07-19-2025, 11:25 PM
When I started writing this post I thought the 'Like' button was just another of the many legacies of the odious Facebook. As so often happens I was mistaken. In fact, it apparently first appeared on Vimeo where it was seen as an iteration of the 'digg' feature from digg.com. See here.
There are occasions where being able to click 'Like' is an easy way to say you appreciate something without having to write about it — for example, alprider's never-ending stream of photographs of motorcycles in beautiful places for which, so far as I'm concerned, there are no longer any useful superlatives.
But there are other occasions too.
In June pdedse set off for a big ride across the country. A couple of days in, his back started to give him merry hell and he made the decision to turn for home. See this post. It seemed very sad to me that a dreamed-of adventure came to a premature end, but I noticed that a number of members 'liked' the post. I make no criticism of that choice, but I it made me wonder what were they 'liking'? That he was injured? That he had to turn tail and retreat? That Cormanus would be denied the pleasure of a vicarious ride? Or did they just like that he had posted an update on his adventure even though there was nothing to like in the content?
It made me wonder exactly what 'like' means in the online contest. Is it the content of the post? Not for me in this case. I didn't 'like' pdedse's news at all; I felt very sad for him. So, how could I click 'Like'? Or is it a simple way of acknowledging one's read a post? That's not 'liking' something in the normally accepted meaning of the word. On this occasion it just didn't sit comfortably with me so I wrote and posted words expressing my sadness at his news. Other members 'liked' my post and that makes some kind of sense. It's easier and probably uses less forum storage than a post saying "^^+1" or writing words similar to mine.
The purpose of this post is simply to try to garner some views on the protocol of using the 'Like' button. I strongly support rdprdp01's decision not to have a 'dislike' option and I'm really happy not to have the option to insert one of a range of emoticons.
Thoughts? Witty, frivolous, serious, I don't mind. A conversation helps to pass the time.
There are occasions where being able to click 'Like' is an easy way to say you appreciate something without having to write about it — for example, alprider's never-ending stream of photographs of motorcycles in beautiful places for which, so far as I'm concerned, there are no longer any useful superlatives.
But there are other occasions too.
In June pdedse set off for a big ride across the country. A couple of days in, his back started to give him merry hell and he made the decision to turn for home. See this post. It seemed very sad to me that a dreamed-of adventure came to a premature end, but I noticed that a number of members 'liked' the post. I make no criticism of that choice, but I it made me wonder what were they 'liking'? That he was injured? That he had to turn tail and retreat? That Cormanus would be denied the pleasure of a vicarious ride? Or did they just like that he had posted an update on his adventure even though there was nothing to like in the content?
It made me wonder exactly what 'like' means in the online contest. Is it the content of the post? Not for me in this case. I didn't 'like' pdedse's news at all; I felt very sad for him. So, how could I click 'Like'? Or is it a simple way of acknowledging one's read a post? That's not 'liking' something in the normally accepted meaning of the word. On this occasion it just didn't sit comfortably with me so I wrote and posted words expressing my sadness at his news. Other members 'liked' my post and that makes some kind of sense. It's easier and probably uses less forum storage than a post saying "^^+1" or writing words similar to mine.
The purpose of this post is simply to try to garner some views on the protocol of using the 'Like' button. I strongly support rdprdp01's decision not to have a 'dislike' option and I'm really happy not to have the option to insert one of a range of emoticons.
Thoughts? Witty, frivolous, serious, I don't mind. A conversation helps to pass the time.
Sometimes the road not travelled is best left that way. (Jane Goodall)