# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/81 "2019-04-17T15:48:23Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > IMHO, what makes the Dope intellectual and different is precisely the absence of social-media-ness like thumbing up or downvoting as seen on Facebook or Reddit. It forces things to be more about debate and less about popularity. Ha ha ha…oh, my!..ha ha ha ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/82 "2019-04-17T16:45:32Z")
> [@digs](#): > > **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. no u Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/83 "2019-04-17T17:37:29Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > 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 It’s even mentioned in the [board FAQ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/faq.php?faq=vb3_user_profile#faq_vb3_reputation)! ---
**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 17, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/84 "2019-04-17T19:28:15Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > 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_!” Yep. An ego boosted by the laziest possible gesture, no less. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/85 "2019-04-17T20:21:19Z")
All I can say is, the posters here who don’t want a “like” button because it’s too “common”, too much “dumbing down the board”, too much “then we’d be like everyone else”, well, they’d better not have an avatar. I can’t tell, because I have that “feature” turned off. Because avatars dumb down the board. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/86 "2019-04-17T21:30:14Z")
I might budge a little on this, but. . . Seeing as I’m not on Twitter, know little about web design, and nothing at all about vBulletin, I have some simple questions. Is this going to show up on our browsers as as standard in-line response with our name, join date, and membership status, except that in the body of the post there’s a big upthumb emoji, or something like that? Or is there a **Like** button and little box that says **408,153 Like Kunilou’s Post** at the bottom of each individual post, or something like that? Or is it more like a poll, where there’s a series of buttons with **Like, Don’t Like, Meh** on every post? And are the names of the posters who choose to click public, visible only to the OP, or totally anonymous? Are they only public if the liker also chooses to comment, or does every random drive-by clicker get their name mentioned? Under some conditions I might be inclined to agree to a trial period to see what difference it would make, but I want more details. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/87 "2019-04-17T21:32:41Z")
TubaDiva is correct. There is no “like” button in our version of vBulletin. I’m pretty sure she is aware of the reputation system that we do have. Those that are advocating it might want to read over exactly how it works, because it does not function exactly like a “like” button. It has a lot of options, but it is designed to work more like a rating system where you rate posts and other users than a facebook-style like button type system. ---
**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, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/88 "2019-04-17T22:40:37Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > 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_!” I think it would be nice to show appreciation for a post I like without a dumb “me too” post. Especially if I have nothing to add. The probably reason I’d “like” a post is because they’ve said what I want to say, but done it better than I could. My repeating the same point over again is far worse then a “like”. ---
**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, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/89 "2019-04-17T23:44:05Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > 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 Wow, the thread where they were discussing it in your link was from 2005. :eek: Seemed most in that thread who were board admins seemingly were against it. I’m not clear how the reputation system works in practical terms. I’ve obviously seen how the like/dislike system works on YouTube (I use it fairly often) and Facebook (I try to never go there and my account is basically defunct), but how would it work here? Like on Reddit or something else? ---
**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 18, 2019, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/90 "2019-04-18T00:47:09Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > I think it would be nice to show appreciation for a post I like without a dumb “me too” post. Especially if I have nothing to add. The probably reason I’d “like” a post is because they’ve said what I want to say, but done it better than I could. My repeating the same point over again is far worse then a “like”. “Like” > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > All I can say is, the posters here who don’t want a “like” button because it’s too “common”, too much “dumbing down the board”, too much “then we’d be like everyone else”, well, they’d better not have an avatar. > > I can’t tell, because I have that “feature” turned off. Because avatars dumb down the board. Interesting. If avatars can be turned off for individuals (I don’t have one BTW), you’d think the likes could be as well. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > 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. “Like” ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/91 "2019-04-18T01:01:42Z")
It seems to me that the Dope is slowy dying. While we don’t want throw the baby out with the bathwater, we need to make some changes. I say we should try the reputation feature. If it makes things worse, we can turn it back off. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/92 "2019-04-18T01:33:51Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Seemed most in that thread who were board admins seemingly were against it. That’s probably an important data point. > [@XT](#): > > I’m not clear how the reputation system works in practical terms. I’ve obviously seen how the like/dislike system works on YouTube (I use it fairly often) and Facebook (I try to never go there and my account is basically defunct), but how would it work here? Like on Reddit or something else? The important thing is that it’s not a “like” system, it’s a “reputation” system. You don’t just “like” a post like you do on youtube or facebook. You rate posts and you rate other users. It factors in all kinds of things, so things like how many posts you have or how long you have been a member can affect how much your “vote” affects someone’s overall reputation. There are a lot of options with the system, which I do not know in detail since we have the system turned off here and I don’t have admin access to any vBulletin system. The important difference is that the system is designed to rate people, not posts. It’s not a facebook or youtube style “like” system. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/93 "2019-04-18T02:22:14Z")
“Reputation” is a scoring system for people. Not “I like this post,” but a way of rating people on the board. The score can be affected by how long a user has been a member of the community, the number of posts they make, etc. Really, it’s not needed here; you all rate one another in most everything you do already. You evaluate and assess one another based on factors like, oh, how long a user has been a member of the community and the number of posts they make. Besides, we’re a little more equal opportunity here. While we cherish our long time members, just because you haven’t been here a while doesn’t mean you can’t bring good stuff to the community or that you don’t have meaningful content to contribute. With a reputation system, those voices might be disregarded because they have low scores or no scores. This wouldn’t bring more people; in fact, i think it would tend to drive people away, especially newer members. It’s hard enough to get a foothold here as it is. Don’t make it tougher for people to hang. Just my thoughts on the matter. Jenny your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/94 "2019-04-18T02:36:16Z")
Yuck. ---
**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 18, 2019, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/95 "2019-04-18T07:42:04Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > It seems to me that the Dope is slowy dying. While we don’t want throw the baby out with the bathwater, we need to make some changes. I say we should try the reputation feature. If it makes things worse, we can turn it back off. Slowly dying? Hell, I just got here. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/96 "2019-04-18T13:55:11Z")
I think that the Snackpit had the ratings thing for a bit which didn’t work at all because of anonymous posting. As I recall, one could rate posts from one to five stars. You wouldn’t see the number of likes. You’d see that it had an average of 3.2 stars. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/97 "2019-04-18T16:21:20Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > It seems to me that the Dope is slowy dying. We’re all slowly dying.🙂 ---
**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 18, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/98 "2019-04-18T23:00:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > We’re all slowly dying.🙂 That doesn’t mean we have to like it. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/99 "2019-04-19T00:04:16Z")
Now that I’ve thought about it a bit more, I wouldn’t mind “likes” as long as there were no dislikes and you could see who has clicked “like”. That way we’d know if a non-posting shill army has liked the post or if it was genuinely well-received. ---
**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 19, 2019, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496/100 "2019-04-19T16:02:07Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Now that I’ve thought about it a bit more, I wouldn’t mind “likes” as long as there were no dislikes and you could see who has clicked “like”. That way we’d know if a non-posting shill army has liked the post or if it was genuinely well-received. “Like” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-board-needs-likes/832496.md?page=6)