We need to have a like button..

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

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

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.

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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