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.

It's pretty different. The antagonistic posts you make could be moderated but users of the liked posts DON'T have to be moderated ... 

In a way, the like system itself can be used as a tool for proxy trolling/flaming and I don't think you understand the intentions behind the users liking the posts either (such as promoting rancid behaviour) so keeping the users who liked the popular/unpopular posts in anonymity protects them from potential harassment in the future ... 

A like system changes the social order along these boards but making it transparent makes it a far more powerful tool ostracizing other unpopular groups or users ... 

Posters like VGP will actually try to hunt me down by baiting me cause I hold an unpopular view (even though an expert evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins agrees with me) that he is outraged with but a transparent like system makes it far easier for other people to keep track of me for my other views about the subject that they don't agree with ... 

This logic only applies to dislikes.

But how is a like going to start a war on the forum???

If I like what you say and you know I do, what are you going to do? Attack me? Cause, how dare I like what you said?

well if for example i like a negative comment on the sony forums its basically a dislike.

make more sense ?

But any like that you do will be a dislike of someone else that holds an opposite opinion to the post you liked. By that logic then there should be no liking button at all.

Also like I said to someone else, how is that any different than you writing in a post your negative opinion of Sony? If you want to let us know you hate Sony you'll write it in a comment and now with the new system you can simply like someone else who wrote it. What is the difference? How is that a different problem?

I agree it says a lot about the users that will try and use it this way. Unfortunately, based on my past experience with the userbase of this site, and with the direction it appears the mods want to take this site, I highly doubt that behavior will be discouraged or that the people that will employ such tactics will be moderated for it.

Sometimes I like posts I wholeheartedly disagree with because the argument is well reasoned and well supported. How does one draw that conclusion from seeing my name next to a post I liked?

But you say it yourself. VGP (whoever that is) can hunt you down by baiting you cause you hold an unpopular view. But correct me if I'm wrong but that unpopular view, you must have expressed it with a POST in which you have written said unpopular view right? So you are hunted down by that person for something you have written and I assume you don't mind since you have written that unpopular opinion somewhere. So again I don't see the difference between you being hunted down cause you WROTE an unpopular opinion compared to you being hunted down cause you like someone else's unpopular opinion.

If someone wants to hunt me down or bait me cause I love Einstein, I don't care that he/she hates me cause I WROTE a post where I say I love Einstein or cause I liked someone else's post saying he/she loves Einstein.

In this example you don't mind writing that you love Einstein and being hunted down for that but you mind "Liking" someone else's post that says they love Einstein and liking that post in your opinion will cause you more problems than you writing yourself a post where you put in full words that you love Einstein...

Ultimately the solution to this problem is rather simple. If you really feel that liking someone's post could bring trouble for you, don't like any posts and you'll be ok. Me personally I like Einstein and I also like Richard Dawkins, I love how he kicks religion's ass and I'm not afraid to say it or to LIKE the post of someone else that would say it. And if someone later on wants to try and hold against me the fact that I liked such a post, I'll simply double down and reply: Sure I loved that post you mentioned cause I do love Einstein and Dawkins, did you think I was going to recant just because you don't like me liking Einstein and Dawkins?

But that's just me. Like I said, feel free to never touch the "Like" button and you'll be ok.

He has every post you made saved in a sheet for quick reference so he doesnt need the like system

So in summary, people who want to be dicks should be protected by the system, because otherwise they could get called out for being dicks with evidence.

By the way, what exactly does Richard Dawkins agree with you on?

If you're that affraid of what others will think, you can still like the post and then quote it and explain that, while you don't agree with his/her opinions, at least you understand why he/she thinks that way... and then share your own ideas, thus leading to more and better discussions.

As for people misbehaving and using the likes to attack someone. First you (or well, "we" as a whole) should be more proactive and report those wrong doers so mods can do their job. Sometimes mods don't do anything because they arrive late as no one has warned them about what was happening before. Give them the benefit of doubt there's always time to complain later.

But as I've already told you, Anonymity also allows for the highest degree of dishonesty. That is also self evident. They can pretend to have any opinion, thoughts, feelings, say whatever they want, act in whatever way they want, and face literally no consequences for it. It can be completely dishonest to express an opinion you actually don't have to hurt someone else, and it also means that mobs can form and actions can be made more extreme because of anonymity. Look at 4Chan. Look at trolling in general. Look at how many anonymous threats internet users get. This happens because these users are anonymous and because there will be no consequences for their actions. Sure anonymity allows for absolute honesty, but it also allows for absolute toxicity. It's very much a double edged sword.

Just take this site here. Imagine every user had to use their real name on their user accounts. Just imagine how many less moderations would be made in the run of a day But since we do use user names, you're already anonymous, therefore whether you know the usernames of those who like posts is completely irrelevant. It's not like a user liking a post automatically means that they agree with the opinions expressed within that post anyways, so why does it matter to you if the usernames are displayed with the likes?