[AngelWolf3]

I have noticed Like/share buttons on the side of the posts of people, is this going to be on all posts??!?!?!!! I don't want to freak out but I am freaking out. Some answers PLEASE!~

[DocJohn]

Likes = something you like (as on Facebook)

Share = disabled for now

[pegasus]

How cool!

[AngelWolf3]

thank you for the quick reply! Much appreciated!

[pegasus]

And there be a love heart in the right hand corner!

I don't know if I like it. People who don't get any "likes" are going to feel out of place and feel as though no one likes them even though that's not true. I'm not the "hugger" and "liker" type of person, and I feel it's turning our thread and posts in to a popularity contest. It's one of the reasons I avoid Facebook.

[AngelWolf3]

Originally Posted by Maranara

I don't know if I like it. People who don't get any "likes" are going to feel out of place and feel as though no one likes them even though that's not true.

I had kind of thought of this too...but was a bit nervous to say anything...

[DocJohn]

It's not meant to say someone likes a specific person... it's meant to acknowledge agreement or liking with someone's thoughts, feelings or post.

Just like on Facebook. Which has like a billion users... so they must be doing something right!

We'll try this out for a week and see how things are going after that time. We don't add too many new features in our community, and this is the first one we've added in a long time, so let's give it a chance...

DocJohn

Okay....but it's one of the reasons I don't belong to Facebook....

[beauflow]

More buttons to push..... I'm a button pusher indeed

But I do get sad sometimes when I see no hug or thanks with some of my posts....but I remember, sometimes words written have those same effects and just because there aren't those buttons pushed by others doesn't have any weight to my worth or that I should being dismissing my pain either.

don't know if that helps at all Maranara

[ZilchHour]

I think the 'Thanks' button is just doing fine since people thank someone's post when they actually like it. Personally, 'thanks' means more to me rather than this new 'Like' button which is just a Facebook phenomenon. Just putting my two cents in!

[unaluna]

I like the like. A lol button could be harsh but like says about the same thing. It's a little different than thanks. But I like the idea of trying it for a week.

[tooski]

I like the general idea of the Like button, but I dislike *intensely* where it is placed - between the message and the signature. Seriously, yuk. It almost becomes a part of the message. Way way too visible. And that puts the names of people who are heavy users of these buttons right into the post itself....over and over and over again. I'm sorry, but it's really distracting to me.

Can't it go at the bottom where the hugs and thanks go? That way people reading can look there if they're interested in who is giving opinions on a post, and ignore it they're not interested.

Sorry to be so blunt, but I'm finding this really really irritating.

[H3rmit]

DocJohn>Just like on Facebook. Which has like a billion users... so they must be doing something right!

I strongly disagree with this logic that popular=good or popular=money=good. More like popular=stupid=bad.

I hate likes.

Edit: and I just noticed the likes total at the top of the post page, which then drops down to a list of people who got how many likes. Another popularity notice. Tiresome and typical of the insidious hyper-socially-obsessed net nowadays.

[happiedasiy]

What are these permalinks, and what do they do?
I do not think this place where popularity should be of value and shown
under persons name. It can discourage people from engaging.
If it must stay, maybe place it under notifications option, where it is up to individual to see or not.
Sincerely
Happiedasiy
Can we remove them?

I like the idea of giving it a try for a week I see no harm in that

Wouldn't mind a dislike button or a boo button

[-jimi-]

There is a reason I'm here. It is because I DON'T want to be on Facebook.......

And I agree with Hermit.

[Ultra Darkness]

I am not touching that button!
My thoughts when I got on today: What is that, and where did it come from?

How about a dislike button? How about a "bird" button?

I hate facebook...I don't want to "like" things unless I can dislike them, too..and obviously THAT won't work.

Isn't thanks and hugs enough?? I mean, thanks means (to me), "I liked what you had to say, it added something to this post. And you rock."

That Boo button might work, thanks Buttercup.

Whoa, it took me forever to find it...I think the Like link (it's not really a button) is trying to leave...maybe the Thanks and Hugs buttons can escort it out.

I'm so glad so many support my opinion. I got paranoid after writing it this morning that everyone else would feel differently and let me know....

[Travelinglady]

I admit right off the bat that I am not a very happy person right now anyway. I was appalled when I first saw that "like/share" thing. Yes, it might possibly be appropriate in a few places on PC, but in general, I strongly agree with this idea. We are not facebook, nor should we try to be. I'm not even happy about "trying" it for a week.

If I like something, as someone else said, I will click the "thanks." We are dealing with people here with serious issues, and some of us are in the middle of dealing with our own, and we have enough to worry about without having to be concerned with whether someone "likes" our "thoughts, feelings," etc. If that's not being personal, then I don't know what is.

Why do we have to try something new? If it ain't broke, then it doesn't need fixing.

[Open Eyes]

When I post I like the thanks because it lets me know the OP read whatever support I could give them.

I have to agree with the others here that want to make sure that this site is not any kind of "popularity" contest. The "likes and dislikes" that are found on facebook or even in the comments on articles presented by Yahoo, that is something very different than what PC is meant to be, at least what I thought the purpose for PC was. And it certainly isn't a contest on "who has the best post" for someone who is struggling and asking a question either. And it isn't a "voting" site either, which adding up "likes" can seem to mean to some.

Members have a hard time just trying to make sure that new members who start a thread get some kind of support, never mind adding up how many likes might come from an effort to "try" to be supportive.

Dont forget that often members who "try to be supportive" and find the courage to post to someone, well, that can be a "big step" for someone, so we absolutely don't want to make anyone feel "judged" somehow for whatever effort they may be able to muster up.

IMO, in a site with many that can be in a "delicate" state of mind, alot of thought has to go into adding anything that could possibly cause any kind of "hurt". While it is nice for someone to see some likes, because it "can" give confidence, the fact that it can also lead to someone feeling like they are unliked or unworthy somehow, well that is more than enough reason to not allow that to happen.

Simple is better, especially for someone who might be really struggling. I have been there myself and the hugs were helpful to me because I sure wasn't getting that elsewhere at the time.

Open Eyes

[IowaFarmGal]

I think the thanks and hugs buttons are more expressive than the like button. I've often wished I had them when I was on facebook. I think not receiving any of them could lead to hurt feelings though.

[Travelinglady]

I am hearing from some newbies that they are "scared" about posting. It's not going to help them either when they feel like what they post is going to be judged with a "like" button.