Do Like butons kill discussion?

[leatherback]

I think it is not the like button. For a few years now I have felt that the more knowledgable members are less on the platform and/or post less. We had a few members who would gladly discuss pros and cons of methods (say, use lower buds or upper buds to develop branches). Those discussions fed the rest of the forum.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I think it is not the like button. For a few years now I have felt that the more knowledgable members are less on the platform and/or post less. We had a few members who would gladly discuss pros and cons of methods (say, use lower buds or upper buds to develop branches). Those discussions fed the rest of the forum.

People come and go. Real life intrudes... and sometimes people take time off bonsai. After 18 years I'm actually surprised how many of the earliest members are still here!

On the plus side, we have a constant stream of new members - some of whom already are quite accomplished, or who have become so with time.

 

[August44]

I use the like button a lot if I like the tree that is posted or the conversation from the sender. I think a lot of us get tired of posting a reply that is our personal opinion and then have people beat you, and what you said up. Some people are nice with their comments in regards to posts, but others are not. Why would you set yourself up for verbal abuse and possible embarrassment? Yes, I know that I have pretty thin skin.

 

[Gabler]

I use the like button a lot if I like the tree that is posted or the conversation from the sender. I think a lot of us get tired of posting a reply that is our personal opinion and then have people beat you, and what you said up. Some people are nice with their comments in regards to posts, but others are not. Why would you set yourself up for verbal abuse and possible embarrassment? Yes, I know that I have pretty thin skin.

I haven't had that experience. If I'm wrong, someone will tell me, but most people here are not mean about it.

Perhaps we should just have a dislike button.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I think this just helps eliminate 50 people saying “nice tree”.
It also allows new members a way to develop interests and be able to participate even though they may not be able to add to the discussion themselves.
In some cases it allows a way to support or encourage those in a heated debate without actually getting involved. Lol

 

[BobbyLane]

hello fellow bnuts!
just a tought that passed my mind multiple times so i just write it down...
ever since introduction of like buttons on social media and forums (not only this one) i have the feeling people are using the like button allot but hardly comment anymore, ofcourse a comment with only i like what you have done will be of similar value then a thumbs up but for me it feels like that before the like button was there people would often write down what they like or what they think could be done different and so start a conversation/discussion with the poster i was reading trough my old threads and some of them have 8 pages of people discussing the posted tree's and if i compare it with threads created in the "like button" era often have way less conversation going.
ofcourse i am guilty too in some cases and have to remind myself also to drop some messages instead of a like or at least explain what i like and what made me press the button.
reading trough my old threads i remind myself i should comment more also, ive learned so much in the past by talking with others about my projects even if online based on pictures it helped me grow and sometimes look at an different angle then i was doing.
i am not asking to change things or remove the like buttons but i simply wanted to write down my toughts about it to see if others have noticed the same or have toughts about this matter too.

I have not really noticed, but I see your point. It's much easier nowadays for someone to hit the like button rather than type out a few sentences. But thats how social media has evolved. In this fast paced world, not everyone has the time to write, so they 'like' instead or might not engage at all, if it wasnt for the like button! Its just another way to engage. Not being able to engage at all, apart from typing a message would be worse for social media platforms.

If you would prefer people to engage via comments/feedback you can encourage it in your topics. Specifically, ask questions, ask for opinions etc

 

[Cruiser]

The like button is just another tool in our bag of communication options.

That said, this thread has motivated me to respond more.
A thoughtful response conveys personality and can build relationships. It helps give readers a sense of what you’re like in person far more than a like does.

One thing I’ve noticed on this site is that with time comes this feeling that I know some of you, even though we’ve never met or communicated directly. It is the people who respond that create this sense of familiarity.

