Like button on forum posts?

[Mac]

Just a thought.
I think its time that we have a like button on the forum,
There are so many posts on here which could do with one, images for a start.

Found this.

https://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=3708

Mac.

[Carole]

Yes I'd like that too. 

Carole

[Mac]

Yes I'd like that too.

See we needed a like button for that,

[Carole]

[The Thing]

Like!

[RobertM]

To me it seems like a pointless exercise - discouraging people from making comments and encouraging a 'buddie' culture.  I guess this is the way of the world these days... something is either 'liked' or implicitly not 'liked' (because it has not been liked) or is there to be a 'dislike' as well ?  Would someone feel offended if a post was either not 'liked' or 'disliked' ?  Would then the Image of the month be based on the number of 'likes' ?

Personally I am not in favour but I understand a majority of members could be.

Robert

[Carole]

Sometimes you simply like an image or agree with a comment but don't necessarily need to say anything about it.

I do agree it leads to less comments of course.

Carole

[Rick]

I find that simple click-to-react options are occasionally useful, but they really need to be a bit more sophisticated than just "Like". The main problem with a simple "like" (or, worse, a simple "thumbs up/down") is that some folk take things literally, and in many contexts that can be bad.

[Hugh]

I've just caught up with this thread and I must agree with RobertM on this idea.

I think we should encourage comment on any posting and where better than the forum to do so.  For instance, images are great but commenting from members not imagers is as important as those from imagers.  I have for a while asked imagers to put more info about the object on the threads other than just the tech details on the taking and the processing, so that non-imagers can enjoy the where in the sky the object is and at what distance (for instance).

Roberto does this sometimes and Carole has positively taken my comments forward in the imaging report she gives at society meetings where this information is often shown.  For me, this enhances both the interest and the underlying skill of the imager.

- Hugh

[ApophisAstros]

Like it.
Roger

[The Thing]

I think just clicking [Like] is a cop-out, surely people can type the word "Like" if nothing else!

  I have for a while asked imagers to put more info about the object on the threads other than just the tech details on the taking and the processing, so that non-imagers can enjoy the where in the sky the object is and at what distance (for instance).

- Hugh

I like this idea, I 'll try to remember to do it. Maybe a link to Wikipedia for the object would be good thing to do.

[Carole]

That's why l started doing sky maps for lesser known targets for members images.
Carole

[Hugh]

I like the idea of a link to Wicki on the object.  Would cut down on word space/time for the imager and give anyone the chance to review Wicki at leisure.

- Hugh 

Update - Just viewed the M101 post and the Wicki link - worked well - Thanks

[ApophisAstros]

Wiki can be changed by anyone so not really trustworthy.Unless they have stopped it , better for the imager to include pertinant information. Also any link would take you away from the image and the forum.
Perhaps suggest points to include ie Image , filters , integration , equipment , distance , type of target , et al.
Roger

[Hugh]

Hi Roger

I see the points you raise in your post, and would happily accept your alternative suggestions.

I'm not totally convinced that having a Wicki link which took you away from the Forum is bad - it could be argued that, for non-imagers, it enhances the information; then being informed you come back to the Forum to enjoy the image the more.  That's certainly the way I would use it.

Whichever way forward, I grateful if the imagers take my comments as a positive way to enhance the non-imagers enjoyment without taking away the value of the image techy stuff also available.

- Hugh 

[ApophisAstros]

With regards to Wiki... maybe the image poster could quote any wiki content thats appropriate under the image giving wiki a credit of course and no need to leave the sight.(some of the wiki listing contain gobbledygook).
Roger

[Rick]

Wiki can be changed by anyone so not really trustworthy.

Generally, that's more of a problem with controversial subjects, where articles often suffer from change/revert wars (until they get locked for cooling-off...).
Descriptions of astronomical objects are, for the most part, not likely to be controversial, so they'll be as good (or bad) as the knowledge of the contributors make them.

quote any wiki content thats appropriate under the image giving wiki a credit of course

Quotes should be fairly short (to be clear it's "fair use"), and include a link to the article (which effectively gives credit) for folk who want to read more. This goes for anything quoted from external sites.

[ApophisAstros]

Like.
Roger

[Carole]

Blowed if l can find a like button.

Carole

[Rick]

Bottom left of the text, above the signature block...



You won't see one on your own posts, but everyone else's should have one...

[Carole]

I saw people were posting like emoji's in their posts, this doesn;t do that.

Carole

[Rick]

this doesn't do that

Thankfully, no it doesn't. It records who's clicked it, and tells the person whose post has been liked (which is the main point of having it). If a post has been liked then you can click on the "Liked by" link that appears there to see who has liked it, and if you've already liked a post then the "Like" link turns into an "unlike" link...

[ApophisAstros]

I can`t see the like button on any of my posts so won`t know how many likes are on them.
Roger

[Rick]

You will see how many people liked them. You just can't like them yourself.

See, for example, http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=12513.msg89782#msg89782