Like or rep - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

straal1972 · 16th Mar 2011, 09:18 AM

Hi there, thanks for the awesome work you all are doing on here.

I'd like to make a suggestion....
is it possible to add a feature to show our appreciation to particularly good posts. Such as a LIKE button or even an ADD TO REPutation button.

Many times i read some posts that are really really good either in advice or humor or whatever and I would like to publicly praise the poster, but don't want to necessarily quote them and add a comment.

Zenon

Ghostly · 16th Mar 2011, 09:54 AM

OMG that WOULD BE SO AWESOME! 0_0 I always wanted to do that :0

ShebbsIsAwesome · 17th Mar 2011, 07:03 PM

I agree

RaRa · 17th Mar 2011, 07:32 PM

So Facebooky. <__<

TheDarkerPoet · 17th Mar 2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaRa

So Facebooky. <__<

My thoughts exactly. I don't support this idea because it sounds kinda competitive and honestly very much like Facebook. Just have your own laugh or smile at a post and move on. Or quote them if you have something to say about it.

Shevanel · 17th Mar 2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDarkerPoet

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaRa

So Facebooky. <__<

My thoughts exactly. I don't support this idea because it sounds kinda competitive and honestly very much like Facebook. Just have your own laugh or smile at a post and move on. Or quote them if you have something to say about it.

I agree, I'd much rather a more personal compliment of a post I made or whatever than an arbitrary clicking of a button to promote my "status".

Also, a support site doesn't really need classes or social statuses.

alan t · 17th Mar 2011, 08:45 PM

Does this not already exist? There is a "rating" button at the top of each post where you can vote 1-5 stars. I don't see it ever being used.

Shevanel · 17th Mar 2011, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan t

Does this not already exist? There is a "rating" button at the top of each post where you can vote 1-5 stars. I don't see it ever being used.

That's actually a thread rating thing, for the record.

Ridiculous · 17th Mar 2011, 09:02 PM

I wouldn't like it, I think it's very innappropriate for this forum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shevanel

Also, a support site doesn't really need classes or social statuses.

^That's pretty much my opinion.

**Martin** · 17th Mar 2011, 09:45 PM

I'm on a hiatus at the moment so I can't get drawn into a lengthy discussion on the pros and cons of the idea, but I will give some brief background details regarding this type of idea.

This idea has popped up numerous times on the site, and it has been shot down in flames every time because of how flawed it is in the long-term. Anybody who has ever had any long-term experience of a vBulletin forum that has its reputation system enabled will likely have seen how open to abuse it is, and it quickly escalates into various groups of people forming a rep circle and 'repping' everybody within that circle continuously in a cycle. The rep ranking then begins to resemble a popularity contest rather than a representation of who gives quality advice. Whilst the idea seems noble and rewarding, there are plenty of people who would hand out rep because they think a certain person is just awesome, and the person who had the most rep would likely just be the most awesome of them all.

So yeah, that idea has repeatedly been shotdown by staff for good reason.

The idea of a post 'like' system is something I have actually considered myself, and at one point I even got input from staff on how feasible it would be and how it could work within EC's support forums. I actually had quite a bit of optimism that it could work if implemented right, but that too was vetoed for consideration due to the ways it would likely turn into a contest, and the risk of creating a hierarchical perception of who gives the best support and advice. By that I mean that member 1 shouldn't be considered superior to member 2 simply because one has more rep/likes than the other, but tis reasonably forseeable to see why that problem could occur. So yeah, whilst I was once open-minded about that idea, I do believe the right decision was made to not implement the feature, and EC has always worked best as giving each response equal merit. Granted the staff can't stop perceptions people have based on post count, member rank or other criteria, but we can minimise the ways in which popularity contests and hierarchies form.

That's the basic background behind the idea, and I can't really imagine the policy on this type of idea changing any time soon. One of the great things about EC is that people offer support and advice because they genuinely want to without expecting anything in return, and that is something that is a lot more valuable than a reputation gem or a 'like' count.

Martin.

TriBi · 18th Mar 2011, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin

one Of The Great Things About Ec Is That People Offer Support And Advice Because They Genuinely Want To Without Expecting Anything In Return, And That Is Something That Is A Lot More Valuable Than A Reputation Gem Or A 'like' Count.

