Author Topic: Likes Dislikes? (Read 5888 times)

Matthew · « **Reply #15 on:** April 18, 2011, 11:23:23 PM »

No offense, but your logic is flawed.

Applause should be reflective of merit.
On occasion, applause isn't given when merited.
Applause is absolutely meaningless.

I think the conclusion SHOULD be:

Applause isn't always paired with merit.

If you're hanging around with a group of teenagers, you can be pretty sure that when they applaud something, it's probably a bad thing, and vice versa.

However, among polite society (Catholics, mature adults, etc.) generally speaking AS A RULE good men will tend to applaud that which is good, and castigate that which is bad.

There are exceptions to the rule, but as we say every other day here on CathInfo, "exceptions don't invalidate the rule".

Matthew · « **Reply #16 on:** April 18, 2011, 11:28:46 PM »

Quote from: jllsjlls

I couldn't agree more. The idea of a Catholic caring about what others think or may think about them or being concerned for his/her reputation seems pretty ridiculous to me.

We shouldn't be slaves to human respect, but we also should be polite as befits Catholics who are temples of the Holy Ghost.

For example, it is becoming to bathe, wear deodorant (preferably a non-toxic variety like baking soda), and pass gas when people aren't around.

It is not praiseworthy to "not care at all what people think" as an excuse for rude, boorish, or crude behavior.

Just want to point out that you can go too far in rejecting "human respect" too completely.

And yes, the famous saint who had lice, etc. is one of those "not to be imitated" aspects in the life of a holy man.

Caminus · « **Reply #17 on:** April 18, 2011, 11:36:54 PM »

Quote

Most people here are mature enough to know not to turn it into a popularity contest.

:roll-laugh1:

Jitpring · « **Reply #18 on:** April 18, 2011, 11:42:30 PM »

You mischaracterized my logic, Matthew. But so be it. You're committed to this acclaim thing. Fine. It's your site.

I much appreciate the site, by the way, and will soon get you some amazon credit.

Catholic Samurai · « **Reply #19 on:** April 19, 2011, 11:51:52 AM »

Quote from: Matthew

And yes, the famous saint who had lice, etc. is one of those "not to be imitated" aspects in the life of a holy man.

:tv-disturbed:

Matthew · « **Reply #20 on:** April 19, 2011, 02:43:27 PM »

By the way, I have no plans to disable the Like/Dislike feature in the Library subforum, either.

The posts might be locked to prevent discussion, but if someone were to be glad that someone posted a useful docuмent -- they might just give a thumbs-up.

Today someone posted something in the Library and he's received 3 "Likes" so far.

Just a thought for your consideration.

stevusmagnus · « **Reply #21 on:** April 19, 2011, 05:12:30 PM »

65% of my thumbs down are from 3 people!

PartyIsOver221 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 19, 2011, 05:29:59 PM »

The smoke of the evil one has entered the sanctuary that is Cathinfo......

:shocked:

MyrnaM · « **Reply #23 on:** April 20, 2011, 07:40:43 PM »

Quote from: stevusmagnus

65% of my thumbs down are from 3 people!

I might have given you one or two, not even sure of that, I wish I kept a tally.

I know I haven't given out that many thumbs down to anyone. Usually when I read something that I can't agree with, my mind gets busy thinking of words to refute them. Sometime I wish I went to College so I could think better. lol! :idea:

I seem to forget about the thumbs down.

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #24 on:** April 20, 2011, 08:12:52 PM »

Quote from: PartyIsOver221

The smoke of the evil one has entered the sanctuary that is Cathinfo......

:shocked:

What's the basis for this crazy statement? (Unless you're joking.)

PartyIsOver221 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 20, 2011, 08:15:19 PM »

Quote from: SpiritusSanctus

Quote from: PartyIsOver221
The smoke of the evil one has entered the sanctuary that is Cathinfo......

:shocked:

What's the basis for this crazy statement? (Unless you're joking.)

