Would you be in favor or removing the like button for hangout?

[mellowyellowgirl]

I like the "Like" button! I don't see anything negative about it.

It's a quick way to say "ooh I enjoyed your comment".

I honestly don't know what the deal is against it.

It isn't and shouldn't be a measure of self esteem and people need to toughen up. We're adults for crying out loud. Why on earth would we place our value on a bunch of likes.

I love that PS is one of the most free and open places where people are generally super civilized. Yes there are tiffs but seriously you guys are the most civilized forum ever. Would be a shame to limit topics. I want PS exactly the way it is now and I hope it stays that way.

 

[JPie]

True. But so too can the post counts, prosumer designation, and member levels. Truth? I don't care about the like button. Keep it or get rid of it, makes no difference to me. What chafes me is when a few try to restrict what others either don't care about or what others like -- such as which topics are acceptable for discussion here and which aren't or what a dumb button means or doesn't mean.

I think a more sensible approach is what my wine forum does. Politics are strictly prohibited except in a designated sub-forum that you can opt into. Opting in means that you accept that none of the comments will be moderated, and acknowledge that you are entering the fray of your own volition.

On the occasions when the political dog fights spill into the other forums, violators are issued a single warning before being placed in time out.

The system has worked well for the most part, though the politics sub-forum still has its share of people going there to complain about how mean people are.

 

[Dancing Fire]

A quick Q...
If I'm on your "ignored list" can you still see the "likes" I gave you?

 

[Demon]

A quick Q...
If I'm on your "ignored list" can you still see the "likes" I gave you?

Don't know. I saw your 'like'. But you aren't on my ignore list, lol. Only one person is.

 

[Matata]

I think a more sensible approach is what my wine forum does

I like the approach that forum takes. But....didn't we have that before? I might be mistaken but I thought it was decided to merge the political forum into Hangouts. My preference is for all of us to, as you stated above, "acknowledge that you are entering the fray of your own volition" and take our lumps as they come rather than creating special sub forums. If we can't handle the heat....

 

[redwood66]

I guess I don't really care after reading everyone else's thoughts. PS can do whatever suits them best.

 

[JPie]

I like the approach that forum takes. But....didn't we have that before? I might be mistaken but I thought it was decided to merge the political forum into Hangouts. My preference is for all of us to, as you stated above, "acknowledge that you are entering the fray of your own volition" and take our lumps as they come rather than creating special sub forums. If we can't handle the heat....

I haven't been around here long enough to know! If the thread topic is overtly political, then yes, people need to learn to handle the heat if they insist on jumping into the fire. In cases where the thread topic isn't overtly political, like the memes one, then I can understand if people would prefer not to walk into it unwittingly.

 

[Dancing Fire]

The system has worked well for the most part, though the politics sub-forum still has its share of people going there to complain about how mean people are.

I have never complain about how mean the liberals are towards me. I am a big boy!!..

 

[Dancing Fire]

Don't know. I saw your 'like'. But you aren't on my ignore list, lol. Only one person is.

Thought I was... and who's that one person?..

 

[arkieb1]

Let's go back to pure PS -- eliminate all forums except for Rocky Talky, Show me the bling (pictures only allowed, no comments), Lab grown diamonds, Colored Stones. No discussion allowed except for Rocky Talky and Colored Stones and the discussion limited to evaluations of the gems. Strict adherence to policy. Immediate banning of anyone who breaks the parameters of discussion rule.

Then vendors wouldn't be able to attack us for posting pics of our cats....

My comments are sarcastically aimed at some recent vendors bitching about PSers not aimed at you!!!

 

[canuk-gal]

I like the “Like Button” it is the easiest way to conduct interaction here on PS without having to personally comment on posts. It is a powerful way to say I’ve read your posts and acknowledge your thoughts. IMHO I think were at a demographic where we should be too old to get butt hurt or play politics of the “Like Button”. I fully understand its implications trust me. I post on pretty niche interests like Jadeite, Cameos, CS Beaded Jewelry. Where I don’t necessarily get as much likes or comments as I would if I were to post pretty mainstream relatable stuff like diamonds or cut colored stone rings. But do I care obviously not otherwise I would have stopped posting if number of “Likes” was the measurement of my self esteem and worth in PS. In short I like it because I can acknowledge others’ posts, I can interact with others without an actual comment. The Like Button removes the redundancy of having to comment a similar comment or content. Whereas a like expresses we have similar views.

Many statements don't resonate. If there is nothing to gain, then why a "like" button. You care but you don't obviously care.

 

[Matata]

Then vendors wouldn't be able to attack us for posting pics of our cats...

