I think "disagree" (thumbs down) and laugh emojis degrade this community

[PickUrPoison]

I made a statement of fact yesterday - a little anecdote about a family member. Someone actually gave it a thumbs down/disagreed with it out of spite because I gave a valid thumbs down to one of their posts. It was like disagreeing if I had said the sky is blue. While I have no problem at all with the thumbs down/laughing emojis and freely use them myself, they do tend to reveal the immaturity of some people.

Yeah I’ve got a couple people with grudges who seem to follow me around and post disagrees until they run out, then start in on ha-ha’s. Always the same ones.

Maybe they’re upset I never respond to their replies, realizing at some point they’re blocked and I never even see them. Maybe I offended them in some way, or they just don’t like what I post; I can be a little much sometimes, admittedly.

I have to cop to a bit of perverse pleasure when I see they’ve burned their daily quota on me. I guess they think they’re actually bothering me, or that I care about my reaction score.

As Momma used to say, unless they’re paying your rent, don’t pay them any mind.

 

[ruka.snow]

Dislike has never seemed to work well in any community I have come across. Rarely do people use it as intended(Though I certainly try to), it just always seems an overly negative thing(Even used for bulling from what I have heard). Forums really should be used as forums and not some daft half baked social network. At the very least removing dislike gives you a kick in the butt to write a post to tell someone why you disagree and that also should hopefully give you some time to reflect while you are writing if it is worth engaging with the person or your views are just too far apart.

 

[maflynn]

Rarely do people use it as intended

I have to disagree with that, my opinion is that its being used as designed.

I think the bottom line is people simply do not like the idea that others disagree or hate their opinion. It seems people get offended when they incur a dislike. More so when they cannot respond to the dislike, but in a way that's advantageous to some because they want to convey a dislike for the post without needing to get into an argument or long debate.

I've seen too many times people unwilling to concede anything and fight tooth and nail over their opinion, many times their opinion is viewed as fact and everyone else is just plain ignorant. I see this mostly in the PRSI, but you get the idea. Thumbs down provide an avenue to communicate a dissenting perspective without needing to get mired down, additionally its a counter balance to the thumbs up. You cannot, have an agree button but no disagree.

 

[ruka.snow]

You cannot, have an agree button but no disagree.

I strongly disagree with this as I frequent other forums where you can upvote something or agree and there is no other option. In general, the vibe here is significantly less toxic, though the toxicity in some MacRumors forums are more likely because they relate to topics that are rather irrelevant to the Mac such as politics.

However, you can shape discussions with the software with everything from post limits to only allowing positive votes instead of negative. Or completely remove reactions as they serve no function.

 

[maflynn]

In general, the vibe here is significantly less toxic

There's no connection between toxicity and like/dislike. In fact as a counter point, MacRumors had only a like button for years, and I don't think we saw a sudden increase in toxicity with the inclusion of the thumbs down.

With no thumbs down, you are only getting half the picture, for example you see a post with 50 likes, you may think its a extremely popular post, but there may be 150 people who disagree but have no avenue to enter their vote. I know this was stated by more eloquent members, but I think it fits.

As for dislikes creating toxicity, I'm not sure you can state that dislike is the root cause of such things, especially since its just a vote, not content.

 

[Porco]

I prefer that comments are praised if found to be worthy of that, and alternative opinions/views can be made to the contrary and also receive praise. That’s all that is required for a fair representation of how well-liked a view is, I think, and more in keeping with the purposes of a forum. Negative voting is a retrograde step IMHO.

 

[ruka.snow]

With no thumbs down, you are only getting half the picture, for example you see a post with 50 likes, you may think its a extremely popular post, but there may be 150 people who disagree but have no avenue to enter their vote. I know this was stated by more eloquent members, but I think it fits.

I don't think I care if a post is popular, it is irrelevant if people agree or disagree with a post. But you do start to get this perception that other people liking a post is important.

The only reason I even vaguely support keeping the like feature is it is good for non-discussion threads like the photo of the day. I see no value in it and will always read a post on its own merits and don't give a monkeys who wrote it.

 

[ruka.snow]

I prefer that comments are praised if found to be worthy of that, and alternative opinions/views can be made to the contrary and also receive praise. That’s all that is required for a fair representation of how well-liked a view is, I think, and more in keeping with the purposes of a forum. Negative voting is a retrograde step IMHO.

This is an opinion I very much agree with and will add that forums operated successfully for years without the toxic social media reactions.

 

[alpi123]

With no thumbs down, you are only getting half the picture, for example you see a post with 50 likes, you may think its a extremely popular post, but there may be 150 people who disagree but have no avenue to enter their vote. I know this was stated by more eloquent members, but I think it fits.

Exactly! But there can be trolls found also, who have nothing to do and mass spam different reactions.

 

[ruka.snow]

I use a extension called Shut Up that removes most comment sections on websites, perhaps I'll be able to quickly get one together that removes reactions from MacRumours.

 

[canesalato]

This is an opinion I very much agree with and will add that forums operated successfully for years without the toxic social media reactions.

The benefits of this system for administrators and websites owners are obvious: quick reactions (likes, dislikes etc.), especially negative ones, drive engagements much more than dialogue.

Yet, I was curious to hear opinions from other users, as benefits for users were MUCH more unclear to me.
It is now very clear that we represent a minority. Most users seem to like this form of social interaction. They see a benefit. Personally, although I respect everyone's opinion, I still think this system is retrograde.
However this is not my forum, so, if users are happy, then great!

