Tech: I wish MC had a 'Like' button like FB has

Subject: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Jayto
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 02:29 PM

Looking through all the posts I can't help but wish MC could have a like option similar to what Facebook has. I read longer posts and some I really like what the person writes and just wish I could show it by clicking a Like button beside it. I know it may be way too much to ask for but I thought I would just suggest it if you start to consider any changes to the site. Other than that I love MC as usual. Thanks for all you have done.

[Thread was refreshed by a spam post, and not caught until several had replied to it. Be careful of dates!]

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 11:32 PM

In an adult community, if you like what someone says you just tell the person thank you. You can do that by posting a comment in a thread here.

With that method, you can also express what you like about something, so you have the opportunity to do much more than than "idiot click" anonymously.

The feature you're suggesting is actually quite present here, since the listing of threads shows how many posts have been made to a thread, which is at least as reliable an indication of how many people "like" the conversation there as the Facebook STUPIDLY-I-LIKE voting button. With some practice you can also "read" the number of posts to quite accurately assess which threads have gone "over the hill." Learning to do this allows identifying threads where you may find entertaining degenerate smart-a** comments, wise cracks, and facetious joviality, it that's what you "like."

Conversation is our "toy" here, and IMO we don't need any toy buttons.

If you're only interested in keeping track of what threads you're personally interested in, just click on the "trace" button to keep a list of them in you personal page.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Anne Lister
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 03:15 AM

Dear J-i-K
The "like" button on Facebook isn't anonymous and there's really no reason to assume that anyone who clicks on it is an idiot. How patronising of you! On FB too you can add a comment or amplify your "like" response if you want and there are many of us who are also Mudcatters who do both. There is also a lot of conversation on FB - ah, but maybe you don't know because you're not interested in FB? Which is fine and your choice entirely, but you certainly don't need to be silly about it. I have read less and had far, far less "flaming" on FB (in fact, I haven't had any at all) than I have had on Mudcat. Guess which one I prefer?
In an adult community, you don't need to pour scorn on something just because you don't agree with the poster.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Bernard
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 06:20 AM

I think the real reason why you don't get flamers on Facebook is that only your 'friends' can comment/like your posts. A flamer could simply be dropped as a 'friend', or you could simply delete their comments from your thread.

I've yet to see someone's profile on Mudcat hijacked by a hacker, though it is fairly common on Facebook. I haven't been hijacked, but have received false messages appearing to be from those who have been - which contain links to the hacker's payload.

A 'like' button is, I feel, superfluous for the reason John gave in his opening sentence.

A disadvantage with Facebook is the way current threads drop off the bottom and you can only find them if you know whose 'wall' they were originally posted on. After a while they disappear completely.

Here on Mudcat, threads from over ten years ago can be revived if the content seems relevant, but more often because the 'reviving poster' simply didn't notice the date on the opening post!

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 09:42 AM

If we got a 'Like' button, then we should also get a 'Dislike' button.
Seems only fair to me!

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: frogprince
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 10:41 AM

Better yet, a little row of buttons so you can rate like-dislike on a scale of 1 to 10. : )

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Bernard
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 11:48 AM

Or they could be diatonic... push one way and you 'like', the other way and you 'dislike'...!

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 01:24 PM

Like Anglo German as opposed to English, buttons?

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Jayto
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 01:47 PM

I respect everyones opinion just making a suggestion. Too bad some of you can go to hell though for your way of saying it. HEY!!! There is a suggestion why don't we put an "A&&hole" button beside each one. I just realized one of the reasons I was off of MC for a while. Folk music doesn't run crowds off. It is some of the people that do. Well like it or not I am here and volunteer to have the very first A&&hole button put by my posts so you can wear it out. So sit back and gripe and hate and strain your brain for some smart remark to post back. I am sure you will stun me with your wit someday but today is not the day.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 01:50 PM

Who needs buttons... just type 'LIKE' or 'DISLIKE' or whatever you want to type... maybe even a reply to the topic eh????

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Jayto
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 01:54 PM

It was something several people had said they wish MC had. I tell people about the site all the time. I had several people approach me that were new and said they wish MC had it. Holy Hell it was just a suggestion anyway.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 01:56 PM

LIKE

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 02:10 PM

Hey there, Jayto. I always enjoy your posts. It's good to keep ideas flowing here; thanks for stirring up some alternate perspectives.

Keep that music coming, too!

maeve

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Jayto
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 02:15 PM

Thanks Maeve. Two things about me you have probably learned by now. First I always have ideas, suggestions, and opinions. Second I am not shy about voicing them haha.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: frogprince
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 02:56 PM

Jayto, apologies if I came across as seriously dismissive/disrepectful. For myself, I look into facebook fairly regularly for glimpses of what a number of younger family members are up to. But I find constant "Elmer likes Wilma's status" notes, often can't tell what they refer to, and generally just find it a minor annoyance. I also see that a bunch of those kin are into a bunch of games tied in with the site, and when I looked into any of those, it immediately said you had to agree to let your personal information be used to get into it, which turned me off cold. So I haven't been wishing for MC to become more like FB.

