From the "Reaction Types" section of the administration part of our forums:
1. Don't use too many reactions. You don't want to give your users information overload.
2. We recommend mostly positive reactions to encourage participation.
I've decided to follow their advice.
B.
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Comments
Besides celebrate, I mean. \:D/
We have always been at war with Eurasia.
Thanks for encouraging positivity @Pants
I KEED, I KEED!
No, really, if you disagree with me, you simply don't have enough information about how right I am.
I do see your point about removing tools from us. I'd prefer the anonymity just be lifted, but apparently people didn't like that, so this was the compromise.
As for caring about dissenting opinion; (for myself) I'm curious by nature. I also hated when my parents would tell me "just because" or "because I said so" growing up. I have always looked for a solid reason; even if I doing agree with it. "Seeing" how people think is just something I have a habit of doing.
Knowledge is power, man. The fact I HATE to give answers & information does not allude me.
M
I took pride in my Dislikes and Disagrees.
Seems kind of bland without them.
Personally, I see them as just another form of speech. Positive or negative, they are less interesting and useful to the conversation than taking the time to compose a response in words, but I didn't think they were a problem. But, so it goes. It was not my decision to make.
The Man of Steel thread is a great example. I kept coming back to the thread because there were passionate, dissenting opinions from my own. It's probably one of my favorite threads on every incarnation of the forums, and I was mostly conversing with a couple guys who were completely on the opposite side of the spectrum!
Seeing a dissenting feedback icon without a response (rather then use it, I like to quote the post in my response) just left me flat.
Ultimately (and this is strictly my opinion), I enjoy my circle of friends to have almost more foils then the choir. I feel as though I can grow more if opposing ideas are presented to me.
M
I personally look at the feedback, positive and negative, as a means of backchecking what I was saying from the standpoint of tone and content.
Also, I can only assume that Off-Topic flags to the mods? I personally think that the OT button was particularly helpful given some of the recent spates of spammer posts.
But I don't know that- and you may not be suggesting this- that removing reaction buttons, positive or negative ones, actually leads to more discussion. I don't know that the people who would only respond with a click and no further response will now be inspired to take more time to write out a response. But, I am glad to be wrong on that. We'll see.
Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a button for that. I don't really want to tell you why I dislike it, it's not going to change the fact that it's done. I would just like you to know if you go back and check that I dislike getting rid of the buttons.
A button would have made this easier and less time consuming.
I'm with @hauberk above - sometimes all I want to do is just give a quick nod or shake of my head without getting into a discussion about it, and sometimes that's just because all I'm prepared to give is a moment's reaction.
My opinion here is that if you're going to get rid of the negative reaction buttons, then you just might as well get rid of them all.
:>
1. Posters liked the icons because they would go with their initial/gut reaction (in some situations it serves as a virtual head shake)
2. Posters feel so passionate about getting their opinions out there, they'd use the icons rather then wait until they have the time to explain why.
I find them interesting because I'm not really wired that way. Sure I have a gut reaction to things, but more times then not my opinion changes once I think about it.
They're are also a lot of times I want to dissent or piggyback another post, but I wait until I can respond. Using my phone, its already taken me an hour to post because I fit it in when I can
M
*if these 2 reasons ran mostly universal, then who objected to the feedback icons not be anonymous?
I will say the removal of the negative reactions is going to break your streak in the Rioscast thread. ;)
My favorite new thing will now be to laugh at the people who will quote an entire post and put "disagree" after it. Because you know - everything in a post is something that can actually be disagreed with. "We breathe air! I like breathing air! Breathing air is like eating chocolate!" - Disagree! On really? So we don't breathe air? Whackos.
It all boils down to this: much like the Man of Steel thread, if you're more interested in winning than discussing, you're boring. Because that's what the reaction posts were all about: "I don't like what that person wrote so I'm going to disagree/etc. That'll show 'em!".
But by all means - keep making it about gut reactions and not having time.
8-}
Frankly, I'd much prefer an ignore button. I used that quite heavily on other forums. Helps to weed out the thin skinned and the easily offended.
I never paid any attention to it, myself. I've been on the forums since 2005, and if people didn't like my posts, I figure they'd tell me to shut up or to go away.
And I'm still here, bitches!
Really, if you are basing your self-worth on what buttons people click on line about you, it's time to go outside, breathe in the fresh air and do something good for another person. THAT will help your self-worth.