Author Topic: New Feature - the Like button! (Read 3246 times)

Matthew · « **on:** March 26, 2011, 01:37:35 AM »

Announcing an awesome new feature for CathInfo!

Again, like all the other features I've personally added to CathInfo, it's available for members only (membership is free -- sign up today!)

At the top of each post, you have a smilie giving the thumbs-up. Click the smilie to give that post a "thumbs up" -- it's similar to the "Like" button on Facebook.

You'll notice the count goes up by one after you do, and the smilie is no longer a link for that post -- you can't click it anymore -- because you can't Like something twice :)

Meanwhile, the act of Liking a post gives the author +1 Reputation points.

This should be interesting :)

I plan on adding a "...from ___ members" somewhere in there. Having 3 "fanboys" like all your posts certainly means less than 300 people liking a few of your posts. It's a question of how broad one's popularity is.

Anyhow, just another tool to help sort the wheat from the chaff around here.

This should help members to know which posts they should DEFINITELY read. Later on, there will be a feature "Top Posts" -- which will be a listing, in order, of posts with the most "Likes".

All kinds of fun stuff!

... and VERY VERY soon I will be implementing something that Facebook can't be blackmailed to add -- (drumroll...) the Dislike button.

Matthew

roscoe · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:14:32 AM »

:smoke-pot: :wine-drinking:

Matthew · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2011, 01:28:47 PM »

I plan on improving it over the coming days and weeks.

stevusmagnus · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2011, 01:40:58 PM »

I respectfully fear we're headed towards the ridiculous "fishie" ratings which turned into nothing more than a popularity contest and encouraged the masses sucking up to popular forum opinion. There it fed into their already juvenile mentality. Although we are dealing with a more serious lot here on Cath Info, this sort of thing seems to have no good effect I can see. Or at least none that would outweigh the negative effect of knee jerk "dislikes" and "likes" of friends. This seems to lead directly to middle school. Anyway, just my opinion.

Matthew · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:01:29 PM »

Even if I agreed, all I'd have to do is eliminate the "reputation" aspect.

It's very good to have ratings for individual posts, so people can read the "good" ones and get the the lesser ones only if they have time.

A wise, well-written post deserves to stand out above the "noise". I think too many good posts get buried in the noise here on CathInfo.

When I come up with a "best posts" feature (showing the top 25 recent posts, in order from most Likes to least Likes), this particular improvement will be complete.

Matthew

Matthew · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:04:33 PM »

How did the "fishies" thing work, anyhow? Was there a negative option as well?

I'm this close to adding a "thumbs down" for posts -- but it won't cancel out any "Likes" -- they will be kept separate.

So you might have controversial posts with 50 Likes and 45 Dislikes. That will show you it's a controversial/hot topic. I think it would be useful.

More touchy is how to deal with "Reputation" -- I don't want one enemy to go through all your past posts and vote you down into the negatives or something. I guess I'd have to limit how many negatives you give per day or week, and the number might be based on your reputation level :)

Matthew

Matthew · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:07:59 PM »

I added "Reputation" because I want some way to distinguish Raoul76, who has 0 ignores and posts ALL the time (including many really, really good and/or funny posts) and a wallflower who comes here every day but doesn't post anything -- also with 0 ignores.

How do you tell the difference between them?

I'd like to give a "reward" for making really good posts. Post something good, and a lot of people will vote for it.

On here, we're a pretty mixed lot. If you post some junk, MAYBE 3 of your "fans" will give it a thumbs-up -- but that's only 3. To get real points, you'll have to post objectively appealing/insightful/wise posts.

Matthew

stevusmagnus · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:09:26 PM »

Matthew,

The problem is that most will care little whether a post is well written or well argued.

90% of Sedes will thumbs down any post against sedeism and thumbs up any post for it regardless of post quality. And probably the same for non Sedes. If someone is disliked because they hold an opposite position, the opposing party could thumb down all their posts carte blanche even if their post was on their favorite type of birthday cake.

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:31:53 PM »

I'm excited about this new feature. I'm going to give you a "like" for adding a like button, Matthew! :wink:

Matthew · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:33:18 PM »

I don't think you give CI members enough credit.

Maybe on Fisheaters, but not here (I'd like to think).
I've seen many well-written posts by people I disagree with. Why not encourage your "opponents" when they post something rational, wise, well-thought-out, etc.? Besides, they won't know it was you, so you can go ahead and encourage them :)

On Facebook, you can see who "Liked" a given post. Not so on here.

I think we're intelligent enough to figure it out: "If Raoul gets 4 Likes, that's just his fan club", etc.

The average CathInfo poster can handle a feature like this, I think.

Also, Stevus, I think you're looking at it from a Crisis subforum point of view. Not all posts have anything to do with the Crisis. But even then, there are so many people in the "grey area", I think you'd get plenty of encouragement if you said something that was simply true.

Matthew

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:33:22 PM »

Quote from: stevusmagnus

Matthew,

The problem is that most will care little whether a post is well written or well argued.

90% of Sedes will thumbs down any post against sedeism and thumbs up any post for it regardless of post quality. And probably the same for non Sedes. If someone is disliked because they hold an opposite position, the opposing party could thumb down all their posts carte blanche even if their post was on their favorite type of birthday cake.

There is no dis-like button though, so you can't be given a thumbs-down.

Matthew · « **Reply #11 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:36:34 PM »

Well, I did say I was going to add one... I have to work out the design a bit (how it will work; how to keep it balanced, etc.)

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #12 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:38:42 PM »

I like the reputation feature as well. Mine is a ten, is that what it automatically starts off as? Because the lowest I have seen is a 10.

Matthew · « **Reply #13 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:43:13 PM »

Yes, everyone starts off at 10 as of 3/25/11.

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #14 on:** March 26, 2011, 02:43:48 PM »

OK, thanks.