It's not that rare for some members here to "spat" for a bit, and then sort out what was a minor misunderstanding. A "dislike-button" response could be a lot less constructive than "I disagree because..."

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: GUEST,Jayto
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 03:06 PM

Haha I agree :) no harm. I have been in plenty of misunderstandings on here and other sites before. That is one bad part about threads,texts,IM's and anything else that is written out. It is hard to tell sometimes exactley how someone may mean something. Especially if you read it in a defensive or grumpy mood haha. I have to admit my guilt on the grumpy mood today. So I am just as much at fault as anyone else and apologize if I overreacted and was too harsh in my response. Thanks Frogprince I appreciate it. I like MC how it is and really don't want it to bc FB. I just thought it might be a way to show you like or appreciate something without making the thread 300 entries long. I used to have a slower computer and would not click anything that had a bunch of comments bc it took a long time to pull them up. Luckily now I don't have that problem but I am sure there are some that do. I just thought if you wanted to show you liked it or supported them you could without having a massive thread. Anyway it is just a suggestion. I like MC how it is and if it never changes that is fine with me. Sometimes a person has a good idea that everyone is thrilled about and sometimes you have and idea that makes people want to string you up haha. Thanks again

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Jayto
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 03:16 PM

Oh yeah JohninKansas "In an adult community" you respond in an adult manner. You don't see how rude you can be to someone that merely has a suggestion.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Simon G
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 03:31 PM

I'm with Jayto, and would fully support a like button here, it could be a thrilled button, or whatever label you want to put on it. The like button is very powerful on facebook and the fact people have pushed has led to me discovering some wonderful thing I would never of spotted in a month of Sundays.

I new JohninKansas was pedantic but I didn't realise he was a fully signed up member of the grumpy old men club. As one facebook simply isn't for him and never will be.

Mudcat shouldn't try to ape facebook, but the like button I like, so I'm clicking the virtual like button next to Jayto's post.

Simon

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 03:46 PM

I wish it had an attack button like facebook...

No I mean attach.. yeah attach... that's what I mean.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: GUEST,Jayto
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 06:24 PM

Haha VirginiaTam I think you may have had a Freudian slip typo there hahah but I liked it. Thanks Simon I appreciate it. I am virtually hitting the like button on your post as well :)
Jayto

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 03:48 AM

May I offer, that I do not think John in Kansas comment about idiot clicking was intended as disharmoniously as it has been interpreted.

In my experience, JiK's posts elsewhere have been thoughtful, helpful and completely devoid of judgement. I can understand where he is coming from, in that a hurry up culture has adversely affected language and communication between people.

Is he really being pedantic or are we becoming too lazy / impatient to read through and thoughtfully reply to what we read?

BTW I like the Conversation is our TOY concept.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 03:12 AM

Is this one of the "adult communities" being alluded to? Ooh, sounds kinda sexy.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 03:22 AM

hmmmm well Mudcat has matched up some of its members. JacquiC and Kendall.

Maybe we need the _________ is in a relationship with_______ button.

Just so no flirting goes on with already mated mudcatters.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: GUEST,Jayto
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 12:45 PM

Or a ________ is just hooking up with _________. haha Now we are cooking. We could keep this going for a while lol. ________ thinks ________ is a really horrible singer. ____________ owes __________ money. That kind of thing lol jk. Glad this thread is turning more humorous. I am needing some laughs right now.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 03:35 PM

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Bernard - PM
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 11:48 AM

Or they could be diatonic... push one way and you 'like', the other way and you 'dislike'...!


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Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: John MacKenzie - PM
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 01:24 PM

Like Anglo German as opposed to English, buttons?


A witty exchange, maybe over the head of some, but worthy of a *L I K E*

I, too, was a little surprised by JiK's reply, very unlike his usual supremely well thought out and well expressed posts, but as an inveterate foot-in-mouth poster myself, I am well aware how a well- intentioned post can be misinterpreted ...

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Artful Codger
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 12:59 AM

A strength of Mudcat is that it's focused on sharing real information. That information doesn't need to be rated; it speaks for itself, and quickly here one figures out whom it's worth paying attention to.

Also, I believe people should be encouraged to read the entirety of a thread, not just selected posts. Already folks have the inconsiderate habit of only spot-reading threads, and so they post or ask for information which has been given previously (usually more correctly and completely) and just waste other people's time.

"Like" voting is most used by the least experienced, in judgment, knowledge or breadth of interests. It's very much like "reality TV" voting--the least qualified to judge cast the most votes--often for inappropriate reasons--and populism triumphs over worth. There are already unfortunate biases in the reading here that voting, rather than balancing, would exacerbate.

If implemented, voting should be limited to registered users, to minimize abuse by spammers. Of course, it would still be abused by certain shameless self-promoters we could mention.

But how about leaving Mudcat a place where folks are still encouraged to read, listen and judge for themselves?

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Bernard
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 07:46 PM

Hear, hear!

