April 10, 201412 yr I don't think this post is pertinent to the "public".......... I have attempted to post several times on the topic below but seem to shy away from it.......... so perhaps in this more private venue and hopefully within a constructive discussion group, I post my opinion on............ the "like" and the "stars".............. I dislike the "like" feature...........I believe it is a feature that leads to ego bruising and/or ego inflation. We are not competing, we are not in this "pay it forward" to get a pat on the back or a hip hip hurray for our actions............... I dislike the "stars" feature...............My opinion is the same as for the "like" feature.......... Helping others, being vulnerable, being generous and being selfless is about NOT getting a count of our action, .............it's not about knowing how many people like what we say or what we don't say............. Today's media and social media seem to program us to depend on visual feedback.....number of hits, numbers of "likes"....number of "stars"...............I can understand such feature if a business depends on such numbers but not here...not in the realm of selflessness and Paying it Forward. I have seen people get hurt because of those "features".....................there will be more..........I have seen people inflate their ego to the point that they wouldn't fit through the door .............I have seen people deflated to the point that they vanish.......... One of the most powerful things to accomplish in life is to do something for somebody and never let that person know that you did it............... selflessness............. ok.............thanks for reading.....................
April 10, 201412 yr Soul, I hadnt thought of it that way...... You make some very valid points. Im remembering, once upon a time, somewhere in some far away land, the 'likes' were used and misused......and it led to bruised ego's, hurt feelings etc. The whole star thing is new to me, but I can see the potential for the same. "Helping others, being vulnerable, being generous and being selfless is about NOT getting a count of our action, .............it's not about knowing how many people like what we say or what we don't say............." So well said Soul......and Im not saying that because I want to build your ego! LOL (Although I did 'like' your post. Old habits die hard!) Thanks for the morning food for thought :)
April 10, 201412 yr Hi Soul I don't know what the 'stars' are, not a clue how to give someone a star. I do agree with you in the sense likes can be used as a tool, have seen it myself on the Q. Although, for me a like is a bit like a nod of the head. This forum, to me, is as though you are all sat round my dining table with me, having a coffee. So I 'like' in the same way I would nod, or smile in agreement at something someone said. But I do understand what you mean too....tricky really. I don't get loads of like, same way as I don't always get loads of nods of agreement, so for me it isn't an ego boost more a case of whenI get one, that someone is on the same wwavelength on this particular point.
April 10, 201412 yr I agree soul. I will admit I sometimes wonder why some posts get liked while posts that are practically identical don't get liked. Seems like a popularity contest. Feelings get hurt.
April 10, 201412 yr I like likes because for me it is can be an acknowledgement of what someone has said. or maybe something funny or because I may be in agreement with the poster. "I have seen people get hurt because of those "features".....................there will be more..........I have seen people inflate their ego to the point that they wouldn't fit through the door .............I have seen people deflated to the point that they vanish.........." The above is sad, but I think some of that was related to different issues. I don't use likes that way. I have never used the star feature and only just even noticed it like two weeks ago.
April 10, 201412 yr The Sarge finds it ironic -no - downright comical - that a post speaking out against the Like Feature already has *multiple* Likes tagged on to it. Nice! ** Get over it, folks. [1] People actually, y'know, *like* things (and dislike 'em, too) We're all (presumably) adults here. Deal with it.[1] Easy Peasy . FOOTNOTES [1] These are the same shenanigans that have lead to kids' sport teams not keeping score (Everybody Wins!! (no losers here)) and "Why can't Jonny read?" because nobody deserved bad grades, right? Same logic. Same outcome. [2] The Sarge dislikes your dislike of the Like feature. See how quickly this gets ridiculous ?
April 10, 201412 yr In the past, for a lot of us likes were in short supply. This probably led many to a lot of posts not acknowledged by the like button. I have to say though here at QT, we are given 100 a day. It's much easier to spread the like's around with that many to start :)
April 10, 201412 yr Author I do thank you for the replies.............. I rather use communication with my own words to tell someone that I agree or don't with what they say......... of course the nodding of the head is a quicker way to send an acknowledgement when face 2 face..............and I can see how one can use the "like" feature to substitute the nodding........yet..............I do believe that a written forum like this one and countless others need to keep the words flowing.........one's own words.............the substance of our feelings, the concretization of our thoughts....... words...............words...........communication.....forum............messages.................. Today's electronic life style tends to steal the words from us............making us "clickers" instead of talkers/writers........................... it is such an interesting topic I think...................... words are priceless, just like freedom ................they can touch someone's soul deeper than a "like"...............further than a "star"......................
April 10, 201412 yr This is a great post Soul, thanks for writing it. I agree completely that likes can be used in the wrong way and that many feelings have been hurt because of them. I like the likes though. I didn't know about stars until recently and agree that is not necessary at all. IMO I think as we move forward with this new forum we will see things that need to be revisited for sure to keep things in the spirit that the majority of the users will find comfortable. That will include the likes I am sure.
