"Likes" Enhancement

[JEMC]

potato_hamster said:

JEMC said:

I remember when the VGChartz Buddy was implemented and many people were against it. Nowadays almost no one would like to see it go away. The same will probably happen with the likes button.

Anyway, I think that yes, the names of those who have liked a post need to be showed. Not only because it helps with transparency, but also because part of the reason behind the likes implementation is to avoid the "+1" or "agreed" comments that add nothing to the ongoing discussion.

There are people that feel the need to be present on certain threads/discussions even if they have nothing to add, so that +1 response is their way to get involved in it. With a likes button that shows their name, there's a chance that they may be happy with that and not make unnecessary comments.

As for the unlike button, I'm happy it's not going to happenas it would be abused as we've seen in the news articles. Plus, if you don't agree with what someone has said, it must be for a reason, so isn't it better to quote that user and write why you don't agree with him/her?

Why were people against the buddy? How can that potentially negatively impact any user's experience on this site? If it can't, then it makes no sense to compare it to the like system, does it?

As for putting the name on a like, if that happens, I can't wait to see users be told that they hold a certain opinion because they liked a comment or two.

I don't really remember why they were against it (I was a while ago, you know). Probably because people thought it was annoying. What I do remember is that we were promised an option to make it stick at the top of the page, something that, unless I'm mistaken, hasn't happened after all those years.

Also, I don't see how a like systen that is completely voluntary, can cause any negative impact. It's we, the users, that have the responsability to use it for good, for bad or not use it at all. Heck, in the days it's been implemented, I've only used three times, and two of them were in the thread were its implementation was announced. And I haven't seen many posts being liked, so I fail to see how it can be so bad.

As for using what we've liked against us... what can I say, that says a lot more about the users that try to use it this way, people that should be avoided and that won't last long in the site, than about the rest of us. After all, if I like a post it is because I find it funny, because I agree with what it says or because it helped me in any way. There's nothing to be ashamed for that.