Is the implementation of a 'like' system beneficial of detrimental?

[potato_hamster]

BraLoD said:

potato_hamster said:

Any "like" button will equally be abused. All it does is help turn discussions into popularity contests where people where foolishly argue that their posts are more valid than the person they're arguing against because their posts have more likes.

The only thing it's going to lead to is more divided message boards.

Abusing the like button should make no difference unless we have any kind of meassure contest provided by the site, which it does not.

At least some people can get a bit happier their posts are being liked I guess, though the good ol' quote to answer it is the best anyway.

It's a system to give validation to posts, and a lack of likes can become just as powerful as a dislike button. "How can you possibly say that Nintendo doesn't only make games for children, look at this post with 46 likes on it! You're obviously wrong". "The objective, verifiable fact is wrong. If it was right, your post would have likes".

I guarantee you there's people on this board that think this way.

"Like" systems literally add nothing to the conversation. In fact, they discourage conversation. This is a step backward.