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: frogprince
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 08:28 PM

"Anglo German as opposed to English, buttons?"

Now why am I getting flashbacks to the time I went to that concert with Tina?

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Simon G
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 09:14 PM

There are many good aspects of the mudcat forum and it is at its best when it is dealing with factual information.

It does tend to operate like a gentleman's club in 1920s London and is a very unwelcoming place for newcomers. The assumption of Artful Codger that every one should expert and diligent enough to have dug the information out before taking the inconsiderate step of asking for something that is already available is one of the prevalent attitude which scares newcomers off in droves. I certainly know more people who have been scared off than stayed around, some now browsers only.

Mudcat isn't straightforward to use but it does reward the person who put the effort in to learn its idiosyncratic ways. If we want new faces at mudcat.org then it needs to encourage a more approachable attitude, to help people over the doorstep.

To portray the like button as simply a voting mechanism on facebook is to miss the point entirely. It is used that way in some cases, but this wouldn't apply on mudcat as there isn't enough traffic to make voting work. It is a mechanism which gives people another way of traversing the information by following friends like links, and it does give a voice to those people who can't muster a post, an insipid voice, but still a voice.

Nobody is looking for a "reality TV" function and a like button would simply not work that way.

Maybe a like button isn't the way to go, but something needs to be done to make mudcat less exclusive. I've missed many wonderful posts because a thread got bogged down in an arguement between the bigots in the corner and I wasn't prepared to wade through the vitriolic rubbish to find the nuggets. A like button just might let me find some of those and stand of the shoulders of people who did the wading already.

Anything that tones down the "gentleman's club" of mudcat without changing its character would be an asset to the forum

Simon

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Gurney
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 02:41 AM

I don't see a problem with Mudcat the way it is, but when I first came here some years ago, a couple of times I did get a little excited about the way others treated my comments.

Later, I realised that what we do is have a conversation without vocal tone or facial expression, and to do that, you have to write clearly.

Since language is half of our 'thing,' the other half being music, I don't personally see it as a problem to have to express myself that way.
I now know, as I didn't when I first came, that just because my IDEAS were attacked, this was not a personal attack.

As for JohnInKansas, you will find he is about the most helpful person on the site, and has experience in a huge range of subjects. His opinions are backed up by a serious case of 'smarts.'

Just because (for instance)Bobert and Gnu and LittleHawk pull one-another's leg, it isn't vitriol, but mates teasing each other.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: GUEST,999
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 09:12 PM

"As for JohnInKansas, you will find he is about the most helpful person on the site, and has experience in a huge range of subjects. His opinions are backed up by a serious case of 'smarts.'"

Ditto that, Gurney. The guy is great.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a Like button like FB has
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 01:02 AM

lol I was getting exercised by this subject and was mentally preparing a scathing riposte before I noticed that the thread was almost two years old. :)

Thanks, 9. I agree with you. JiK keeps surprising me with his wide range of reasoned responses.

[Thread was refreshed by a spam post, and not caught until several had replied to it. Be careful of dates!]

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a 'Like' button like FB has
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 10:30 AM

What I would "like" is an indication of how many people had browsed a thread, in addition to those who comment. That's a common feature on other forums that I frequent and provides an additional measure of general interest in a thread.

Of course that could mean the "The Mother of All Threads" totaled billions of hits.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a 'Like' button like FB has
From: GUEST,999
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 10:44 AM

From what I know of Facebook, the 'like' button is for people who want to be seen as nice but really can't be arsed to actually say anything.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a 'Like' button like FB has
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 10:56 AM

Contrary to your belief, I think the MOAB is so unwieldy that it scares off readers. Especially if they click on the name and let the whole thing load.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a 'Like' button like FB has
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 07:36 PM

Many's the time I've seen someone go over the top with anger and abuse, and I've wished there was a simple way to register my disapproval without refreshing the thread.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a 'Like' button like FB has
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 08:58 PM

Also, at another web site (neither Mudcat nor Facebook) I posted a message and got over 200 "likes." It feels very good to know that 200 people liked what I had to say, but I'm glad the thread was not cluttered up with 200 messages from people who had nothing more to say than that they liked my message.

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a 'Like' button like FB has
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 10:25 PM

From what I know of Facebook, the 'like' button is for people who want to be seen as nice but really can't be arsed to actually say anything.

What I find really interesting about the daily "Like" reports is how diverse the Likers are, and that they usually do not all know one another. I've also been surprised at who is actually following my posts there enough to have a clue about me, and who therefore I might like to know better IRL.

Work-wise, it's also helpful to know who is attracted to what, and how they respond, "Likes" included. It's just more info, that one can think about... or not. [shrug]

I just met a couple of FB-only "friends" in an online classroom. FB was a good pre-pre-intro medium while members all waited for the class's start date. As an experienced group facilitator (now just a class member), I thought it seemed to support the formation of the group pretty well.

~S~

Subject: RE: Tech: I wish MC had a 'Like' button like FB has
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 07:38 AM

;~)