Likes and alerts

Diablo · 19th August 2018, 08:50 AM

It's a pity there is no provision for 'Likes' here, as well as 'Alerts' when someone likes or quotes your posts. Are there any plans to introduce them?

kellyb · 19th August 2018, 09:08 AM

No!
Likes in particular are antithetical to skepticism and the development of critical thinking.
Alerts are bad for concentration.

xterra · 19th August 2018, 09:40 AM

This particular topic has been discussed more than once. As far as I can remember, there has never been enough agreement to warrant the administrators of the forum to investigate whether the software allows likes and alerts.

To see the threads, try searching in the Forum management part of the members only section.

Diablo · 19th August 2018, 09:50 AM

Pity. I kind of like them and they keep me alert. I think they are compatible with skepticism, although others might be skeptical about that.

kellyb · 19th August 2018, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Diablo

Pity. I kind of like them and they keep me alert. I think they are compatible with skepticism, although others might be skeptical about that.

I think like buttons are bad for dialogue on forums, too. I've seen forums before that went from not having them to installing them, and the post count went down in direct proportion to the usage of the like button.

The thing about alertness and concentration with alerts is (there's actual evidence of this in some paper somewhere) receiving notifications functions as a form of multitasking, where people's reading comprehension abilities go down as a result of the distraction. The effect isn't necessarily huge, but it's real and measurable.

rjh01 · 19th August 2018, 03:26 PM

Wait until the software gets upgraded. Then it can tell you if you have been quoted. But we have been waiting for years for that.

Jim_MDP · 19th August 2018, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by kellyb

I think like buttons are bad for dialogue on forums, too. I've seen forums before that went from not having them to installing them, and the post count went down in direct proportion to the usage of the like button.
...

Right. Because it's important to a forum's cred to keep all those "thumbs up", "just a smilie" and "+1" posts.
Imagine the "eyeroll" right... here -->

arthwollipot · 19th August 2018, 07:59 PM

The SGUForum implemented a Like button a couple of years ago. It hasn't been a disaster for the forum. There is no corresponding Dislike facility.

Jim_MDP · 20th August 2018, 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

The SGUForum implemented a Like button a couple of years ago. It hasn't been a disaster for the forum. There is no corresponding Dislike facility.

Closest I've seen on a web forum is... about ten months ago, one of the two boards I use that use likes & alerts (damn, forgot the software name) added the updated "like" functionality. Now there are a selection of eight or so (can only select one per post though)... as I recall, like, agree, disagree, funny, helpful, etc.
Can't see them in Tapa so I've forgotten most of what's available. It's a useful improvement actually.

Tapa on its own gives alerts if you get quoted, which I like... the rare times it happens.

Diablo · 20th August 2018, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by Jim_MDP

Closest I've seen on a web forum is... about ten months ago, one of the two boards I use that use likes & alerts (damn, forgot the software name) added the updated "like" functionality. Now there are a selection of eight or so (can only select one per post though)... as I recall, like, agree, disagree, funny, helpful, etc.
Can't see them in Tapa so I've forgotten most of what's available. It's a useful improvement actually.

Tapa on its own gives alerts if you get quoted, which I like... the rare times it happens.

There, fixed for you!

That's the functionality I miss, an alert when quoted.

Jim_MDP · 20th August 2018, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Diablo

There, fixed for you!

That's the functionality I miss, an alert when quoted.

Ha! Sucker.

Wait wait, come back. I didn't mean it.
But while I've got you here... let me tell you about this amazing investment opportunity. Trust me.

Diablo · 20th August 2018, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Jim_MDP

Ha! Sucker.

Wait wait, come back. I didn't mean it.
But while I've got you here... let me tell you about this amazing investment opportunity. Trust me.

You sound like an idiot.

Jim_MDP · 20th August 2018, 12:15 PM

The other thing Tapa does is PM alerts. I like that as I already have a SPAM choked mailbox so I keep mail alerts (all of them) turned off.

Though it is usually just AutoMod that talks to me.

Foolmewunz · 20th August 2018, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by Jim_MDP

Closest I've seen on a web forum is... about ten months ago, one of the two boards I use that use likes & alerts (damn, forgot the software name) added the updated "like" functionality. Now there are a selection of eight or so (can only select one per post though)... as I recall, like, agree, disagree, funny, helpful, etc.
Can't see them in Tapa so I've forgotten most of what's available. It's a useful improvement actually.

Tapa on its own gives alerts if you get quoted, which I like... the rare times it happens.

This is cool to know. We can now drive Tapa users as crazy as that notice on the screen used to drive us?

