What about a "like" button on the forum?

"Like" is a quick form of feedback and very popular on many fora. How easy would it be to achieve it - if the MODS decide it's a good idea?

Has been mentioned in this thread...

Leave the forum as it is. A plain and simple way of exchanging information.

Like buttons just encourage populist opinion.

regards Martin

Do you use any other fora frequently? I use the excellent PhysicForums and most of the discussions are at a very high technical level with contributions from many professional Physicists and Engineers. Definitely not "populist". I also spent years on the Westerly Owners Association Forum. Both those fora had a like facility and I can't say it was anything other than useful to discussions. There are, of course, many (the majority of) fora that are simply dreadful, with or without a few bells and whistles.

To be honest, the quality of this forum interface is nothing like as good as the quality of the information that's exchanged and he level of knowledge of members. Would the membership change if the site were improved?

On a similar topic, It's amazing to see the reaction of some people against the Zoom / Webex etc. culture. My French and Astronomy groups all learned to use it and we have all felt the benefit in these dark times. Don't we need to move on, sometimes?

Andrew

What sort of reaction do you have in mind, Andrew?

Personally, I've nothing against the culture itself, but the first-named company [and, some suggest, the second] has been complicit in serious human rights violations, particularly against Chinese citizens and other people of Chinese ethnicity overseas.

Looking at the bigger picture, i.e. the majority of Zoom users, it's fairly safe to say that a belief that content transmitted by these two companies will have any meaningful encryption is ill-founded.

Edited By DiogenesII on 19/02/2021 07:50:40

Edited By Steve Neighbour on 19/02/2021 07:54:20

When the forum software is upgraded to Invision in a few weeks time we shall see if a 'like' system is in place.

See this recent lengthy thread.

John

Edited By Journeyman on 19/02/2021 08:31:13

I'm a regular on a sea fishing forum that's been ''updated'' recently with the result it's lost it's character and general ambience. This forum works for me , the quality of posts and the feedback given is generally very good . Like a lot of my tools it's a bit outdated but theres many a safe journey made on an old bike.

That post rather makes my point. How much more trouble did you go to, to register a non-specific approval, compared with a simple button press?

No one is forced to make use of new fangled bolt-ons (as with lathe fitments and CNC (???)) but they are appreciated by some of us.

I realise that the chill wind of change makes all of us shudder at times.

Rest assured that should a "like" button be introduced I wouldn't click it on any of your posts.

Andrew

In the interests of diversity yar if we have a like button we should also have an idiot button for when we don't like.

I agree with Andrew Johnston.

Andrew.

Can I suggest that people follow the two links in this thread to the other thread about forum updates and then follow one of several link to the RCM&E site and see what has been implemented there. I will say that having the facility is optional and can be turned off in the powers that be if they see fit.

You can like or disliike this post as you wish

I don't want to get into the politics of the situation. That's almost certainly against Forum policy and we could find ourselves banned. Just using the technology that gives us this forum takes us into the same sort of territory.

My question was a general one about using new available technology. I am reasonably elderly and a lot of the people I meet in the pursuit of my hobbies, are even older. I notice a strong reluctance to take up 'new' facilities. I am a member of U3A and I've actually been impressed by the large number of 'really old' members who have embraced the new media. Initially getting through the front door of Zoom is daunting but they arrive at meetings.

I have looked at the thread about changing the forum and I see an amazing reluctance of members to it. So it's not too surprising that "like" is viewed with suspicion. But what a shame. I seriously can't imagine ME ever getting too populist. It's so 'deadly boring' - unless you are into it and then it is one of the best things since sliced bread.

I remember, perhaps forty years ago, at a Computer Fair in Brighton, hearing a guy 'explaining things' to his wife. He told her that a computer mouse was pointless and that he could do everything he wanted to with the cursor keys. I wonder if he ever got round to using a mouse.

PS How relevant to our lives is the encryption that's available on social media? Important transactions are pretty secure when we talk to the bank. It's quite simple to communicate with people with very high levels of encryption, if we are prepared to use appropriate private encryption systems. Does anyone really care about our WhatsApp threads being snooped on?

It's one of those things which can be abused and become pointless

Many forums limit the number of "likes" to 3 or 5 a day max

Personally speaking I don't care for it

Definitely don't like. - keep it simple - no complications

Perhaps there should be a vote on a like button, Like or do not Like. Just saying.

Alan

Occasionally I see a post and think "Oh, I like / agree with that" and if there was a "Like" button would probably press it. But unless it was an earth-shattering pronouncement, the feeling soon passes and what real benefit would it be to the original poster (or myself) to know that we agree with each other? If it's something that actually needs to be commented upon one way or the other, then I think it only polite to take the time and effort to actually write something. Even if it's just "+1 on what xxxxx said!"

And all the above goes for "Dislike" as well but in reverse.

Rob