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What the "like" button has done to us.

bender

What time is it?
You're right. I tried to edit it out quick, not quick enough.

687381.jpg


Use two hands next time for maximum speed.
 

highrider

Banned
Seems like a great idea, introduce a positive reward for sharing well "liked" opinions or commentary, but what it actually does is give credibility to the mislead, ignorant, rash, or just plain dumb. I see this on every social platform, someone shares a horrible idea that 99% of people just ignore because they couldn't be bothered responding, but 3-4 people out of the thousands give it a like and immediately the original poster is given validation that his/her shitty idea has merit. I really don't have a lot more to say, I just think the like button is a scourge to this planet and our society.

You might want to make your way over to the weed thread 👍
 

Kamina

Golden Boy
Seems like a great idea, introduce a positive reward for sharing well "liked" opinions or commentary, but what it actually does is give credibility to the mislead, ignorant, rash, or just plain dumb. I see this on every social platform, someone shares a horrible idea that 99% of people just ignore because they couldn't be bothered responding, but 3-4 people out of the thousands give it a like and immediately the original poster is given validation that his/her shitty idea has merit. I really don't have a lot more to say, I just think the like button is a scourge to this planet and our society.
Those people with shitty ideas or opinions will always have others who support them in their opinion. If it is a like button, or “^This” posts doesnt change that. In the end these people will always get their validation somehow.
 

V1LÆM

Gold Member
imagine if Facebook had a Dislike button way back when. people need to be told they're idiots and they need to know when to STFU. everyone has a voice (which is good) but it goes to their head and get a kick out it. it makes them feel important and they crave the attention and positive reinforcement.

say what you want cause that's freedom of speech but it's also my right to tell you to shut up. that's what has been missing. now it's far too late for that. can't be upsetting or offending anyone now.
 

JimiNutz

Banned
We have the triggered emoji but I think we need more emojis to signify when we don't like something.

Maybe a butthole emoji or that little smiling turd emoji which can be used when we think something or someone's opinion is shitty - like the OPs
 

deafmedal

Member
Seems like a great idea, introduce a positive reward for sharing well "liked" opinions or commentary, but what it actually does is give credibility to the mislead, ignorant, rash, or just plain dumb. I see this on every social platform, someone shares a horrible idea that 99% of people just ignore because they couldn't be bothered responding, but 3-4 people out of the thousands give it a like and immediately the original poster is given validation that his/her shitty idea has merit. I really don't have a lot more to say, I just think the like button is a scourge to this planet and our society.
Stop copying my threads with better words.
like my post you stupid bastards
lol Have you posted something similar? I promise this is something I rant to my wife about all the time, just a coincidence.
Yeah the week the like button got introduced I made this thread.
I want to "like" your post, oh the irony
Well, I haven't read it, but I agree with it.
I think it got locked.
There needs to be more negative feedback options. Like “Stupid” or “Go fuck yourself with a rusty fork”. That would provide balance.
Sounds about right
Kind of feeds into a larger problem, doesn’t it?

It used to be that a small community could only have so many... well, retards and degenerates. Lol. Was there a nicer way to say that? They would find no support, get shut down, and be forced to become normal people.

However, when you pull every community in the world together into one pool, suddenly, there’s enough to fill a city for endless miles, all together, supporting each other, loud (louder than normal people have the time or ability to care about), and spreading their insanity to others.

Imo, the base concept of the internet is the problem here. Being this connected has awful effects on humanity, for other reasons and other threads too. Whether that’s worth the positive things that being so networked gives us, is up to you, I guess.
I was thinking of replying in this thread, but I just hit the like button instead.
You can learn a new skill, invest your money wisely, eat better, etc, but you will never get more likes than a picture of a fat girl with some inspirational text on how beautiful she is.
Reddit. Or The Orville episode that deals with the same, which is a fantastic watch.

All it does is create a circlejerk, and a community shaped around an acceptable set of opinions. At sufficient enough momentum, have fun ever trying to get a sane, alternative opinion out, without being downvoted or modded (the circlejerk creates authorities to ensure its continued existence) off the page.
I agree, Pandora's box has been opened. Interactions=engagement=eyes on screen=valuable ad space=profit=end of civilization. I'm exaggerating slightly.
@Tesseract stop giving people coombrains.
A dislike button would solve many problems in social media.
0f71d5a043d4c0e33916ff471d2f5200.jpg


"Like farming" thanks for the advice.
Your opinion isn’t wrong, but it's also overruled by the fact that we rarely ever get posts here just saying "this" or "yes" or "I agree."
I honestly love the reaction system here on GAF. Best one I‘ve seen in any forum.
i use doots to track, bookmark, classify ...

correspondence of working and deep memory, common features or relationships, patterns and connections ...

thoughtful needs a cyberpunk overhaul tho
I understand some of those words.
There's just something very Neo-Gaf about a post bitching about likes getting likes.
Legiterally
I disagree. Likes have only improved my experience here. We have a wide array of interesting reactions and most people use the laughing emoji has a "dislike". How many likes I got vs. others has not affected my posting habit.
20 years ago another forum I frequented had also the wanking emoji
You are speaking to your specific case to which I'm not referring to. I don't think everyone is thoughtless as I described in the OT. I'm speaking generally about the thoughtless, rash, and dumb which the engagement encourages.

