One more call for a "like" button. And another thought ....

[David Ober]

There are so many posts on this site that I want to just click the "Yep, totally agree" button on. Don't have anything to add, necessarily, but want the poster to know that someone is reading his post and agreeing.

Second, we should probably consider new software on this site, but I'm guessing(?) that there are too many of the old-guard (funny to say that when I'm 53) who "like things just the way they are." ;-) Also, I'm sure there's (not insignificant) costs associated with that. Has anyone ever gotten a quote and figured what we'd need to charge per member to make it happen?

Am I alone in thinking we would all be better served with better discussion group software?

I'd be happy to contribute to make this happen.

[Lou_Duran]

+1 (one extra keystroke; $0 incremental cost)


https://golfclubatlas.com/contributions/

Problem solved?

[David Ober]

+1 (one extra keystroke; $0 incremental cost)


https://golfclubatlas.com/contributions/

Problem solved?

I just did a monthly contribution. That way I can just "set it and forget it" because too often I "forget it."

[Ben Malach]

David:


I hate to be crass, but why does it matter if you like something. If an idea is good it will shine on its own merits without the need for "+1" comments or likes. The point of a good comment or idea in my view is one that ends or starts a conversation. It is fine if there is some finality discussions, just like it's wonderful if they last for 30 pages. I for one have only seen the like button become a source for amplifying the echo chamber. Which is not what this board needs as it already has a keen slant on most issues. If you feel the need to acquire or distribute internet points, I think you should go have that need filled somewhere else. As the pure message board setup of this forum is the best for having discussions not get sidetracked by trying to play to the crowd. 

[Paul Jones]

David:


I hate to be crass, but why does it matter if you like something. If an idea is good it will shine on its own merits without the need for "+1" comments or likes. The point of a good comment or idea in my view is one that ends or starts a conversation. It is fine if there is some finality discussions, just like it's wonderful if they last for 30 pages. I for one have only seen the like button become a source for amplifying the echo chamber. Which is not what this board needs as it already has a keen slant on most issues. If you feel the need to acquire or distribute internet points, I think you should go have that need filled somewhere else. As the pure message board setup of this forum is the best for having discussions not get sidetracked by trying to play to the crowd.

I like this post !!!

[Lou_Duran]

+1 

[David Ober]

David:


I hate to be crass, but why does it matter if you like something. If an idea is good it will shine on its own merits without the need for "+1" comments or likes. The point of a good comment or idea in my view is one that ends or starts a conversation. It is fine if there is some finality discussions, just like it's wonderful if they last for 30 pages. I for one have only seen the like button become a source for amplifying the echo chamber. Which is not what this board needs as it already has a keen slant on most issues. If you feel the need to acquire or distribute internet points, I think you should go have that need filled somewhere else. As the pure message board setup of this forum is the best for having discussions not get sidetracked by trying to play to the crowd.

Many threads here are read by hundreds, and there are virtually no replies. It's not because the topic isn't interesting or germane to our board -- or there wouldn't be hundreds of views. A "thumbs up" is simply the virtual equivalent of nodding your head and/or saying "I agree with Ben" at a board or committee meeting -- and you don't take up thread space by having to log a reply of "+1" or "I agree."


And interesting that you think it could only "amplify the echo chamber." On a place like Facebook or Twitter, absolutely. But in a specific forum with a relatively narrow focus, I have not seen that at all. On the contrary, I'm on another golf forum that is golf specific (not architecture), and there is no sense of anything like that happening at all with the few tools that are available, "like," "thanks," etc.


But to each his own.

[Steve Lang]

   Number of replies and views are only stats of passing interest... if you need likes and dislikes go to facebook or youtube... frank commentary and not insults get to the heart of it all


It was nice when number of people's posts display was eliminated, TE Paul had like 40,000 when that change happened but hey, he had some great moments with many other posters, especially Pat Mucci,...


There'll always be those who have to post on everything, "oh, I was just thinking about xyzzy" , new software won't improve that among many other human things, so "we should probably" let Ran, Ben, & Joe keep on doing it their way. 


 

[Ben Malach]

David:


I am a member here and I read more often than I comment as I understand that my opinion on a lot of things does not matter. In fact, there are a few threads currently going right now that I should comment on but it is not worth my time to try to educate people that should know better. I am going to leave it here.


But the NLU refuge is an echo chamber of a different type. The level of comment or discussion is already filtered by the only way to find it is to be a fan of the NLU boys. Therefore it is going to follow a party line rather than the varieties of opinions that should be here. So no i don't think a like button has a place here.

[David Ober]

David:


I am a member here and I read more often than I comment as I understand that my opinion on a lot of things does not matter. In fact, there are a few threads currently going right now that I should comment on but it is not worth my time to try to educate people that should know better. I am going to leave it here.


But the NLU refuge is an echo chamber of a different type. The level of comment or discussion is already filtered by the only way to find it is to be a fan of the NLU boys. Therefore it is going to follow a party line rather than the varieties of opinions that should be here. So no i don't think a like button has a place here.

