# This board needs "likes" **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 13, 2019, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496 "2019-04-13T13:29:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/61 "2019-04-15T15:32:25Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Sure, that information can be given just by posting, but it’s less likely to be done. People naturally will feel hesitance to post such a simple post, and take up so much room in the discussion. For example, I’ve laughed at many jokes people make here, but only the best get a post simply acknowledging that I found it funny. When this happens to me I might send the poster a private message of appreciation. That way the discussion stays clean. The threshold is higher than laughing during in-person conversation, but that’s just a reality of written communication. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/62 "2019-04-15T16:40:51Z")
- hits dislike button \* ---
**Author:** ![Unreconstructed\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/76d3ee/32.png) [@Unreconstructed\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unreconstructed_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/63 "2019-04-15T16:59:25Z")
Like buttons might show that certain under-represented points of view are actually more popular than they appear. This, in turn, might lead to more people voicing those opinions, leading to more heterodox discussions. Then again, they might not. Only one way to find out… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/64 "2019-04-15T17:02:47Z")
> [@Unreconstructed\_Man](#): > > Like buttons might show that certain under-represented points of view are actually more popular than they appear. This, in turn, might lead to more people voicing those opinions, leading to more heterodox discussions. > > Then again, they might not. Only one way to find out… As has been said already by The Powers That Be, the current version of vBulletin being used can’t do it, and The Powers Above The Powers That Be aren’t likely to update any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/65 "2019-04-15T17:13:41Z")
> [@Unreconstructed\_Man](#): > > Like buttons might show that certain under-represented points of view are actually more popular than they appear. This, in turn, might lead to more people voicing those opinions, leading to more heterodox discussions. That’s kind of where I was going- it would give people feedback, both posters and readers, as to the prevalence or popularity of certain viewpoints, etc… ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/66 "2019-04-15T19:57:57Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > There already is a way. They can type “I laughed.” Typing a dozen or so keystrokes shouldn’t overtax anybody’s available time or brainpower. > [@Yookeroo](#): > > But it doesn’t add any more to the discussion than a like button does. **And it’s more intrusive. I think it actually detracts from discussions.** A way to show appreciation for a post without “+1” or “me too” to “I laughed” is far preferrable. TreacherousCretin thinks the segment he bolded is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/67 "2019-04-15T23:41:45Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > I’m on other boards with like buttons. This doesn’t happen there. I’ve tried suggesting that other spaces use reputational features without descending into a hellhole of fascistic oppression via popular opinion… to no avail. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2019, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/68 "2019-04-16T03:44:11Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > **TreacherousCretin** thinks the segment he bolded is ridiculous. **digs** has tired of suggesting that others not refer to themselves in the third person lest we all descend into a hellhole of fascistic oppression via self-reference… to no avail. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2019, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/69 "2019-04-17T01:37:35Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I’ve tried suggesting that other spaces use reputational features without descending into a hellhole of fascistic oppression via popular opinion… to no avail. I’m always amused how we think ourselves better than a typical board, yet every change will bring out the worst case scenario in us. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/70 "2019-04-17T05:56:10Z")
People do tend to resist change. I’ve been on Facebook long enough to remember when people thought the introduction of the news feed was a shocking violation of privacy. And later, that Twitter moving away from a purely chronological ordering of tweets was essentially the end of the site as we’d known it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/71 "2019-04-17T12:16:14Z")
Maybe the idea isn’t possible with the present board software, but if it were, something like this could very easily be instituted on a trial basis, or in only a specific forum, or only when the OP of a thread turns it “on”, etc. We could test it without necessarily risking anything to the board at large, if it were possible. And accompanying rules would be appropriate – no posts or threads asking for likes, no like-counting posts or threads, etc. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/72 "2019-04-17T13:11:29Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I’ve thought about this since the last thread. I think it would make posts more stilted or maybe more crafted to ensure likes (or maybe to troll dislikes). I suppose some people would do that. But between the nature of the board, and given how this board skews old, many if not most of us are in a “if people like what I have to say, then great; if they don’t, let’s see their reasons” sort of place. I’m an agnostic on whether we should have likes/dislikes, and part of the reason is that I _don’t_ think it’ll change the character of the board that much, so if we have 'em, it’s no big deal either way. If having them will make some people happier, then who am I to blow against the wind? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/73 "2019-04-17T13:14:42Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I suppose some people would do that. > > But between the nature of the board, and given how this board skews old, many if not most of us are in a “if people like what I have to say, then great; if they don’t, let’s see their reasons” sort of place. > > I’m an agnostic on whether we should have likes/dislikes, and part of the reason is that I _don’t_ think it’ll change the character of the board that much, so if we have 'em, it’s no big deal either way. If having them will make some people happier, then who am I to blow against the wind? I’m pretty neutral about it myself. I don’t think it will be a bad thing, I just don’t think we ‘need it’. If they decide to upgrade the boards software (:dubious:) to a version that supports it and decide to put it in I’ll still post here and I doubt things will change that much. Like I said, it would be interesting to see what the lurkers think about some of the posts sometimes, as it’s hard to gauge reactions in some threads. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/74 "2019-04-17T14:05:52Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > It’s not an option in the version of vBulletin currently in use on the board. > > To the best of my knowledge we’re not currently scheduled for an upgrade. Are you sure? A little searching looks like it was added around v3.0 back in 2005. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/75 "2019-04-17T14:43:50Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > How about an “I’m indifference” button.? That would at least have the benefit of adding poor grammar. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/76 "2019-04-17T15:19:09Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > How about an “I’m indifference” button.? Actually, Imgur added a “meh” button to their up and down choices on April 1, 2019. It was just an April Fools thing, but I liked it. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/77 "2019-04-17T15:20:44Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Actually, Imgur added a “meh” button to their up and down choices on April 1, 2019. It was just an April Fools thing, but I liked it. You know, if we did do this (assuming we could get the current software patched and the PTB would want too), they should definitely add this as a regular thing. I actually like the idea of not just likes and dislikes but meh as well. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/78 "2019-04-17T15:39:28Z")
I’m sure there’s a handy list somewhere of new stuff in each version but I can’t find it. However, I’ve seen multiple threads in the vB forums discussing it dating back to 2005. From their “vBulletin 3.0 How Do I and Troubleshooting Forum”: [Reputation system, What is it??](https://www.vbulletin.com/forum/forum/vbulletin-legacy-versions-products/legacy-vbulletin-versions/vbulletin-3-0-how-do-i-and-troubleshooting-forum/142863-reputation-system-what-is-it) The SDMB is using version 3.8.7 ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/79 "2019-04-17T15:43:32Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > God forbid we ever consider anything that might make us more appealing to new people. This is a good point. Do we have any indication that adding “likes” would make us more appealing to new people? I’d like to think everyone here would accept “likes” if presented with convincing evidence that it’d encourage posting and draw new members. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/80 "2019-04-17T15:47:53Z")
This board needs likes like it needs a hole in the head. Why should other posters care that you like the post. If you explain why you like it that could be interesting and worth posting. A plain thumbs-up sign is of no interest whatsoever other than perhaps to boost the ego of the original poster à la Sally Anne Field … “_Ohhh, you like me_!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496.md?page=5)