What about a "like" button on the forum?

I would not use a like button. The more likes people get the more inflated their ego gets.

regards

LIKE

That was an effort for me.

Like everything else, Like buttons are double-edged, good or evil depending on how they are used.

The main reason I want one is to show appreciation of work in progress. A Like button sends a no fuss signal of plain encouragement. A forum flaw is many members share excellent photos of their latest achievements and get no response at all. I suspect this is only because most admirers don't have the time or skill needed to dash off an effective written appreciation. So easy for text admiration to be accidentally dismissive or patronising!

On the other hand chasing 'Likes' smacks of unhealthy egotism, and issuing 'Dislikes' of bullying.

Worth a try I think.

Dave

I personally think that it would encourage less comments on a piece as many are too lazy to type a comment and rather press a like button

I don’t yet know whose “Like Button” is embedded in the new forum software ... but this short article from 2016 makes interesting reading for those who might have reservations about motives:

**LINK**

https://www.zdnet.com/article/facebook-cookie-case-why-even-the-like-button-infringes-eu-informed-consent-privacy-law/

MichaelG.

.

Edit: ... and this is from 2019

https://hub.packtpub.com/along-with-platforms-like-facebook-now-websites-using-embedded-like-buttons-are-jointly-responsible-for-what-happens-to-the-collected-user-data-rules-eu-court/

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 19/02/2021 14:28:58

I have just got to the end of a thread on a different and very technical forum, about adding a DC supply to a battery powered unit. I asked the question and I had several replies from several members. Was I supposed to reply to each post, formally, complete with quotes from those posts? Putting Like after appropriate posts and answering others worked very well and everyone was treated 'politely'. Not a hint of hoi polloi using likes like confetti.

And, whilst on the topic of possible improvements, posts don't appear to have a 'post count' number so I can't see just how many posts the subject seems to have generated. It does look like a hot topic though.

Yes, why not? But I have to assume members use other fora (?) so they clearly know what they like already.

.

Have you tried looking at this page: **LINK**

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/latest_posts.asp

I see a count for posts, and a count for views

MichaelG.

Seems to me it's two issues:

- a "Like" button per-se ..... this we already have in the form of: (not to mention its counterpart).

- whether or not the "likes" are counted. This we don't have here (yet) and what many on these forums (incorrect but less pretentious) are uncomfortable with.

I would not be keen on posts with just or in them particularly with the new software leaving quite a bit of space per post. Just think what it would be like following a thread with blocks of seveal posts with just a emoji.

The emogee is not the same as a like because it has to be in a reply, which may be miles away from the post it refers to - so you would also have to quote it. This clutters up the thread with perhaps many repeats of the text.

I have to ask whether you have used 'like' elsewhere.

The standard way to display a like is "Xyz, Abc and 23 others like this" and it is visible at the end of the post.

Andrew

The total posts for a thread are visible but not the #number of the post within the thread. This would allow reference to a particular post without yet another massive quote.

The fact is that the forum system has been developed significantly over the past few years. Many issues have been dealt with and I don't think there's much doubt that there are many actual improvements. I am a bit baffled why Engineers (thread members) are so reluctant to appreciate advances in such technology.

Andrew

Once again can I refer you to the other thread mentioned by others and myself.

If you actually go an look at the RCM&E site you will see that quoting will no longer be the "massive" whole post that many seem to leave when quoting but a much more condensed version with the option for the individual user to expand if they want to.

I also said it will be a lot easier to link back to a specific post not just a thread or thread page though at the moment RCM&E does not have specific post numbers in the usual #NN form though it may be possible to enable it here..

.

Sorry ... I obviously misinterpreted what you wrote

MichaelG.

I can think of many advances in technology, Andrew, that not just engineers but all kinds of people have been reluctant to appreciate.

Very often this has been due to the existence of certain undesirable aspects in the new technology or the way it has been applied, and arguably a sign of failure not in the advance's detractors but in the originators or proponents of it, who have evidently not very thoroughly considered how or why this particular advance might not meet with the level of acceptance they would wish for it.

Could you quote an example of exactly what you mean? How could it come about on ME No one is suggesting a string of emoji could possibly convey the sort of information that ME deals with.

How many threads per inch?

It just doesn't work.

I would love to read a serious objection to Likes that is based on actual experience of it being problematical on a specific (quoted) forum that is tech based. Evidence is always useful in an argument - not just prejudice. I am assuming that no one would quote a "Technician's" type thread. Plumbers and heating 'engineers' are far too free with rude comments to be counted as evidence, related to the hallowed halls of ME. Sport fora would also not count - and political fora.

Andrew

Edited By andrew lyner on 19/02/2021 20:11:57