Fake Vendors and Nonsense in the Market....

[Steve_C]

IMO tools such as the "Like" button have also contributed to less interaction, people don't have to type anything, just point & click, and voila, they have contributed with a Like.

That is very true. I've been running a couple websites for about 18 years now, not aquarium related, fly fishing related (rod building & fly tying sites) and one thing I have found to be true from personal experience over the years is that there are two things that can not only cut down on the interaction of a forum style website, but can actually kill it. That's a like button (cuts down on interaction) and a facebook group. Facebook groups that are under the same name as a forum style website really start to kill off the forum website.

On the rod building site I run it was active for about 10 years with 50+ post per day, then we started the same group on facebook which was just meant to be in addition to the forum site. Well with in 1 year we went from 50+ post per day on the forum to about 1-2 post per week in a good week. Everyone uses the facebook group rather than the forum. That's why on the flytyingforum that I admin I refuse to start a facebook group or even put a "like" button on the site.

 

[J. H.]

Ich bin ein schneeflocke.
I still agree with RD's "do not like. " I would never use it , but I think it would help by
A) turning the like system into a kind of poll, and by
B) allowing people to disagree in an easy way without hurting people's egos.
When is RD becoming a mod? Everyone else seems to be becoming one and he seems an obvious choice.

 

[Steve_C]

Personally I think there's enough negativity online without feeling the need to tell someone you don't like what they say. If I don't care for what someone says I just don't reply to them. Having something like that would most likely have the opposite effect of what you think. You'd have people sitting there wondering "why does this person not like what I said" then it'd just spawn animosity between members because things don't always transfer properly in written text like they do in person.

 

[RD.]

Hey Steve, I couldn't disagree more. A *Do Not Like* button could be a very effective tool, when dealing with certain individuals who for whatever reason don't know when to sit on their hands. WSC, is a perfect example. That kid talked out of his arse on an hourly basis here, and his nonsense went on ad nauseum, for months. Not blaming anyone, God knows that Rob went way out of his way to reign this kid in, but in the meantime numerous NEW members were taking advice from a kid who got 99% of his answers off of a quick google search. The Do Not Like button would incorporate a checks and balance, for what I consider a very imperfect Like function.

If one likes it they click a button, if they don't like the vast majority will simply hit the back button to avoid a confrontation. That leaves a hand full of people like me that don't mind telling someone to sit down & shut up. And of course then I end up being the bad guy because I didn't use the gentle snowflake approach, to someone that in reality more times than not needed a good yank on their chain.

Remove the Like button, and no need for a Do Not Like button, which I think we already both agree would be a far better solution.

If I don't care for what someone says I just don't reply to them.

To each their own, but IME ignoring people when they are talking out of their arse doesn't help a forum grow - at least not in a direction that I want to be part of. I understand that there's a report button, but I personally think it is far more effective for a community to police themselves, than constantly run to a mod to settle an issue. An issue that the mod may also have zero experience in. There is a place and time for both, but stupid talk should be stamped out by each & every member that reads it. Members like WSC wouldn't survive that type of environment, and the members asking questions, or receiving "expert" advice from a person like that should soon clue in if more experienced members spoke up.

I know that not everyone appreciates my no nonsense approach, but at the end of the day I think that it's safe to say that no one is sitting there wondering "why does this person not like what I said".

 

[RD.]

When is RD becoming a mod? Everyone else seems to be becoming one and he seems an obvious choice.

I was asked by Rob, and passed. Part of my reason was due to not feeling that having my face on the MFK welcome mat would be in the best interest of the forum. I think I am more effective, and enjoy my time on MFK more as a free agent. But very happy to see some members that I suggested being mods here now. All good.

 

[Steve_C]

I understand what you're saying RD. I just don't think it would have the desired effect that you hope it would. Just difference of opinion is all.

Think you mistook what I meant when I said if I don't like what someone says I just don't reply to them. My fault though because I'm really busy today getting last minute stuff done before Christmas stuff tomorrow, so just somewhat sort handed what I meant and didn't really express it well enough. What I meant was if there's a thread where its back & forth stuff between people then I just simply don't bother wasting my time with that stuff so I ignore them. Meaning more or less someone just acting like a jerk and trying to start stupid stuff. I didn't mean if it were someone giving bad advice, if I think someone is giving bad advise then I have no problem replying to that and trying to offer what I think is good advise.

I know that not everyone appreciates my no nonsense approach, but at the end of the day I think that it's safe to say that no one is sitting there wondering "why does this person not like what I said".

I dunno, you seem to have mellowed a bit the past month. Must be age creepin' up on ya lol

 

[RD.]

Ahhh, ok gotcha. Happy Holidays!

 

[Hendre]

Just my 2c, sometimes a "like" takes the place of "Cool fish" or "nice tank". I'll then try to comment when I have something meaningful to say. My time is very limited now so may as well cut the nonsense!

 

[Chicxulub]

We've gotten off on a bit of a tangent here, but that's not really a bad thing.

The "like" button is an integral part of the base software package the forum now runs on. Afaik, there's no third party addon for a dislike button. I'm reasonably certain that the "like" button can be turned off, but changes on that scale belong to Li alone.

I have heard you all however, and I shall present this to the Throne.

 

[RD.]

Hey Hendre, I agree, it's not all bad, it's just not all good either.

No worries Rob, probably much bigger fish to fry right now. Just something that has been on my mind.