NLU? Are you thinking I was referencing NLU somehow?

[Ben Malach]

The Refuge forum run by NLU is the only other golf forum I have seen implement a like button. It works there because its already an echo chamber. If you want to reference another forum as precedent. name it or we will be left to guess.

[David Ober]

The Refuge forum run by NLU is the only other golf forum I have seen implement a like button. It works there because its already an echo chamber. If you want to reference another forum as precedent. name it or we will be left to guess.

GolfWRX. But you dislike the entire concept, so no worries.

[John Kavanaugh]

On the other golf site where I post I have been given 1,300 likes while giving 153. That says something about me.

[Peter Pallotta]

On the other golf site where I post I have been given 1,300 likes while giving 153. That says something about me.

That you're a nice person?

I think 'likes' are the discussion board equivalent of ratings/rankings: they say briefly and definitively what might otherwise be said at length and more tentatively. The former deals in assuredness, the latter in nuance -- one for when you're tired, the other for when you're bored.

[Peter Flory]

On the other golf site where I post I have been given 1,300 likes while giving 153. That says something about me.

You throw likes around like manhole covers!

[Mark Pritchett]

Best thing this site ever did was eliminate the number of “posts” of each user had accrued. 

[Kalen Braley]

Best thing this site ever did was eliminate the number of “posts” of each user had accrued.

You can still find this in the member list, its just not advertised in the forum anymore as a user stat...

[Erik J. Barzeski]

Likes are vapid. My daughter likes every post she sees on Instagram. They become pointless. If you really agree with something, just make a small "I like this" and add a little bit more if you can.

That said if this forum does ever move to another type of software, I'll offer what time I can to help move it over.

Thank you for the reminder. I've contributed the previous few years but forgot to do so yet in 2021. I too set up a monthly thing so I don't forget.

[Ira Fishman]

This thread is quite amusing. We still have not seen the 148th Custodian let alone the software upgrades that Ran outlined in his New Year’s post a couple of years ago. We live in Ran’s world, and it is what it is. And I am more than glad to continue to donate $$ every year regardless of whether it leads to upgrades.


Ira

[Mike Sweeney]

We live in Ran’s world, and it is what it is. And I am more than glad to continue to donate $$ every year regardless of whether it leads to upgrades.
Ira

I actually debated with myself, "Do I demand Ran issue the 148th Custodian before I send the check?" And then Dick Dailey gave us the great reminder in January:

Thank you all.  You are all a very special caring international community of fascinating people bonded by a common 'exciting, pleasurable" sporting activity and all its fields of play.   

[Ira Fishman]

We live in Ran’s world, and it is what it is. And I am more than glad to continue to donate $$ every year regardless of whether it leads to upgrades.
Ira

I actually debated with myself, "Do I demand Ran issue the 148th Custodian before I send the check?" And then Dick Dailey gave us the great reminder in January:

Thank you all.  You are all a very special caring international community of fascinating people bonded by a common 'exciting, pleasurable" sporting activity and all its fields of play.   

Precisely. And it is totally cool if one’s financial position makes a donation not sensible. And it is also totally cool if frequent posters who can afford a donation choose not to do so. It is Ran’s world and best I can tell, he just wants people to engage, learn, get to know one another, and have a few laughs.


And someday we will see the 148th Custodian. Or not.


Ira

[Ronald Montesano]

Buttons dissuade me from writing a comment, so I'm thrilled to have an alternative to other media/fora/flora at this address. There's only one treehouse, and we can enjoy it for what it is.

[Niall C]

This is a discussion board, not a referendum, so I'm quite happy there is no like button. I don't mind the +1 as I've used it myself but think it best done if you then expand on why you like/agree with the post. That helps stimulate the discussion.


Niall

[Thomas Dai]

+1 to what Niall says above.
I have moments when a ‘like’ feature would be nice to have but +1 with a wee explanation is fine.


I have a couple of posting hates though -


A) posters who copy the entire previous post or posts. Boring. Seldom read their responses these days.
B) posters who copy sentences and answer them with another sentence over and over throughout a long post. Boring. Seldom read them these days.
C) posters who write huge long paragraphs. Boring. Seldom read them these days.
D) posters who don’t bother to preview/edit before clicking the post icon. Boring. Seldom read them these days.


If posts are hard to read the chances of them being read and responded to are less. So if a poster wants folks to really read and consider what they’ve written it’s likely better to make your post easy to read.


Rant over.
Atb

[Blake Conant]

On Twitter the other day Mike Clayton said sometimes the like button is just a bookmark. I do that a lot over there, I'd just never thought of it like that before.  Every week or two I'll go back through my likes and read new comments or if the topic still grabs me I'll look into it a little more.


If like buttons were introduced here that's probably how I'd use it.  Having the ability to individually catalog interesting posts would make the site better. At least for how I use it anyway.


I suppose I should know for sure if currently there's any other way to "bookmark" a particular comment or thread...?