How is "Reaction Score" Calculated?

[Phil77354]

Apologies if this has been answered/explained elsewhere but I'm unable to find it despite searching & scanning through threads that are on similar topics, checking the forum FAQ's, etc.

As an engineer, I always like to understand how things are calculated, but I'm unable to reconcile the 'reaction score' that is displayed for myself or other users. (Actually, only myself since I don't believe we can see the breakdown for others).

We are able to see the tally of each of the 6 different possible reactions (like, love, haha, wow, sad, angry), as well as the previously available (disagree), in our individual profiles.

Reconciling the totals for each category of reaction, with total reaction score, is not obvious (at least, not to me). Specifically, do the presumably 'negative' reactions - 'sad', 'angry' - get included in the reaction score? Does each of these reactions receive either a +1 or -1 'score', are some weighted differently?

 

[arn]

Reaction points:

Like, Love, Haha, Wow are +1
Sad, Angry are +0
Disagree is -1 (only in News forum)

The points add to your accumulated total reaction score. But generally aren't used anywhere except for the comments under the articles. In that situation, Disagree will offset any positive reactions in the final count.

arn

 

[Phil77354]

Reaction points:

Like, Love, Haha, Wow are +1
Sad, Angry are +0
Disagree is -1 (only in News forum)

The points add to your accumulated total reaction score. But generally aren't used anywhere except for the comments under the articles. In that situation, Disagree will offset any positive reactions in the final count.

arn

Thanks! That is actually what I had speculated, but I decided not to include my own guess. It checks out, for my own particular case.

Thanks for responding so quickly.

 

[chown33]

The points add to your accumulated total reaction score. But generally aren't used anywhere except for the comments under the articles. In that situation, Disagree will offset any positive reactions in the final count.

arn

Well, I also report the total scores for top-posting members in my semi-annual Statistics threads. Lately I've also been reporting a Likes/Post ratio, which can be amusing in some cases.

Those threads are all for amusement purposes only, and not to be used for any other purpose.

Although the numbers are for reaction score totals, I still call them "Likes" because that's the original term, and it's shorter than "Reactions", which would wreak havoc with my carefully designed concise table layout.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, I also report the total scores for top-posting members in my semi-annual Statistics threads. Lately I've also been reporting a Likes/Post ratio, which can be amusing in some cases.

Those threads are all for amusement purposes only, and not to be used for any other purpose.

Although the numbers are for reaction score totals, I still call them "Likes" because that's the original term, and it's shorter than "Reactions", which would wreak havoc with my carefully designed concise table layout.

I must that that I both like, and also I have indicated that I have "liked" this post.

Personally, I prefer the simplicity of a "Like" button, to the multiplicity of responses allowed by current "Reactions".

The latter sound far too much like the definition of multi-tasking for my peace of mind.

 

[ndouglas]

So if I use the “thumbs down” reaction for a post it subtracts 1 from the poster’s reaction score?

Just trying to learn more about how it comes across when I may actually like what a person posts and be thankful for them posting it, but click “thumbs down” since what they’re saying is an unfortunate true statement.

Seems like I should maybe just stick to “likes” or “funny” reactions only and if I have another reaction, use my words in a written post…

 

[Phil77354]

So if I use the “thumbs down” reaction for a post it subtracts 1 from the poster’s reaction score?

Just trying to learn more about how it comes across when I may actually like what a person posts and be thankful for them posting it, but click “thumbs down” since what they’re saying is an unfortunate true statement.

Seems like I should maybe just stick to “likes” or “funny” reactions only and if I have another reaction, use my words in a written post…

That is how I understand it. Note that the thumbs down is only available on the News forums, so it isn't present in the vast majority of discussions here.

 

[Weaselboy]

So if I use the “thumbs down” reaction for a post it subtracts 1 from the poster’s reaction score?

This is correct.

 

[ndouglas]

Got it, thank you!