Whats so crazy, SS? Don't get me wrong, on some level I do think its cool having thumb up thumb down, but in reality its just paving the way for vanity and popularity contests...yet that wasn't the intent of it all , was it?

The obvious allusion of my post was to how VatII "opened the window" .

Thumb down me all you want, doesn't hurt . Opinions of men mean not much to me. :)

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #26 on:** April 20, 2011, 08:21:34 PM »

I actually haven't thumbed you down that much since the feature was added. I just thought it was ridiculous to say the smoke of the evil one has entered CatholicInfo. Not to mention that I haven't seen many people here -if anyone- making a popularity contest out of it. Nor was Matthew trying to do so by adding the feature.

jllsjlls · « **Reply #27 on:** April 21, 2011, 06:36:28 AM »

Quote from: PartyIsOver221

Quote from: SpiritusSanctus
Quote from: PartyIsOver221
The smoke of the evil one has entered the sanctuary that is Cathinfo......

:shocked:

What's the basis for this crazy statement? (Unless you're joking.)

Whats so crazy, SS? Don't get me wrong, on some level I do think its cool having thumb up thumb down, but in reality its just paving the way for vanity and popularity contests...yet that wasn't the intent of it all , was it?

The obvious allusion of my post was to how VatII "opened the window" .

Thumb down me all you want, doesn't hurt . Opinions of men mean not much to me. :)

I see what you are saying. The more I think of this the more I remember the words of St. Teresa of Avila:

"God deliver us from people who wish to serve Him yet who are mindful of their own reputation. Reflect how little they gain from this; for, as I have said, the very act of desiring honor robs us of it, especially in matters of precedence: there is no poison in the world which is so fatal to Christian perfection." ~The Way of Perfection

It also reminds me of the great prayer called the litany of humilty:

From the desire of being extolled, deliver me Jesus.
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...

All these things are hard to avoid (at least for me, and I don't think I am "a special case") when you are put in an environment where this is given importance. One of the first things you look at when you read a post is the name of the poster, and consequently his "stats" (since they below his name).

On the other hand, MaterDominici hit the nail on the head when she said that she noticed that having many likers and thumbs up actually encourages some to post more (and we can say that by the same token, it has the opposite effect on the others). This is indeed one of the effects of flattery and alienation that I had mentioned before. But why do you really think it encourages some to post more and some to post less? Answer that for yourself because I already thought about it and I think I know why.

Raoul76 · « **Reply #28 on:** April 21, 2011, 01:08:10 PM »

I have been unpopular and now I am "popular," so I have seen both sides of the fence.

The opposite danger to flattery, is thinking you are so righteous that unless everyone hates you, you're doing something wrong. That is what I used to be like. That seems to drive the Feeneyites, a mistaken impression that they are Christ-like when everyone piles up on them, when in reality they're just wrong.

I haven't changed any of my beliefs to fit in, peer pressure had no effect on me. But I have developed a more mild tone and have more charity. God told St. Gertrude that if she wanted to make an acceptable sacrifice to Him, she should correct others with mildness. We're on a Catholic site, so I think people sense this and respond to it.

I am avoiding conflict more -- but not entirely -- not due to the desire for approval, but because I feel some of the debates are fruitless and repetitious. Yet I make my position on SSPX clear, just read the thread about infalliblity. And what I say there would not be popular with an SSPX-er on this board.

Having all these "thumbs up" encourages me to post less, it's embarrassing. But again, this IS a trad Catholic site, there should be basic agreement between members... It's not like I'm posting on YouTube, where my comments are wiped out by unpopularity and probably considered the ravings of a medievalist lunatic.

Jitpring · « **Reply #29 on:** April 21, 2011, 01:13:33 PM »

If we apply a cost/benefit analysis to the voting etc., the potential costs are the cultivation of pride, the devaluation of hard truths, the marginalization of good, though unpopular, posters.... The potential benefits are negligible in comparison.