Likes

My rant on "likes":
Concerning comments/communications on forums, or on social media in general for that matter I find it interesting that some will choose to like a comment and others dont bother clicking it. That being said, I m guessing that for most, a like invokes, psychologically, a form of, how to say it, positiveness, satisfaction, or even euphoria, to the psyche when they themselves recieve one. Picture this; what if forums placed a dislike button right next to the like button? That would no doubt change the dynamics, and interfere with the current model of social media; shifting the emphesis by adding one more element of real life to the experience. Of course one can always just express their dislike or disagreement in a post, but considering most want to be liked, the simple like button posesses an element that is invaluable to social media/big tech. It s simple logic that one will return to a place that they are "liked". Would they be as inclined to return if they had many dislikes? (OK, if they were trolls maybe so)...

 

I'm not sure whether to click "Like" or not.

 

There are forums that offer both.

 

I laughed at this one.

Pretty sure former social media employees have come forward to talk about a lot of the mechanics and such of social media. Netflix documentary on it, IIRC. Granted, a documentary is nothing more than info/data that has been cherry picked to support a particular point of view, but they can have good info in them.

Anyway, yes, the like buttons are definitely designed to get the digital validation that is craved these days. I personally believe it's a result of the societal mistake of instilling self esteem first, and asking for work/results second. i.e. Trophies for Nothing/Participation Trophies. Deep down on a subconscious level everyone knows that false praise is hollow, but when it has become socially unacceptable to allow people to fail, be told the universe doesn't revolve around them, or let failure be a teacher of hard lessons then we wind up where we are now. People think that they have a right to live without being offended. That utopia is a guarantee. This foundation built on false adoration and being shielded from reality creates a hunger for real accomplishment and approval, but an inability to obtain it. So, the cheap and hollow substitute becomes an addiction. A need. There are people who actually value the number of likes/followers/views on social media more than who a person is. A damn saint of a human being will be shunned because they are not getting enough social approval to be worth listening to or associating with.


Sorry. Just adding my rant to yours.

 

Reddit has done the "like/dislike" "upvote/downvote" method forever. It's good for bubbling relevant content to the top, but it's also bad that it nukes anything controversial from any real discussion. Please don't let this place become Reddit... lol.

 

RdKing Likes It

 

I should add: I use the like button as a way to show I laughed, agreed, or enjoyed the post. I'll give a "like" to anybody, even if I don't like them.

 

Well I hate controversy so that’d be great.

 

You forgot to like my previous post.

 

Fixed. Wasn't liking anything in this thread just for the point of it, but also didn't expect more than a few views or comments.

 

I don’t know....this seems like a thread that could have some legs.

 

inb4

 

Odd request, but ok.

 

If you’re going to have a ‘like’ and a ‘dislike’ option, it only stands to reason that a ‘doesn’t give a shit’ option exists also.

 

I don't think it will be locked. No forum policies violated. No doubt it will be watched by the mods because the potential for a shit show is there, but if everybody plays nice.... wait.... Yeah, probably gonna get locked.

 

Lol, yeah just give it time.

 

My only hope is that it just gets locked and not deleted. I'd hate to lose all my hard earned Likes™

 

I just went through and "liked" every post in this thread. I suggest everyone else do the same.

 

You have described Reddit. Upvotes, downvotes, awards, trophies, mob mentality, the whole mess.

 

I like likes.

SPP

 

Like you beat me to it...

 

Not a bad idea, but I would prefer a "You can suck it" option, or maybe "Go F... yourself".

 

Drinking?

 

Well, yes and no. Yes, but just opened my 2nd beer cause I just got home from work.

It's just my natural asshole coming out.

 

I'm an asshole 24/7 FUCK IT

 

It's beer:30 here as well.