I'm also not referring to Gaf specifically, more of a commentary on social networks/forum's that employ "reactions". Gaf is just one example.
Remember, you thought of Marky Mark's cock first.
You say that like it is a bad thing.
I dont miss social media. Myspace and Facebook were tight, but I got way too wrapped up in them both. Lots of jokes, made funny videos that convinced girls to boink me, some posts read more like a diary, but mostly jokes. Kinda like how I post here, I guess.

It's not healthy to always be expressing yourself in that way. I even feel like I'm becoming too attached to GAF sometimes, but it's the only social media thing I post on. Without this, I'd sit alone in the dark a lot. Maybe I'd read more. Probably be better at my job lol.
I objected to the like system when it was first implemented (even though I do agree it gets rid of a bunch of people quoting posts and replying...... ”this” in every thread.)

I felt it made gimmick posters worse and turned people into just trying to make posts ”for the like”

I even got ribbed and memed a bit ( ok a lot) here for suggesting that people could “weaponize Likes” which we have actually seen happen with people and the lol reaction.

I get that lots of people like it, (See what I did here 😉) but I still think it’s unnecessary, even if I do use it sometimes.
Just because your think your opinion is right and others are "stupid" dose not mean it is always true. If there were never any reactions on social media it would be a pretty dull place and further more, what about people who make art online? How will they know people will like their stuff other than just money? What about people who do it for fun? Im not saying it's this perfect system or anything but I definitely don't want it to be eliminated from the internet. I think you raise good points about fueling attention and narcissism but rash and stupid things will always be spewed online. You will never stop stupid and it has always been encouraged in some way. Just look at the Jackass show.
Real OGs mac hoes on mIRC and ICQ.
My daughter saw me on gaf the other day and asked why I had a "penis" as my profile pic. I rambled on about subverting expectations, and not caring what people think. Then I remembered she was 6, and I told her it was a joke, and also not to tell mom.
I'm not a nerd
Better hope you raise her to be a happy and well adjusted young adult. If not, her therapy session in her 20s are going to go something like this:

Doctor Zoidberg: Tell me about your father.
Miss MarkMe: You know, it's weird, but deep down in side I think my father has always been closet homosexual, not that there is anything wrong with that.
Better hope she doesn't tell the wife either.
The real OG's used AIM
AIM's popularity, post AOL being a major service provider occurred after the prominence of the two I mentioned. Your re trump card reply should have mentioned BBS.
I am super glad it exists. It removed so much clutter from the forums. No more "this" posts and endless quoting of a single post.
I like it.
I mean, we can swap cherry picked examples until the end of time, but that would be pointless. *Cough* You have your opinion and I have mine.
I never claimed such a thing bro
Before social media it was less obvious how many retarded hateful idiots our planet has. It was better.

I dont pay attention to it though, not on any social media and I dont follow the ‘news’.
You're right. I tried to edit it out quick, not quick enough.
687381.jpg


Use two hands next time for maximum speed.
Not very efficient, I prefer the middle out approach.
That’s what we call the pied piper.

This guy fucks.
You might want to make your way over to the weed thread 👍
I am an old fart, and I love all of this new media shit.
You feel connected to stuff, even though probably you are not really.

Just don't forget to have relations and to meet real people as much as you can, and you will be fine.
Those people with shitty ideas or opinions will always have others who support them in their opinion. If it is a like button, or “^This” posts doesnt change that. In the end these people will always get their validation somehow.
The best feature on GAF is still that you can ignore the politics forum, I just recently discovered that feature and holy crap, much better experience now.
imagine if Facebook had a Dislike button way back when. people need to be told they're idiots and they need to know when to STFU. everyone has a voice (which is good) but it goes to their head and get a kick out it. it makes them feel important and they crave the attention and positive reinforcement.

say what you want cause that's freedom of speech but it's also my right to tell you to shut up. that's what has been missing. now it's far too late for that. can't be upsetting or offending anyone now.
We need more negative emoticons, people need to understand when you laugh with them or at them...
We have the triggered emoji but I think we need more emojis to signify when we don't like something.

Maybe a butthole emoji or that little smiling turd emoji which can be used when we think something or someone's opinion is shitty - like the OPs
+1
 

M1chl

Currently Gif and Meme Champion
Negative reactions are fro lazy people, basically "I have nothing to say, so I will downvote", besides many of reactions here can be used as a negative, namely the laughing emoji and brain emoji, so I am not really sure why would you bitch about it.

