the first time the number of ‘likes’ of an argument was used to somehow provide weight to the righteousness of the argument regardless of its actual worth. Call me cynical. tl;dr ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/38 "2016-12-11T21:59:34Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Be strong, Doc. > > Not speaking for management, here, but I’d be opposed to it, as well, should anyone in a position of authority ask. We’re a board about discussion, sometimes of the Debate variety and sometimes a bit less take-yourself-too-serious. I think it would actually begin to curtail debate instead of enhance it. Give people an easy response and they’ll use it instead of making their own post. > > In response to the ‘+1’ and ‘me, too’ argument, above, I’ll say that we try to discourage such in Great Debates and Elections. It’s not against the rules but too much of it has the potential to disrupt debate and that’s a bad thing. Plus, as with the ‘like’ button proposed, it kills debate. > > And just speaking as one of the moderators in GD, I think you’d be able to measure in nanoseconds the time between implementation and the first time the number of ‘likes’ of an argument was used to somehow provide weight to the righteousness of the argument regardless of its actual worth. Call me cynical. OK. You’re cynical. 😃 But so am I. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/39 "2016-12-11T22:47:42Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > I swear the luddite Dopers just have this fear of modern message board features that they assume every message board the implements them automatically turns into a cesspool. That and near fetish for the written word. > > Funny, you’d think the idea that we’re so special and smart here would conflict with the idea that idea that we’d automatically abuse any new feature. This. Posters regularly pop in here asking about features such as like buttons, avatars, inline images, nested quotes, etc.\* And the response is always pretty much the same as we see in this thread. The mods should really just post a sticky that says, “NOPE. There will be no new features implemented on these boards. No matter how compelling your argument is, it just will not happen. Ever.” If someone misses the sticky and asks for one of these forbidden features, we can just post a link to the sticky. No need to rehash the same arguments every time, with the same outcome. \*FTR: I would be in favor of enabling some of these features. But it ain’t gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293/40 "2016-12-11T22:52:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Martini Enfield** : > > Rock Lobster. Paper Tiger beats Rock Lobster. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-button-user-karma/774293.md?page=3)