 

[Paradox]

I use the like button for trees I see that I like, or other things such as the "what did you buy" and "what did you do today" threads.
Also Ill like a response to something if it basically says what I would have said and dont want to repeat it

 

[ShadyStump]

Compare online communication to in-person communication.
In person we might have many people engaged in a conversation at the same time. It would be rude and unproductive if everyone interrupted routinely just to say, "I agree," or something equally as simple. In stead, we all learn to, "read the crowd," as it were, by watching the looks on the faces around us, or reading body language. Smiling and nodding along means either that person agrees, or they're not actually paying attention but don't want you to know. That's the like button.

As digital communication has evolved, we've invented things that help us emulate in-person communication more- likes and emojis and such, that stand in for the nonverbal parts of conversation. In this forum, that looks like the reaction button on posts.
In social media, though, the drive is more interaction WITH THE SITE/SERVICE in order to propel investment, and users are the means of doing this. The, "likes," are constantly tallied, and you only see the things that OTHER PEOPLE liked the most frequently, or the things that got everyone angry so they actually commented because there's no, "dislike," button, and you can chose to see more of how other people feel if you like.

Anyway, yeah, I like the, "like," here because it has no more or less effect than a polite nod in passing: I see you, I appreciate that you shared, and I have nothing to share on the topic right now. It emulates the vast majority of human interactions quite effectively.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I think a lot of us get tired of posting a reply that is our personal opinion and then have people beat you, and what you said up.

I disagree completely

 

[Ply]

I feel the 'post a picture' threads are more so killing discussions and interaction than the like button. As much as I enjoy reading those topics, they result in less discussion compared to individual threads.

 

[penumbra]

I disagree completely

You can only disagree for some but not all.

 

[leatherback]

I disagree completely

You can only disagree for some but not all.

I disagree completely. With both of you.
How can you say something like that.

 

[ShadyStump]

I feel the 'post a picture' threads are more so killing discussions and interaction than the like button. As much as I enjoy reading those topics, they result in less discussion compared to individual threads.

I can't argue with you on this one, but I will point out that they can actually do the opposite as well. There are pics and the like that I wouldn't have ever shared if there wasn't a thread specifically for picture sharing, and I wasn't bored that day.

So I feel it like they can sometimes stifle the depth of conversation, but they also lower barriers to entry into many conversations by lowering the stakes. I have one kusumono, and therefore have never shared it, except someone made a kusumono pic thread; or I have none of this species/style, but there's a picture sharing thread about it, and now I've seen many examples and asked so many questions that I otherwise never would have.
But no, I'm also not digging through the site search function to find progression threads, not have I made one of my own. Double edged sword.

 

[defra]

Ive read up now all the comments thankyou everyone that shared their toughts on this as i tought and the different comments its a double edged knife.
Like @BobbyLane mentions perhaps best to motivate people to reply by just simply put that in the post if thats what one wants

 

[BobbyLane]

I can't argue with you on this one, but I will point out that they can actually do the opposite as well. There are pics and the like that I wouldn't have ever shared if there wasn't a thread specifically for picture sharing, and I wasn't bored that day.

So I feel it like they can sometimes stifle the depth of conversation, but they also lower barriers to entry into many conversations by lowering the stakes. I have one kusumono, and therefore have never shared it, except someone made a kusumono pic thread; or I have none of this species/style, but there's a picture sharing thread about it, and now I've seen many examples and asked so many questions that I otherwise never would have.
But no, I'm also not digging through the site search function to find progression threads, not have I made one of my own. Double edged sword.

To add, if you take the tree thread for example..many of those trees also have progression threads, where discussion already took place. So these picture threads become new ways to showcase, maybe from different angles, lighting etc

 

[defra]

I disagree completely. With both of you.
How can you say something like that.

I agree to disagree that you disagree what they agreed on !

 

[ShadyStump]

To add, if you take the tree thread for example..many of those trees also have progression threads, where discussion already took place. So these picture threads become new ways to showcase, maybe from different angles, lighting etc

Yes, and they can also serve as an introduction to people who might otherwise not have engaged those progression threads before.

Overall, I really enjoy the way this site is set up. It offers so many ways for people to engage in their own terms. It really is the best online community I've ever participated in, and I don't make a habit of saying that for fear of sounding trite.