Poll: Having a "thumbs-up" function on the Escapist, yes or no?

[JamesStone]

I sometimes find myself reading a very insightful comment, or an unbelievably funny one, or even a deliciously sarcastic quote (usually from Irridium or Vault101), and feeling bad for not being able to thumb them up to let them know they are doing a good job. It would be cool to be lurking in a thread which doesn't interest you, seeing a very good post, and being able to compliment the poster without going OT?

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

In the past when questions like this come up, the general consensus seemed to be "no" because we have some users who aren't necessarily wrong, but have very unpopular opinions. Also a thumbs up/down system discourages people from participating in the discussion, and the Escapist is a discussion forum.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Everyone needs to ask themselves this question before voting:

Do you really want this place to become akin to YouTube?

 

[Lionsfan]

In the past when questions like this come up, the general consensus seems to be "no" because we have some users who aren't necessarily wrong, but have very unpopular opinions. Also a thumbs up/down system discourages people from participating in the discussion, and the Escapist is a discussion forum.

This line gets thrown around a lot, just curious why you (and others) think that?

 

[repeating integers]

Everyone needs to ask themselves this question before voting:

Do you really want this place to become akin to YouTube?

Erm... it already is. These boards are basically what happens when you take the comments on your average youtube video and enforce actual rules. Including a thumbs up system is about on the correct intellectual level.

I'd like to see something akin to the Guardian's "recommend" system, with no downvote option. Just the ability to upvote clever posts.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Erm... it already is. These boards are basically what happens when you take the comments on your average youtube video and enforce actual rules. Including a thumbs up system is about on the correct intellectual level.

I'd like to see something akin to the Guardian's "recommend" system, with no downvote option. Just the ability to upvote clever posts.

I was more referring to people merely making posts to "whore" thumbs-ups.

Little drives me up the wall more than that.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

In the past when questions like this come up, the general consensus seems to be "no" because we have some users who aren't necessarily wrong, but have very unpopular opinions. Also a thumbs up/down system discourages people from participating in the discussion, and the Escapist is a discussion forum.

This line gets thrown around a lot, just curious why you (and others) think that?

Because it's easier to click a thumbs up/down button than it is to actually type out a thought. Look at Facebook as an example, there will be many more likes to a post than people commenting. If you agree with a post you see, the Escapist requires you to specify why you agree, if you just type "I agree", you'll get hit for low content.

Basically, it discourages discussion because you're giving people an easy way out. Poll threads also get many more votes on the polls than people talking about the topic the poll is collecting data on.

 

[repeating integers]

Erm... it already is. These boards are basically what happens when you take the comments on your average youtube video and enforce actual rules. Including a thumbs up system is about on the correct intellectual level.

I'd like to see something akin to the Guardian's "recommend" system, with no downvote option. Just the ability to upvote clever posts.

I was more referring to people merely making posts to "whore" thumbs-ups.

Nothing drives me up the wall more.

The sad fact of the matter is that, from what I've seen, people pretty much already do. It's just that they're whoring quotes/responses instead of upvotes.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

The sad fact of the matter is that, from what I've seen, people pretty much already do. It's just that they're whoring quotes/responses instead of upvotes.

In which case, if a thumbs-up system was in place, we would have more thumbs-ups on particular posts than quotes, which in-turn, means less discussion on a discussion-based forum.

I refer to Eclipse Dragon's post(s) above for further clarification.

 

[Melon Hunter]

No. It inhibits actual discussion, results in people placing weight in a pretty much meaningless thumbs-up total for a post, and tends to enforce an even greater groupthink than before. Anyone daring to post outside of the accepted position on a topic can expect to be downvoted into oblivion, despite the fact that you're only supposed to use that downvote on posts you think weren't of high enough quality to be regarded. It shouldn't be used as a measure of how many people agree or disagree with a post, yet that's what a thumbs up/thumbs down system always devolves into. Leave that to places where comments are mere soundbites like YouTube, and keep it out of actual discussion forums.

 

[Fappy]

I don't need a thumbs up system to tell me that everyone loves and agrees with my insightful/hysterical comments.

Cereal: Popularity contests would get even worse.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I'd like some kind of recommend system. Having more interaction between members seems like a good idea, rather than just a bunch of people saying whatever they have to say without paying any attention to other posts. I just think it would be nice for people to get some small kind of recognition for making a funny or clever post without people having to quote it (would probably cut down on 'this' people too). A downvote wouldn't be to great though, you'd just get a lot of hate for people with controversial opinions.

I don't really think it would reduce that much discussion, besides, a thread full of people repeating the same thing parrot-fashion is barely discussion anyway. Cutting down on that wouldn't be bad, it would make it easier to look at the actual different opinions and ideas that are being thrown around, rather than the same one twenty times.

 

[Rawne1980]

Next we'll have people asking for little gold stars so they feel like they made a good post.

 

[IamQ]

Nah, I prefer it like it is. I've never been for like buttons. If you like something someone's said, then tell them that. Thumbs up buttons "Like"'s and all that are some kind weird passive thing when you go "I enjoyed what you wrote, but not enough to tell you."

 

[Scarim Coral]

Maybe (depend how desperate the user are wanting a thumb up on his/ her post) just as long there is no "thumb down" since I'm pretty sure that will escalate into a flame war.

 

[Lionsfan]

In the past when questions like this come up, the general consensus seems to be "no" because we have some users who aren't necessarily wrong, but have very unpopular opinions. Also a thumbs up/down system discourages people from participating in the discussion, and the Escapist is a discussion forum.

This line gets thrown around a lot, just curious why you (and others) think that?

Because it's easier to click a thumbs up/down button than it is to actually type out a thought. Look at Facebook as an example, there will be many more likes to a post than people commenting. If you agree with a post you see, the Escapist requires you to specify why you agree, if you just type "I agree", you'll get hit for low content.

Basically, it discourages discussion because you're giving people an easy way out. Poll threads also get many more votes on the polls than people talking about the topic the poll is collecting data on.

I still think people would be posting though. People right now might not be posting "I agree", but they're still posting stuff that basically amounts to that; it's just "*Quote Somebody* I pretty much agree with this, *rephrase original thought*" instead of a low-content post

 

[sky14kemea]

No.

For one, it'll just turn into Facebook, and no one wants that.

Two, less people will bother posting, and will just go through a thread, give "thumbs up" and leave again, until barely anyone is posting.

Three, people will be working way too hard to make their post funny or appealing, instead of just posting their opinion and joining in the discussion, in order to get as many "thumbs" as they can.

If you like someone's post that much, you can just PM them instead, saying something like "Hey, your post was funny, gratz!"

 

[Username Redacted]

For the love of God and all that is holy no more thumbs ups, no more "likes", no more +/- rep. Please internet get that shit out of here.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I don't need a thumbs up system to tell me that everyone loves and agrees with my insightful/hysterical comments.

*thumbs down*

OT: We already have a polling system which is enough of a "quick response without discussion" method. Tying something like that to everyone's post would turn the entire forum into a giant popularity/bashing clusterfuck.

If you really enjoy someone's post you can quote or PM them.