Perhaps this is a cultural difference. Most users here are from the US.
I wonder how much nationality and cultural background reflect on how strongly we feel the need to express praise or disagreement.

@ruka.snow: thanks for the suggestion =)

 

[ericgtr12]

Anyone who thinks the "Haha" icon isn't being used as a form of disagreement or condescension in PRSI is clearly not reading through the posts. People troll those they disagree with using it all the time.

 

[ruka.snow]

Perhaps this is a cultural difference. Most users here are from the US.
I wonder how much nationality and cultural background reflect on how strongly we feel the need to express praise or disagreement.

This is quite possible, I can’t think of a soul that wouldn’t just reply instead of clicking on some reaction link. Even in the dark ages when people still used Facebook, the reactions where not used with the only exception being my mother in law from the USA.

And MacRumours is the only forum that has negative reactions enabled I have come across. Other forums where users have requested it have found that it isn’t a welcome feature so it doesn’t get switched on.

 

[ruka.snow]

Anyone who thinks the "Haha" icon isn't being used as a form of disagreement or condescension in PRSI is clearly not reading through the posts. People troll those they disagree with using it all the time.

Aye haha means: “You are talking out your ass because I don’t agree with you simpleton.”

 

[Euroamerican]

So much trauma from emoji! Seriously?

 

[icanhazmac]

Anyone who thinks the "Haha" icon isn't being used as a form of disagreement or condescension in PRSI is clearly not reading through the posts. People troll those they disagree with using it all the time.

While that may be true it really isn't a good use as it counts as a +1 for the reaction score, so who is the joke really on?

 

[TiggrToo]

While that may be true it really isn't a good use as it counts as a +1 for the reaction score, so who is the joke really on?

Does it really matter though?

 

[icanhazmac]

Does it really matter though?

Not at all! I've made that point in this thread before, the reaction scores mean nothing, the votes mean nothing.

I was just pointing out that you cannot be too upset when someone uses the 'Haha' in a laughing at you, trolling way but is at the same is inadvertently upvoting your post.

 

[ericgtr12]

Does it really matter though?

Me after being here for 5 years: "there's a reaction score?"

 

[aloyouis]

It is hard for me to believe this is even a topic. Use them or don't, but don't use them as an excuse to try to censor others ability to communicate. You are smart enough to read this stuff, you are smart enough to use context to understand the meaning of the user.

Attempts to censor like this smell just like the beginnings of how our college campuses ended top was ghost towns to free speech.

 

[canesalato]

It is hard for me to believe this is even a topic. Use them or don't, but don't use them as an excuse to try to censor others ability to communicate. You are smart enough to read this stuff, you are smart enough to use context to understand the meaning of the user.

Attempts to censor like this smell just like the beginnings of how our college campuses ended top was ghost towns to free speech.

Luckily for the free world, my attempt to censor free speech has failed this time. But don't rest too easy.... I'll be back one day!! Uahahaha 😈🧛‍♀️

 

[annk]

I was thinking about the title of this thread, and I realised that I don't feel that the emojis in question degrade the site. I do however feel that anything other than their polite use says something about the user.

I can see the argument that when impolite use is allowed, it does say something about the site. But I think that this can be filed under the balance that needs to be struck when trying to allow as much expression as possible within what are already quite strict rules.

My two cents, just as much as a user as an admin.

 

[Porco]

I was thinking about the title of this thread, and I realised that I don't feel that the emojis in question degrade the site. I do however feel that anything other than their polite use says something about the user.

I can see the argument that when impolite use is allowed, it does say something about the site. But I think that this can be filed under the balance that needs to be struck when trying to allow as much expression as possible within what are already quite strict rules.

My two cents, just as much as a user as an admin.

I disagree with your point at its core because I think negative votes do degrade the site (just a little bit), but you expressed your view so gracefully and eloquently I found myself tapping the ‘love‘ button.

My view is that expression is actually curtailed by any voting, because there isn’t as much nuance possible in the use of emoticons rather than replying with a full post. But negative voting not only curtails the nuance, it also makes disagreement reductive, which *can* (not always of course) contribute to a less welcoming, less productive place for discussion.

But it’s not like it’s the end of the world or anything, either way.

Luckily for the free world, my attempt to censor free speech has failed this time. But don't rest too easy.... I'll be back one day!! Uahahaha 😈🧛‍♀️

I used the ’Haha’ for this post of yours unironically, just so you know

 

[maflynn]

My view is that expression is actually curtailed by any voting, because there isn’t as much nuance possible in the use of emoticons rather than replying with a full post.

I'm not as eloquent as Ann, and we certainly can agree to disagree. There are many times where a member chooses to voice their dissent on a post without wanting to reply in full, especially since we provide members the ability to voice their agreement via the like button.. It is an expression of an opinion, and at the end of the day, shouldn't that be what we want here at MR?

 

[Porco]

I'm not as eloquent as Ann, and we certainly can agree to disagree. There are many times where a member chooses to voice their dissent on a post without wanting to replying in full especially since we provide members the ability to voice their agreement via the like button.. It is an expression of an opinion, and at the end of the day, shouldn't that be what we want here at MR?

I guess I see positive votes as a friendly nod or thumbs up, very civil. Whereas I just find negative votes a bit rude without any explanation - and utterly redundant with one.

Oh, and I think you’re plenty eleoquent too @maflynn, it wasn’t meant as a dig at you or anyone else