Can we ask the admins for a database with all the Tapatalk users and the hours when they least want to see notifications pop up on their mobiles?

Jim_MDP · 21st August 2018, 01:21 AM

Ooh hey... I got quoted again... oh, never mind.

MikeG · 21st August 2018, 02:27 AM

The alerts thing really is useful, and I'm certain it drives posting rates up. Every time you are quoted, pm'd, or someone does that @username thing, you get an alert. I'd welcome that here.

Likes? Nah, a bit childish and clique-forming for this place, I reckon.

Lothian · 21st August 2018, 02:57 AM

Originally Posted by MikeG

The alerts thing really is useful, and I'm certain it drives posting rates up. Every time you are quoted, pm'd, or someone does that @username thing, you get an alert. I'd welcome that here.

Likes? Nah, a bit childish and clique-forming for this place, I reckon.

In "options" you can choose to receive an email when someone sends you a pm.

I don't think people use @name much.

I haven't seen forums where you get an email when quoted. It would be neat. If you go you subscribed threads in the quick links menu there is a tick box where you can get an email if someone posts in the thread but that would not be selective.

However I am outraged by your suggestion that anything could be too childish for this place. Are you totally unfamiliar with the politics section?

arthwollipot · 21st August 2018, 05:03 PM

Remember, the forum is running on software that largely predates a lot of social media conventions. I mean, we still have links to Digg, del.icio.us and StumbeUpon at the bottom of each thread. I'm pretty sure that the forum software doesn't support @-mentions. Until and unless we get a software upgrade, a lot of functions which we are accustomed to from other media just won't work here.

Orphia Nay · 26th November 2018, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by kellyb

I think like buttons are bad for dialogue on forums, too. I've seen forums before that went from not having them to installing them, and the post count went down in direct proportion to the usage of the like button.

Likes are a measure of engagement.

Quote:

The thing about alertness and concentration with alerts is (there's actual evidence of this in some paper somewhere) receiving notifications functions as a form of multitasking, where people's reading comprehension abilities go down as a result of the distraction. The effect isn't necessarily huge, but it's real and measurable.

I agree. Get to know your settings!

baron · 26th November 2018, 01:49 PM

The option of an accurate Likes counter is available to me. All I need do is add "Likes: 0" to my sig. Screw you guys.

Cheetah · 27th November 2018, 01:30 AM

Originally Posted by baron

The option of an accurate Likes counter is available to me. All I need do is add "Likes: 0" to my sig. Screw you guys.

I like that.

19th August 2018, 08:50 AM	#1
Diablo Muse Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 707	Likes and alerts It's a pity there is no provision for 'Likes' here, as well as 'Alerts' when someone likes or quotes your posts. Are there any plans to introduce them?
Diablo Muse Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 707

19th August 2018, 09:08 AM	#2
kellyb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 12,632	No! Likes in particular are antithetical to skepticism and the development of critical thinking. Alerts are bad for concentration.
	__________________ "We are enjoined, no matter how uncomfortable it might be, to consider ourselves and our cultural institutions scientifically — not to accept uncritically whatever we’re told; to surmount as best we can our hopes, conceits, and unexamined beliefs; to view ourselves as we really are." - Carl Sagan

19th August 2018, 09:40 AM	#3
xterra So far, so good... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: On the outskirts of Nowhere; the middle was too crowded Posts: 3,882	This particular topic has been discussed more than once. As far as I can remember, there has never been enough agreement to warrant the administrators of the forum to investigate whether the software allows likes and alerts. To see the threads, try searching in the Forum management part of the members only section.
	__________________ Over we go....

19th August 2018, 09:50 AM	#4
Diablo Muse Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 707	Pity. I kind of like them and they keep me alert. I think they are compatible with skepticism, although others might be skeptical about that.
Diablo Muse Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 707

19th August 2018, 09:56 AM	#5
kellyb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 12,632	Originally Posted by Diablo Pity. I kind of like them and they keep me alert. I think they are compatible with skepticism, although others might be skeptical about that. I think like buttons are bad for dialogue on forums, too. I've seen forums before that went from not having them to installing them, and the post count went down in direct proportion to the usage of the like button. The thing about alertness and concentration with alerts is (there's actual evidence of this in some paper somewhere) receiving notifications functions as a form of multitasking, where people's reading comprehension abilities go down as a result of the distraction. The effect isn't necessarily huge, but it's real and measurable.
	__________________ "We are enjoined, no matter how uncomfortable it might be, to consider ourselves and our cultural institutions scientifically — not to accept uncritically whatever we’re told; to surmount as best we can our hopes, conceits, and unexamined beliefs; to view ourselves as we really are." - Carl Sagan

19th August 2018, 03:26 PM	#6
rjh01 Gentleman of leisure Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Flying around in the sky Posts: 27,328	Wait until the software gets upgraded. Then it can tell you if you have been quoted. But we have been waiting for years for that.
	__________________ This signature is for rent.

