So, six months later, I thought it might be interesting to revive this thread to see how people's feelings about these issues have or haven't changed as the new system has settled in and become the norm.
Personally, I wasn't a big fan of the idea of adding the whole "likes" thing to TB when it was introduced as part of the new system. I've never been into Facebook or other social media where the "likes" thing is standard operating procedure, so it was pretty much new to me. I could see the potential advantage of reducing the number of "+1" posts, but in other ways it seemed kinda juvenile and potentially subject to abuse.
However, I have to admit that I've kinda warmed up to the idea over the last six months. I'm still glad that "number of likes received" doesn't appear next to posts along with the poster's avatar, and I rarely click on their avatar to find out. I don't use "likes received" as a way of determining who to believe and who not to believe, or anything like that. But, I have to say that take considerable satisfaction in seeing when one of my posts receives numerous "likes": It makes me feel like I contributed something that others enjoyed, or learned from, or agreed with, or otherwise somehow found worthwhile. I think of my "relationship" with TB as one in which I take a lot -- in terms of information and knowledge, as well as just fun and enjoyment -- but to which I also contribute in kind. So, it's nice to know when my contributions are valued, for whatever reason, by other members.
Interested to hear what others think....