Martin.

Well - the forum software has done funny things to the (partial) quote - but, nevertheless - QFT!

straal1972 · 18th Mar 2011, 11:25 AM

k thanks.

kwyjibo · 21st Mar 2011, 01:56 PM

Another forum I'm on has a rep system, and controls the equivalent of full member upgrades and the like. It's anonymous to avoid "rep-back" but there is a problem. It seems to have taken over the forum. "Neg-repping" is a common phrase, and the mods have quite a workload sorting out misgiven positive/negative rep. So I think it could work, but it's really not a minor thing, and I think it's not worth all the hassle, given that EC works as a community as it is.

21st Mar 2011, 03:15 PM

I've seen it on many forums. Every single time it's abused because people are stupid and can't deal with the fact that other people have opinions.

I think it's a good idea, but it doesn't work. It will just create a headache for the staff.

27th Mar 2011, 12:20 AM

I think it would be a negative thing to add to such a site as this due to the fact that this is a support site and not a social status or connection place its a place for us who have questions about our sexual orientation come to ask them or to just feel comfortable talking to others who feel the same as we do so all in all it would probable cause more harm to add a feature like this and might even make some people shy down due to having negative feedback. I dont mean to be rude, it was a good idea but just not for this website.

8th Apr 2011, 03:45 AM

I see that there is a Like button now. Neat.

**Corny** · 8th Apr 2011, 03:51 AM

^ that was only temporary because of Empty Closets - Announcements in Forum : Chit Chat

Please check Martin's post above .. that pretty much is my opinion on it as well, but it is up for the mods and admins to decide this.

16th Mar 2011, 09:18 AM	#1
straal1972 EC chat slayer Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: I'm out to everyone who's important to me Location: Outside of Barrie On Age: 39 Posts: 510 Join Date: Dec 2010	Like or rep Hi there, thanks for the awesome work you all are doing on here. I'd like to make a suggestion.... is it possible to add a feature to show our appreciation to particularly good posts. Such as a LIKE button or even an ADD TO REPutation button. Many times i read some posts that are really really good either in advice or humor or whatever and I would like to publicly praise the poster, but don't want to necessarily quote them and add a comment. Zenon __________________ Sweat, baby, sweat, baby. Sex is a Texas drought Me and you do the kind of stuff that only Prince would sing about. So put your hands down my pants and I'll bet you'll feel nuts! Do it now! You and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals . So let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel -Bloodhound Gang

16th Mar 2011, 09:54 AM	#2
Ghostly привет Full Member Gender: Un Garçon Orientation: I'm committed to this one guy Out Status: people that care for me Location: Canada Age: 17 Posts: 1,305 Join Date: Jan 2008	Re: Like or rep OMG that WOULD BE SO AWESOME! 0_0 I always wanted to do that :0 __________________ "Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased by tales, so is the other" -Sir Francis Bacon

17th Mar 2011, 07:03 PM	#3
ShebbsIsAwesome EC Addict Full Member Gender: Florida Orientation: Out to anybody who cares to ask, Facebook, Family Out Status: Kinsey 6 Location: Male Age: 17 Posts: 273 Join Date: Feb 2011	Re: Like or rep I agree

17th Mar 2011, 07:32 PM	#4
RaRa We we we so excited Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: A few people Location: Los Angeles, CA Age: 21 Posts: 7,439 Join Date: Nov 2008	Re: Like or rep So Facebooky. <__< __________________ Do you think about me now and then? Do you think about me now and then? Oh now I'm comin' home again Maybe we can start again

17th Mar 2011, 08:45 PM	#7
alan t EC Addict Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: A few people Location: ontario, canada Age: 27 Posts: 340 Join Date: Jun 2010	Re: Like or rep Does this not already exist? There is a "rating" button at the top of each post where you can vote 1-5 stars. I don't see it ever being used.