19th August 2018, 04:03 PM	#7
Jim_MDP Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: N.Cal/S.Or Posts: 8,979	Originally Posted by kellyb I think like buttons are bad for dialogue on forums, too. I've seen forums before that went from not having them to installing them, and the post count went down in direct proportion to the usage of the like button. ... Right. Because it's important to a forum's cred to keep all those "thumbs up", "just a smilie" and "+1" posts. Imagine the "eyeroll" right... here -->
	__________________ ---------------------- Anything goes in the Goblin hut... anything. "Suggesting spurious explanations isn't relevant to my work." -- WTC Dust. "Both cannot be simultaneously true, and so one may conclude neither is true, and if neither is true, then Apollo is fraudulent." -- Patrick1000.

19th August 2018, 07:59 PM	#8
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Pronouns: he/him Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ngunnawal Country Posts: 76,840	The SGUForum implemented a Like button a couple of years ago. It hasn't been a disaster for the forum. There is no corresponding Dislike facility.
	__________________ Слава Україні Героям слава

20th August 2018, 03:41 AM	#9
Jim_MDP Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: N.Cal/S.Or Posts: 8,979	Originally Posted by arthwollipot The SGUForum implemented a Like button a couple of years ago. It hasn't been a disaster for the forum. There is no corresponding Dislike facility. Closest I've seen on a web forum is... about ten months ago, one of the two boards I use that use likes & alerts (damn, forgot the software name) added the updated "like" functionality. Now there are a selection of eight or so (can only select one per post though)... as I recall, like, agree, disagree, funny, helpful, etc. Can't see them in Tapa so I've forgotten most of what's available. It's a useful improvement actually. Tapa on its own gives alerts if you get quoted, which I like... the rare times it happens.
	__________________ ---------------------- Anything goes in the Goblin hut... anything. "Suggesting spurious explanations isn't relevant to my work." -- WTC Dust. "Both cannot be simultaneously true, and so one may conclude neither is true, and if neither is true, then Apollo is fraudulent." -- Patrick1000.

20th August 2018, 05:18 AM	#10
Diablo Muse Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 707	Originally Posted by Jim_MDP Closest I've seen on a web forum is... about ten months ago, one of the two boards I use that use likes & alerts (damn, forgot the software name) added the updated "like" functionality. Now there are a selection of eight or so (can only select one per post though)... as I recall, like, agree, disagree, funny, helpful, etc. Can't see them in Tapa so I've forgotten most of what's available. It's a useful improvement actually. Tapa on its own gives alerts if you get quoted, which I like... the rare times it happens. There, fixed for you! That's the functionality I miss, an alert when quoted.
Diablo Muse Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 707

20th August 2018, 11:45 AM	#11
Jim_MDP Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: N.Cal/S.Or Posts: 8,979	Originally Posted by Diablo There, fixed for you! That's the functionality I miss, an alert when quoted. Ha! Sucker. Wait wait, come back. I didn't mean it. But while I've got you here... let me tell you about this amazing investment opportunity. Trust me.
	__________________ ---------------------- Anything goes in the Goblin hut... anything. "Suggesting spurious explanations isn't relevant to my work." -- WTC Dust. "Both cannot be simultaneously true, and so one may conclude neither is true, and if neither is true, then Apollo is fraudulent." -- Patrick1000. Last edited by Jim_MDP; 20th August 2018 at 11:47 AM.

20th August 2018, 11:49 AM	#12
Diablo Muse Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 707	Originally Posted by Jim_MDP Ha! Sucker. Wait wait, come back. I didn't mean it. But while I've got you here... let me tell you about this amazing investment opportunity. Trust me. You sound like an idiot.
Diablo Muse Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 707

20th August 2018, 12:15 PM	#13
Jim_MDP Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: N.Cal/S.Or Posts: 8,979	The other thing Tapa does is PM alerts. I like that as I already have a SPAM choked mailbox so I keep mail alerts (all of them) turned off. Though it is usually just AutoMod that talks to me.
	__________________ ---------------------- Anything goes in the Goblin hut... anything. "Suggesting spurious explanations isn't relevant to my work." -- WTC Dust. "Both cannot be simultaneously true, and so one may conclude neither is true, and if neither is true, then Apollo is fraudulent." -- Patrick1000.

