We need to have a like button..

Jojo0529

Sometimes when reading the threads..accomplishments... worries..I wish there was a like button so the poster would know the post was viewed.

Icietla

Well, we all like good news. I think a "like button" to signify viewing would be a very bad idea for this website. Consider that much of the subject matter relates to suffering.

Jojo0529

possibly.. like.. concerned.. prayers.. something

ruthbru

You can go to the icons and give a thumbs up when it is appropriate

Jojo0529

Thanks Ruth did not notice it before

ruthbru

(their memes are limited, but some of them are good)

cliff

unfortunately, the smiley and thumbs up only work on your posts, they leave nothing on the post you like.

JACK5IE

I agree with adding 'likes' to the posts. There are so many that I read that make me smile, or sad or want to cheer without actually needing to comment on. Plus, since there is also not a quote feature (I think this would be good too) I think the 'like' button would be a good idea.

ksusan

I'd find a quote feature helpful, and prefer an affirmative comment to a "like" option.

JACK5IE

Bump.

MinusTwo

I agree with Ksusan, an affirmative comment would be much better. This has been discussed a lot on many forums, and the consensus is always NO - we don't want this forum to look or feel like Facebook. If I don't have the time or inclination to actually give someone a response, I just don't post. In my opinion "like" means absolutely nothing since we're not voting on hits.

JACK5IE

There are many times that I do not get a comment on a post. To me a 'like' (or whatever name you want to give it) would be an acknowledgement that at least someone read it.

I have been on quite a few forums over the years and the majority of them has this feature. This wouldn't be for a popularity contest. It would just let someone know they care.

Beesie

You can see how many people have read a post by checking the Forum's list of posts. Before my response, this thread had 12 posts and 143 views.

On the surface, I don't have a problem with a "like button" but I do think it will lead to undesirable behaviors. I've been on threads where members have offered conflicting advice, and I can see how people will start gauging which advice is "correct" based on the number of likes. People may call out to their PM friends to put a "Like" on their posts to up the numbers. You may think this is silly and childish and can't happen, but I've been here long enough to have seen stuff like this. Years ago, many people were banned from the board because others would gang up against them, often just because the individual dared to disagree with advice given. This led to the formation of cliques, and that did not end well.

I also think that a "Like" button might reduce the number of responses. Rather than post, "I agree with what JACK5IE suggested" and perhaps expand a bit on the point providing additional information, people may be inclined to simply click on the "Like" button.

I also suspect that the presence of a "Like" button will lead to other requests, such as "Agree" and "Disagree" buttons, or the "Love" button or some of the others that Facebook and other social media platforms have expanded to.

I doubt there is much consensus on this. I wonder if it would be possible to do a test, perhaps putting a "Like" button only in one or two forums, and then monitoring the behavior and the number of posts (to see if it reduces the response rate).

JACK5IE

That's how many people read a thread, not a particular post.

ETA...I find it shameful that there would be posters ganging up on each other and forming cliques on a breast cancer forum. That's just awful.

SummerAngel

I absolutely agree 100% with Bessie on this one. A "like" button would probably make me stop coming here altogether.

Hopeful82014

Chalk me up as another one who would avoid the site if a "Like" button were added. I didn't like the idea a couple of years ago (or so) when it was discussed and I don't like it any better now. I doubt anyone's mind has changed on the topic.

nopink2019

"Likes" are just a pain.

Beesie

JACK5IE, you're right. That is the number of views on the thread, not on the post. My mistake. So maybe that's something that could be added - a tally of the number of views for each post.

Just for history and as an FYI, the formation of cliques and the ganging up was partly what led to the proliferation of forums, as a way to keep people with different mindsets away from each other. For example, the creation of the Alternative and Complementary forums came out of these disputes, because often the disagreement would start when someone who favored alternative treatments would post in the forums where traditional treatments were being discussed. Even today we still see similar types of disputes flair up, but fortunately most of these situations fade away on their own and nothing gets out of hand the way it did the past.

NineTwelve

The fact that we can't "like" a post means that we have to make the effort to write something to make our opinion known. We have to check in with each other using our words. We have to address one another with our specific experiences and ideas. If you introduce the like button, you take away the requirement to create a response in real time in our own thoughts. You destroy the opportunity for connection, and you turn this into a low-interacting place.

Further, many of us have abandoned social media sites that provide upvoting and liking. It just got too hard on our self-esteem.

MinusTwo

As you can see, I haven't been here quite as long as Beesie, but long enough to remember the clicques and the bullying. I'm in agreement with what she's spelled out - no like button

JACK5IE

I don't see how a 'like' button would be hard on anyone's self esteem. Don't call it a like button then, call it a 'virtual hug' button. That would be a perfect button for this forum. Any forum that I've been on there are 'like' buttons and people still reply even if they 'like' something. It's a not a determent to posting, it's in addition to. And for those people that would normally not say anything (how many times has someone posted and say they normally just lurk) or not have anything to say, this would give them an option of replying without replying.

Okay, I'm done with this subject now.

MelissaDallas

This is supposed to be a science and medical related forum. “Likes” frankly, would be inane.I see all the time where people give medically incorrect or misleading responses. How do “likes” play into that? I came here because I wanted informed and researched responses to my questions about a rare medical condition. Many iof those uninformed responses would simplyhave been to just “cut them off.” How is “liking” helpful?

JACK5IE

I agree that breastcancer.org as a whole is very informative on what's new about the dreaded disease that we're all facing. But the community posts aren't all about research. Some people post to look for support from other people That's where a 'virtual hug' button would be very useful in my opinion. But don't worry, it won't happen. There are too many people here that refuse to see the benefit of a feature like this.

Maybe we should just get rid of the emoticons too then.

MinusTwo

As you might guess, I AM in favor of getting rid of the emoticons too. Although I'm sure you weren't serious.

MelissaDallas

Emoticons ate absolutely unnecessary. I want factual information. Have no need whatsoever for a “virtual hug.”

JACK5IE

Yikes.