:messenger_angry:
 

Happosai

Hold onto your panties
Seems like a great idea, introduce a positive reward for sharing well "liked" opinions or commentary, but what it actually does is give credibility to the mislead, ignorant, rash, or just plain dumb. I see this on every social platform, someone shares a horrible idea that 99% of people just ignore because they couldn't be bothered responding, but 3-4 people out of the thousands give it a like and immediately the original poster is given validation that his/her shitty idea has merit. I really don't have a lot more to say, I just think the like button is a scourge to this planet and our society.
I gave the OP a like. Think of it as a boost to your reaction score. Actually, I agreed before I stopped using social media platforms. I got sick of Facebook and dumped it the same month COVID cases started spiking back in March. I haven't returned and that's the first time I just abandoned that and all other social media since 2008. My issue with "like" on sites other than GAF was that people were already passive enough (family, friends, strangers); the like button just increased that passive behavior. For example: I would post a new music album and sell full quality copies and share the link to Facebook (50 cents/album) and get not a single comment...just idiots clicking "like." They need to make a button that is just words that reads out "I don't care" or "unimportant" that you can click to actually engage the idiot you're click on.
 

Nymphae

Banned
3-4 people out of the thousands give it a like and immediately the original poster is given validation that his/her shitty idea has merit

3/1000 liking a shitty take gets you upset?

I don't think the system does much besides encourage further posting, which is not a bad thing. I don't feel like it can be gamed really, things the community likes get reacts it's as simple as that.

OP should have his reaction score reset.
 

BigBooper

Member
Does anyone really like Reddit's downvote solution? It causes anonymous dogpiling to shut down a conversation instead of arguing against it.

You can look at GOG's forums for an example that is not quite as extreme, but they have a huge amount of people that just downvote automatically for no reason other than dickitude.

I really like Neogaf's approach to all this better than anywhere else.
 

Amory

Member
Death Stranding is not a great game, but Kojima says a lot of interesting things with it.

"likes" = currency was one of the weirder ideas up front but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. It's fucked up but post-internet in our disconnected world, it's primarily how we get our validation.

I try to only 'like' things that I actually like, or actually laughed at, or that actually made me think.
 

Kadayi

Banned
I am super glad it exists. It removed so much clutter from the forums. No more "this" posts and endless quoting of a single post.

That was basically the intention. It's a way of showing support to a post and it was extended out into reactions to give it a bit more range without necessarily leaning too much into the negative. I like the fact that there's a certain amount of ambivalence to the reactions for the most part, which in itself is half the fun of using them.
 

MarkMe2525

Banned
3/1000 liking a shitty take gets you upset?

I don't think the system does much besides encourage further posting, which is not a bad thing. I don't feel like it can be gamed really, things the community likes get reacts it's as simple as that.

OP should have his reaction score reset.
I don't think your understanding the point. Maybe read it again. It's not that I care that a shitty posts gets a few likes, the point is that with just a few likes, a shitty idea is validated in the eyes of the poster.

Edit: I could give two flips to what my reaction score is. It doesn't mean anything.
 
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Nymphae

Banned
the point is that with just a few likes, a shitty idea is validated in the eyes of the poster.

I disagree. With 70 reactions, I could understand. 2 or 3 likes on a shitty take doesn't validate anything, there's always going to be a number of people who agree with each other no matter the stance. 2 or 3 likes isn't making people into galvanized shitposters
 

MarkMe2525

Banned
Y
I disagree. With 70 reactions, I could understand. 2 or 3 likes on a shitty take doesn't validate anything, there's always going to be a number of people who agree with each other no matter the stance. 2 or 3 likes isn't making people into galvanized shitposters
You're speaking for yourself. I don't think people like you that recognizes that a ratio of 3 likes to 3000 views is not some form of validation is the issue, it's the many people that do.
 

Nymphae

Banned
YYou're speaking for yourself. I don't think people like you that recognizes that a ratio of 3 likes to 3000 views is not some form of validation is the issue, it's the many people that do.

Show me where you've witnessed poor behaviour stemming from an abundance of likes. This is nonsense.
 

Kadayi

Banned
People like the reactions. Do some people farm it? Absolutely. Does that matter? Not really (less you're really obsessed with This Page ). If it annoys you....there are other forums.
 

-Minsc-

Member
687381.jpg


Use two hands next time for maximum speed.

My computer crashed when scrolling by this post.


I am an old fart, and I love all of this new media shit.
You feel connected to stuff, even though probably you are not really.

Just don't forget to have relations and to meet real people as much as you can, and you will be fine.

I can definitely see the great appeal for older people, especially those who's kids have moved on and or are retired.

Having face to face relations (when possible) is definitely a must. After graduating high school in 2000 I walked into the IGN Boards and online games instead of going out to meet people. Spending too much time online is definitely a negative. For me I do believe the notification life is unhealthy to my life at the moment.

As for the OP's comment on people who shouldn't have a voice being given one. Well, it's probably only an issue if a person honestly believes the big world decisions are made on FaceBook or NeoGAF.

Years ago it was a 5 star rating system

screenshot2.JPG


Thumbs up creates more stats

That exponential upward arrow.
 

Kagey K

Banned
Death Stranding is not a great game, but Kojima says a lot of interesting things with it.

"likes" = currency was one of the weirder ideas up front but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. It's fucked up but post-internet in our disconnected world, it's primarily how we get our validation.

I try to only 'like' things that I actually like, or actually laughed at, or that actually made me think.
The likes = currency idea actually comes from this documentary.


Its an interesting watch on the rise of how likes can translate to real world money.
 
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