BAHHAAAAHAAAA. Epic! You win the internet today. Between you and JPie, I've had to change my underwear twice this afternoon.

 

[canuk-gal]

True. But so too can the post counts, prosumer designation, and member levels. Truth? I don't care about the like button. Keep it or get rid of it, makes no difference to me. What chafes me is when a few try to restrict what others either don't care about or what others like -- such as which topics are acceptable for discussion here and which aren't or what a dumb button means or doesn't mean.

I hear you. Then we don't need any kind of likes or titles (prosumer, etc) or designations.

Ironically, the only forum that appears to have upheld to the "rules" (of no skanking down jewels) is in SMTB. Outside of the odd troll, replies to jewellery thread are civilized. Beautiful even. Why is it that rules are honored there yet move over one thread and you risk being cannabilized. Over "likes". Over anything.

 

[Jadeite_101]

Many statements don't resonate. If there is nothing to gain, then why a "like" button. You care but you don't obviously care.

I did not say there is nothing to gain. I just LISTED REASONS why I like it: it is the easiest way to conduct interaction here on PS without having to personally comment on posts. It is a powerful way to say I’ve read your posts and acknowledge your thoughts. I can acknowledge others’ posts, I can interact with others without an actual comment. The Like Button removes the redundancy of having to comment a similar comment or content. Whereas a like expresses we have similar views.

What I said was the we’re at an age where a Like should not reflect your self worth or esteem in PS.

My message is plain and simple. Not really hard to understand.

 

[Matata]

Why is it that rules are honored there yet move over one thread and you risk being cannabilized. Over "likes". Over anything.

Because humans are imperfect; because adulting is difficult; because oooohing and aaaahing at pretty things does not invoke the emotions that topics germane to quality of life and survival do (politics/religion et al). What some don't want to accept is that PS is as awesome and as ugly as life, as family, as other relationships. In past discussions about whether or not to retain politics (or insert hot button of your choice) as a topic, a lot of people said they come to PS to escape and want rainbows and unicorns not hot-button topics. That's why I said above that PS should return to its roots -- just pretty things, no discussion that could morph into anything not a unicorn or a rainbow. We all have a choice to participate or not; we all make a choice to get our knickers in a knot or move on.

 

[Niel]

A quick Q...
If I'm on your "ignored list" can you still see the "likes" I gave you?

yes I think so. There are people I ignore but then I’m told when they quote my things. I can’t see what they said tho

 

[GliderPoss]

I enjoy the like button as it's a quick way to acknowledge or agree with a post without having to always personally respond, @ the OP or quote the post which I think can clutter up long threads.

 

[Niel]

I enjoy the like button for some things but I agree it ruined some aspects of the threads. selfishly I enjoy seeing everyone be like “it’s soooo pretty” where now they’re inclined to just “like” my pics.
However, when I read a thread and there’s an ******* making some stupid comment and someone I enjoy is trying to make useful comments and be heard over the noise- I like to “like” (thus supporting) their comments.
Or I agree with the ******* and want to support that lol.

 

[canuk-gal]

Because humans are imperfect; because adulting is difficult; because oooohing and aaaahing at pretty things does not invoke the emotions that topics germane to quality of life and survival do (politics/religion et al). What some don't want to accept is that PS is as awesome and as ugly as life, as family, as other relationships. In past discussions about whether or not to retain politics (or insert hot button of your choice) as a topic, a lot of people said they come to PS to escape and want rainbows and unicorns not hot-button topics. That's why I said above that PS should return to its roots -- just pretty things, no discussion that could morph into anything not a unicorn or a rainbow. We all have a choice to participate or not; we all make a choice to get our knickers in a knot or move on.

I know you know it was a rhetorical question.

Show me a unicorn or a rainbow. Please. It is the only thing nonadult I would appreciate now.

 

[TooPatient]

Because humans are imperfect; because adulting is difficult; because oooohing and aaaahing at pretty things does not invoke the emotions that topics germane to quality of life and survival do (politics/religion et al). What some don't want to accept is that PS is as awesome and as ugly as life, as family, as other relationships. In past discussions about whether or not to retain politics (or insert hot button of your choice) as a topic, a lot of people said they come to PS to escape and want rainbows and unicorns not hot-button topics. That's why I said above that PS should return to its roots -- just pretty things, no discussion that could morph into anything not a unicorn or a rainbow. We all have a choice to participate or not; we all make a choice to get our knickers in a knot or move on.

It would be sad to see everything but jewelry banned here. Every topic can morph into unpleasant. Cats and dogs? What about when they get sick and some people approve of euthanasia and others don't? Kids? What about so many differences in opinion on how to raise them, what to feed them, etc?

