# Thought about a "Like" feature? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 4, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549 "2011-10-04T14:15:23Z")\ **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:** [October 4, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/21 "2011-10-04T22:14:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What additional information? That someone ticked off a few posters in the past so that they make it a habit to go through his/her posts and hit the “dislike” button on all of them? The trouble with like/dislike buttons is that at first sight someone can look _very_ popular or unpopular until some investigation is done to find out that it’s always the same people doing the clicking out of some misguided sense of loyalty. If someone is presenting evidence to support a theory, in what way should “_45 people disliked this post_” be a factor in deciding whether I support the theory put forth? _Idle Thoughts and [1 other person](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php) like this_ ---
**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:** [October 4, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/22 "2011-10-04T22:31:21Z")
Dangit, there’s a relevant XKCD on this, but unfortunately “like”, “like button” or “facebook like button” are so ubiquitous that it’s impossible to search for it. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/23 "2011-10-05T16:06:21Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > And I post on a large board that lets you “thank” posts, and it is just a big circlejerk of people thanking their friends, their friends friends, and pretty much every bloody post they happen to read. Thousands upon thousands of meaningless thanks. > > Meh. Some people like those types of things. I don’t see the point personally. Completely agree. It might not make the Boards worse, but i really can’t see how it would make them better. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/24 "2011-10-05T16:30:55Z")
Sometimes a “like” button seems like a good idea, because I want to send a quick “LOL” note to people without replying to the thread just to type “This made me laugh.” Sometimes stuff thoroughly cracks me up, but if I were to reply to every post I saw that cracked me up (you kids are a hilarious bunch) 80% of my posts would be “Ha ha” and nothing else. A “like” feature would be neat, but I can live without it, as I don’t think it would affect much other than satisfying my mild desire to shoot off quick love notes to people without interrupting the thread. Anyway, rambling aside, I don’t understand why people say a “like” feature would determine the validity of a post. No, all it determines is that someone liked it. It’s like not GD will shut down, after having tallied up the likes, proclaiming a victor. We have polls all the time, and it’s not like the thread is closed once the poll is through. “Oh, well here are the polling results. We have our answer. Clearly option A with 54% of the vote is the right answer!” followed by no further discussion, and the inability of readers to weigh whether or not they agree with the majority of those polled. I mean, get out of Dodge with that silliness. It’s only a quick little note to say “Hey, I liked this” not “We have determined the facts based on MeanOldChick’s favorable opinion of this post.” ---
**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:** [October 5, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/25 "2011-10-05T16:38:59Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Anyway, rambling aside, I don’t understand why people say a “like” feature would determine the validity of a post. No, all it determines is that someone liked it. So why the hell do we need it? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/26 "2011-10-05T16:43:38Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > So why the hell do we need it? Are you being serious? The goal of everything needs to be to determine the validity of a post? And no, we don’t _need_ it, but if we were to have it, it wouldn’t derail everything into “Post #227 of this thread is clearly the most valid because it garnered the most Likes.” It’d only be an easier way of adding a +1 without eight different posts in a thread that only say “+1” or “QFT.” Anyway, I honestly don’t care either way, so I don’t feel like getting into a cryfest over this. I just think it’s silly to pretend that knowing someone else liked a certain post would destroy everyone’s ability to decide which posts \*they \*like or find valid. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/27 "2011-10-05T17:27:35Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Are you being serious? The goal of everything needs to be to determine the validity of a post? No, it doesn’t, but it seems to me that basically the _only_ function of this type of thing would be to encourage stupid popularity contests while adding nothing to the boards. If people want to create a poll about a subject, we already have a place and a poll function for that. And if it’s not a poll thread that you’re reading, and you want to make clear that you agree with someone else’s contribution, you have a few options: 1. You can quote the relevant part and say, “I agree with this.” 2. You can recognize that the rest of the world doesn’t wait with bated breath to find out whether or not you like something, and not post anything at all. The conversation won’t die without your “Me too” input. 3. You can actually contribute something of substance to the conversation, which is the idea behind the Boards in the first place. My problem with the whole “Like” thing is that it adds nothing of substance while cluttering up the place with one more piece of useless information. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/28 "2011-10-05T18:18:13Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > No, it doesn’t, but it seems to me that basically the _only_ function of this type of thing would be to encourage stupid popularity contests while adding nothing to the boards. Not to mention unpopularity contests. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/29 "2011-10-05T23:32:30Z")
“Like” expresses your individual opinion, without substantiation. It’s an excellent form of self-expression, for those who lack sufficient outlets. Newsflash: the only people interested in your unsubstantiated opinions are your therapist, your parole officer and your Mom. The thumbs up says nothing about the post and only encourages a simpering self indulgence, as opposed to ice cold scrutiny and tough minded analysis. If empty opinions is all you’ve got, there’s no need to share. Really. We’ll PM you if we want them. OTOH, a “Dislike” button would be terrific. Pressing it would constitute an insult, which would lead to an immediate, official and automated warning outside the pit. It would be a efficacious method of redirecting the undisciplined to the remainder of the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/32 "2011-10-06T13:19:42Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/33 "2011-10-06T14:14:44Z")
I belong to another board (the Ravelry boards) that have a number of “quick response” buttons. They are: Interesting Educational Funny Agree Disagree Love Unlike on facebook, you cannot see who clicked the buttons. Anyone can click any of the buttons (or all of them) but each person only counts once (I can’t click agree 5 times on one post, but I can click both agree and disagree). You can choose to display them or not. Some people get all het up about their “disagrees” and are advised to turn it off if they can’t handle it. What I like about it is that sometimes a post does not require a complete response, and posts that just say “I agree” or “thanks for the interesting post” are annoying and clog up the thread. It’s not just a way of collecting “agree”/“like” because “agree” isn’t the only option. Personally I think it adds a lot to keeping the discussion on track, while letting people know that their posts were read and acknowledged. That doesn’t mean the system is needed by SDMB but I do not think it adds nothing but a popularity contest. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/34 "2011-10-06T20:43:48Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [del]Like.[/del] > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > [del]Like.[/del] Y’all doin it wrong. [del]Like.[/del] ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/35 "2011-10-07T03:09:54Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Believe it or not, I don’t post _everything_ that slips into my head. Like most people, I actually try to weigh whether a comment is going to add what I think I want to add to a thread. But I have a really hard time not responding with positive feedback when someone gets in a really good turn of phrase, makes a really obscure reference that I recognize, etc. because I don’t want to derail the thread just to chime in with “Bravo, sir!” or “Me Too!” > > Lots of blogs have a “Like” button that really does nothing but keep a tally of folks who want to give a particular post a thumbs-up or return a sly wink, but who also don’t really have anything germaine to add. I wonder if Dopers would appreciate such a thing here. Jokers & philosophizers could get their affirmations (or not, thereby possibly curbing their behavior) and the noise/signal ratio would improve. > > Thoughts? The SDMB will get a “Like” button when pigs fly to frozen-over hell. (I’m not expressing my opinion on the Like button, which I think may be nice to have, I’m expressing my opinion as to how likely it is to happen) ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/36 "2011-10-07T12:09:53Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > … This is my favorite post in this thread. Two thumbs up! ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/37 "2011-10-07T15:13:37Z")
This, like, being a message board on the internet, I advocate internet-like implementations like like buttons and the like. I vote: **Like.** ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/38 "2011-10-07T15:28:20Z")
Sorry, but no site should have a Like button. They only lead to [domestic violence.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/police-texas-man-faces-battery-charges-angry-nm-wife-didnt-like-facebook-status-update/2011/10/06/gIQAoHz7PL_story.html). ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/39 "2011-10-07T17:17:22Z")
Yes, we thought about a “Like” button. Answer: Dislike. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/40 "2011-10-07T20:56:22Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > But I don’t think this version of vB supports such a thing anyway so even if it was something that we would want to do I’m not sure we could do it, not at the present time, anyway. Vbulletin does support a [thanks button](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=567943), but my attempt to suggest it for this place was pretty much shot down out of hand. That having been said, I’m on board for it, at least for GQ and IMHO, maybe also CS and the Games Room. In Great Debates and Elections, I feel like it would devolve into “Liking” or “Thanking” every post that lines up on one side of a left/right atheist/theist argument or another. I already get enough of that crap on the bottom of newspaper articles online in the comments section. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/41 "2011-10-08T05:01:01Z")
Fear change! ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549/42 "2011-10-08T13:20:46Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Y’all doin it wrong. > > [del]Like.[/del] [del]++[/del] double-plus ungood …or I strongly support the American Lung Association… [del].:).[/del] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-about-a-like-feature/598549.md?page=1)