17th Mar 2011, 09:45 PM	#10
Martin EC's Red Queen EC Admin Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Some people Location: Merseyside, UK Age: 21 Posts: 8,047 Join Date: Nov 2007	Re: Like or rep I'm on a hiatus at the moment so I can't get drawn into a lengthy discussion on the pros and cons of the idea, but I will give some brief background details regarding this type of idea. This idea has popped up numerous times on the site, and it has been shot down in flames every time because of how flawed it is in the long-term. Anybody who has ever had any long-term experience of a vBulletin forum that has its reputation system enabled will likely have seen how open to abuse it is, and it quickly escalates into various groups of people forming a rep circle and 'repping' everybody within that circle continuously in a cycle. The rep ranking then begins to resemble a popularity contest rather than a representation of who gives quality advice. Whilst the idea seems noble and rewarding, there are plenty of people who would hand out rep because they think a certain person is just awesome, and the person who had the most rep would likely just be the most awesome of them all. So yeah, that idea has repeatedly been shotdown by staff for good reason. The idea of a post 'like' system is something I have actually considered myself, and at one point I even got input from staff on how feasible it would be and how it could work within EC's support forums. I actually had quite a bit of optimism that it could work if implemented right, but that too was vetoed for consideration due to the ways it would likely turn into a contest, and the risk of creating a hierarchical perception of who gives the best support and advice. By that I mean that member 1 shouldn't be considered superior to member 2 simply because one has more rep/likes than the other, but tis reasonably forseeable to see why that problem could occur. So yeah, whilst I was once open-minded about that idea, I do believe the right decision was made to not implement the feature, and EC has always worked best as giving each response equal merit. Granted the staff can't stop perceptions people have based on post count, member rank or other criteria, but we can minimise the ways in which popularity contests and hierarchies form. That's the basic background behind the idea, and I can't really imagine the policy on this type of idea changing any time soon. One of the great things about EC is that people offer support and advice because they genuinely want to without expecting anything in return, and that is something that is a lot more valuable than a reputation gem or a 'like' count. Martin. __________________ The blue whale ejaculates up to 40 gallons during sexual intercourse, but only 10 gallons enters the female. Do you still wonder why the sea tastes salty?

18th Mar 2011, 11:25 AM	#12
straal1972 EC chat slayer Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: I'm out to everyone who's important to me Location: Outside of Barrie On Age: 39 Posts: 510 Join Date: Dec 2010	Re: Like or rep k thanks. __________________ Sweat, baby, sweat, baby. Sex is a Texas drought Me and you do the kind of stuff that only Prince would sing about. So put your hands down my pants and I'll bet you'll feel nuts! Do it now! You and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals . So let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel -Bloodhound Gang

21st Mar 2011, 01:56 PM	#13
kwyjibo Well Known Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Not a clue. Out Status: N/A (See Above) Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 206 Join Date: Dec 2010	Re: Like or rep Another forum I'm on has a rep system, and controls the equivalent of full member upgrades and the like. It's anonymous to avoid "rep-back" but there is a problem. It seems to have taken over the forum. "Neg-repping" is a common phrase, and the mods have quite a workload sorting out misgiven positive/negative rep. So I think it could work, but it's really not a minor thing, and I think it's not worth all the hassle, given that EC works as a community as it is. __________________ A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man - Jebediah Springfield

21st Mar 2011, 03:15 PM	#14
Gothitil Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Like or rep I've seen it on many forums. Every single time it's abused because people are stupid and can't deal with the fact that other people have opinions. I think it's a good idea, but it doesn't work. It will just create a headache for the staff.

27th Mar 2011, 12:20 AM	#15
dylangoelz Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Like or rep I think it would be a negative thing to add to such a site as this due to the fact that this is a support site and not a social status or connection place its a place for us who have questions about our sexual orientation come to ask them or to just feel comfortable talking to others who feel the same as we do so all in all it would probable cause more harm to add a feature like this and might even make some people shy down due to having negative feedback. I dont mean to be rude, it was a good idea but just not for this website.

8th Apr 2011, 03:45 AM	#16
Gothitil Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Like or rep I see that there is a Like button now. Neat.

8th Apr 2011, 03:51 AM	#17
Corny Administrators EC Tech Admin Gender: Male Location: Germany (old europe) Age: 30 Posts: 799 Join Date: Dec 2004	Re: Like or rep ^ that was only temporary because of Empty Closets - Announcements in Forum : Chit Chat Please check Martin's post above .. that pretty much is my opinion on it as well, but it is up for the mods and admins to decide this.