I have very much enjoyed how things are here. The last few years have gotten tougher as politics have become so polarized. I don't want to read it all day. I don't open the threads on it and skip over replies on other threads that bring it up. It does get old, but I have been in super strictly moderated groups that keep it all unicorns and rainbows and they get frustrating and the people are very flat as you really can't get to know anyone.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I personally like the like button. I see it as an acknowledgement or that I truly like a post or a piece of jewelry. I don’t count up the likes - never really thought of it that way. I never really see this place as a competition of any kind. Perhaps I don’t put enough thought into it - lol!

 

[Matata]

@canuk-gal
I took this after a storm on the way to the eastern Oregon desert. Sorry about the electrical pole and lines.

 

[Demon]

Thought I was... and who's that one person?..

Lol. Let's just say a passive aggressive person that talks about you but not to you.

 

[Matata]

have very much enjoyed how things are here. The last few years have gotten tougher as politics have become so polarized. I don't want to read it all day. I don't open the threads on it and skip over replies on other threads that bring it up. It does get old, but I have been in super strictly moderated groups that keep it all unicorns and rainbows and they get frustrating and the people are very flat as you really can't get to know anyone.

I don't want to anything change either. I wanted to make the point that it's a slippery slope when we complain when politics and religion is discussed. Those who don't like those topics and want to see them gone likely haven't given any thought to all the other topics discussed here that others might not like and that are also fraught with emotion. Disease, loss of a spouse, divorce, failure to conceive etc. Not everyone wants to read about the pain of others. And that brings me back to my point -- if one doesn't like something, don't read it, don't participate and if one does and gets upset, that's on the individual and no one else.

I've been here a long time. When I joined and for a few years after, PS was small and confined to diamonds mostly and some jewelry. Over time, the members who were here from the beginning as well as newer ones lobbied to expand discussions beyond diamonds because they were getting burned out by the lack of variety. The liveliness of PS at that time was constricted by consumers. When people weren't interested in purchasing, this place could become a tomb.

So do we want variety in discussion and a lively evolving PS knowing that none of us will be pleased all the time, or, do we want to go back to the good old days when sometimes the only thing we'd hear was the sound of our breathing? If we keep fighting about the depth of sand in the sandbox, Andrey may decide to empty it. I hope it doesn't come to that.

 

[SandyinAnaheim]

Let's go back to pure PS -- eliminate all forums except for Rocky Talky, Show me the bling (pictures only allowed, no comments), Lab grown diamonds, Colored Stones. No discussion allowed except for Rocky Talky and Colored Stones and the discussion limited to evaluations of the gems. Strict adherence to policy. Immediate banning of anyone who breaks the parameters of discussion rule.

This sounds horrible. I would not be part of the sort of forum described above. I was not here in 2003 so I don't know what it was like then, but this description sounds dry and impersonal. Diamonds, jewelry and engagement rings are highly personal. I enjoy reading the stories and details of hunts, purchases, experiences and opinions, whether I agree or not. I think it expands my knowledge base without having to experience the same things.

I also enjoy the "like" button. With it I can judiciously express agreement with the statements posted or a like-minded attitude without having to take the time to post. I usually only post when I have something to say and am a bit irked by those that overpost....their statements become diluted and I find myself skipping over them to the next post. I find people with too much to say usually have very little of import to convey.

 

[MarionC]

I like the like button. Aside from it being the simplest form of applause for a beautiful piece of bling, I am using it to honor PSers who can still string together a coherent sentence.

 

[Phoenix]

I like it for normal times when I want to acknowledge what someone has said, but I can't respond in a timely manner. I like to let people know I've read what they've had to say.

+1

Also, there are posts that I really love/ like and I'd like express this using the "like" button.

 

[Dancing Fire]

We need a "dislike" button...

 

[Phoenix]

I like the "Like" button! I don't see anything negative about it.

It's a quick way to say "ooh I enjoyed your comment".

I honestly don't know what the deal is against it.

It isn't and shouldn't be a measure of self esteem and people need to toughen up. We're adults for crying out loud. Why on earth would we place our value on a bunch of likes.

I love that PS is one of the most free and open places where people are generally super civilized. Yes there are tiffs but seriously you guys are the most civilized forum ever. Would be a shame to limit topics. I want PS exactly the way it is now and I hope it stays that way.

+1

What she said.

 

[Phoenix]

I like the like button. Aside from it being the simplest form of applause for a beautiful piece of bling, I am using it to honor PSers who can still string together a coherent sentence.

+1