20th August 2018, 07:57 PM	#14
Foolmewunz Grammar Resistance Leader TLA Dictator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pattaya, Thailand Posts: 41,468	Originally Posted by Jim_MDP Closest I've seen on a web forum is... about ten months ago, one of the two boards I use that use likes & alerts (damn, forgot the software name) added the updated "like" functionality. Now there are a selection of eight or so (can only select one per post though)... as I recall, like, agree, disagree, funny, helpful, etc. Can't see them in Tapa so I've forgotten most of what's available. It's a useful improvement actually. Tapa on its own gives alerts if you get quoted, which I like... the rare times it happens. This is cool to know. We can now drive Tapa users as crazy as that notice on the screen used to drive us? Can we ask the admins for a database with all the Tapatalk users and the hours when they least want to see notifications pop up on their mobiles?
	__________________ Ha! Foolmewunz has just been added to the list of people who aren't complete idiots. Hokulele It's not that liberals have become less tolerant. It's that conservatives have become more intolerable.

21st August 2018, 01:21 AM	#15
Jim_MDP Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: N.Cal/S.Or Posts: 8,979	Ooh hey... I got quoted again... oh, never mind.
	__________________ ---------------------- Anything goes in the Goblin hut... anything. "Suggesting spurious explanations isn't relevant to my work." -- WTC Dust. "Both cannot be simultaneously true, and so one may conclude neither is true, and if neither is true, then Apollo is fraudulent." -- Patrick1000.

21st August 2018, 02:27 AM	#16
MikeG Now. Do it now. Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: UK Posts: 24,804	The alerts thing really is useful, and I'm certain it drives posting rates up. Every time you are quoted, pm'd, or someone does that @username thing, you get an alert. I'd welcome that here. Likes? Nah, a bit childish and clique-forming for this place, I reckon.
	__________________ "The Conservatives want to keep wogs out and march boldly back to the 1950s when Britain still had an Empire and blacks, women, poofs and Irish knew their place." The Don That's what we've sunk to here.

21st August 2018, 02:57 AM	#17
Lothian should be banned Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Earth, specifically the crusty bit on the outside Posts: 17,511	Originally Posted by MikeG The alerts thing really is useful, and I'm certain it drives posting rates up. Every time you are quoted, pm'd, or someone does that @username thing, you get an alert. I'd welcome that here. Likes? Nah, a bit childish and clique-forming for this place, I reckon. In "options" you can choose to receive an email when someone sends you a pm. I don't think people use @name much. I haven't seen forums where you get an email when quoted. It would be neat. If you go you subscribed threads in the quick links menu there is a tick box where you can get an email if someone posts in the thread but that would not be selective. However I am outraged by your suggestion that anything could be too childish for this place. Are you totally unfamiliar with the politics section?

21st August 2018, 05:03 PM	#18
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Pronouns: he/him Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ngunnawal Country Posts: 76,840	Remember, the forum is running on software that largely predates a lot of social media conventions. I mean, we still have links to Digg, del.icio.us and StumbeUpon at the bottom of each thread. I'm pretty sure that the forum software doesn't support @-mentions. Until and unless we get a software upgrade, a lot of functions which we are accustomed to from other media just won't work here.
	__________________ Слава Україні Героям слава

26th November 2018, 01:14 PM	#19
Orphia Nay Penguilicious Spodmaster. Tagger Photo Contest Winner Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ponylandistan Presidential Palace (above the Spods' stables). Posts: 40,460	Originally Posted by kellyb I think like buttons are bad for dialogue on forums, too. I've seen forums before that went from not having them to installing them, and the post count went down in direct proportion to the usage of the like button. Likes are a measure of engagement. Quote: The thing about alertness and concentration with alerts is (there's actual evidence of this in some paper somewhere) receiving notifications functions as a form of multitasking, where people's reading comprehension abilities go down as a result of the distraction. The effect isn't necessarily huge, but it's real and measurable. I agree. Get to know your settings!
	__________________ "We stigmatize and send to the margins people who trigger in us the feelings we want to avoid" - Melinda Gates, "The Moment of Lift".

26th November 2018, 01:49 PM	#20
baron Guest Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8,627	The option of an accurate Likes counter is available to me. All I need do is add "Likes: 0" to my sig. Screw you guys.
baron Guest Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8,627

27th November 2018, 01:30 AM	#21
Cheetah Master Poster Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Africa Posts: 2,932	Originally Posted by baron The option of an accurate Likes counter is available to me. All I need do is add "Likes: 0" to my sig. Screw you guys. I like that.
	__________________ "... when you dig my grave, could you make it shallow so that I can feel the rain" - DMB