April 10, 201412 yr I do thank you for the replies.............. I rather use communication with my own words to tell someone that I agree or don't with what they say......... of course the nodding of the head is a quicker way to send an acknowledgement when face 2 face..............and I can see how one can use the "like" feature to substitute the nodding........yet..............I do believe that a written forum like this one and countless others need to keep the words flowing.........one's own words.............the substance of our feelings, the concretization of our thoughts....... words...............words...........communication.....forum............messages.................. Today's electronic life style tends to steal the words from us............making us "clickers" instead of talkers/writers........................... it is such an interesting topic I think...................... words are priceless, just like freedom ................they can touch someone's soul deeper than a "like"...............further than a "star"...................... Soul, I just had a somewhat similar conversation with my 16yr old yesterday........in regards to text messaging. I found it sad that she could not remember the last time she had an actual live telephone conversation :wacko:
April 10, 201412 yr Everybody here has a story to tell, some are loud and talk a lot, others are more silent and share occasionally. Everybody here has a point of view and an opinion....and even if I think differently...it helps me to grow! I don't like the stars........because every post and every tread is a heartfelt sharing of a fight we all have in common! Nobody stands out! I don't like the "like"....because it makes it too easy. I just push "like" and don't have to share what I actually think! Once upon a time I was a member on a different board..the "likes" were used to show loyalty to a group or person..it was interesting to watch, but although sad! Thank you soul! I agree to 100%
April 10, 201412 yr I do thank you for the replies..............I rather use communication with my own words to tell someone that I agree or don't with what they say.........of course the nodding of the head is a quicker way to send an acknowledgement when face 2 face..............and I can see how one can use the "like" feature to substitute the nodding........yet..............I do believe that a written forum like this one and countless others need to keep the words flowing.........one's own words.............the substance of our feelings, the concretization of our thoughts.......words...............words...........communication.....forum............messages..................Today's electronic life style tends to steal the words from us............making us "clickers" instead of talkers/writers...........................it is such an interesting topic I think......................words are priceless, just like freedom ................they can touch someone's soul deeper than a "like"...............further than a "star"...................... I won't lie I do find a like/nod easier for me as I find it quite difficult to concentrate these days. On times of low concentration levels likes take that worry away, of composing a message. I do hear you though, about the written word. I like likes though, they help me feel part of something on days were I find putting sentences together tricky.
April 10, 201412 yr I don't even know what the stars do. Understand the concern about the likes, but the same could be said about many people commenting on one post and not the other. To me, hitting like says "I like this post, but I have nothing to add".
April 10, 201412 yr You know what I like?? That many of us here can have a differing opinion and share it in a constructive, adult way. With no hurt feelings, no namecalling.......just a sharing of the minds. I like. A lot.
April 10, 201412 yr I neither like nor dislike either of those features. This forum belongs to you guys so ultimately it's up to the members and the moderators. While we're still in our infancy, we can put it to a vote and set the path going forward. Soul brings up some valid points and I hear them. The stars to me are not needed. On the other board, there is a game of who can get the most stars and memers are giving bad ratings etc. to being other members rating down. Whether it's all done in fun or not, there really isn't a place for that sort of thing here. We're here for something much more serious than that; saving lives and offering uncondintional support. I do have the negative ratings turn off on this forum and I would just assume turn them all off (the stars). I understand both points of view, so, it's whatever you guys want. If one of the mods want to create a poll, go ahead and we'll go from there. In the meantime, let's keep discussing. :)
April 10, 201412 yr I like the "like" feature. I just do not like the stars on people's profiles. There's not really a point to them when they can be lowered by someone who just doesn't like someone even though they contribute great to the support here...therefore it is no indication of how many stars someone's content is worth. I know someone posted that they asked an admin on another site about them. But that admin admitted they didn't really know and guessed at what it was. But it does not take a rocket scientist to see that it is an average of how many stars people put on someone's profile. Serves no purpose. Dislike it. But I do like ability to like a post.
April 10, 201412 yr Everyone should be able to "like" a post that is helpful or they like. No one should see likening as a bad thing. The bad comes when someone is able to downgrade someone I.e. Stars
April 10, 201412 yr Everyone should be able to "like" a post that is helpful or they like. No one should see likening as a bad thing. The bad comes when someone is able to downgrade someone I.e. Stars The "downgrading" feature has been disabled here since day one. Ava, the mod, kept downgrading me so I shut it off! lol Seriously though, we will not let any members of this community be treated like that and certainly won't provide the means to do it. :)
April 10, 201412 yr The "downgrading" feature has been disabled here since day one. Ava, the mod, kept downgrading me so I shut it off! lol Seriously though, we will not let any members of this community be treated like that and certainly won't provide the means to do it. :) Ah I meant with the profile stars. You can lower someone's average.
April 10, 201412 yr The "downgrading" feature has been disabled here since day one. Ava, the mod, kept downgrading me so I shut it off! lol Seriously though, we will not let any members of this community be treated like that and certainly won't provide the means to do it. :) ~giggling at Ava's antics~
April 10, 201412 yr Ah I meant with the profile stars. You can lower someone's average. Here? I thought I had that turned off. See, what the heck do I know about the stars? I know I was seeing them when I cracked my skull on a steam pipe two summers ago. lol
April 10, 201412 yr ~giggling at Ava's antics~ She also kept reporting my posts and PM's. She was out of control. Give some people a smidgeon of power and it goes straight to their heads. hahahaha
April 10, 201412 yr Example ladybug only has 4 profiles stars I have five. Currently. People can make it go up and down however the serve no purpose.
April 10, 201412 yr Example ladybug only has 4 profiles stars I have five. Currently. People can make it go up and down however the serve no purpose. I didn't even know you can click the stars. Was this always there? Yes...that's dumb
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