Comment "likes" discouraging discussion
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One of my goals for my blog has been to develop a lively community of commenters. I have many readers who return to read comments, and I always try to leave substantive comments on others’ blogs.
Since the institution of comment “likes”, I’ve see the erosion of discussion. Many bloggers who used to reply to my comments, either on my blog or elsewhere, now simply click “like,” and that’s the end of it.
I have “likes” disabled on my blog, but of course many people are reading elsewhere, so the likes pile up, while the comments decrease.
I think it’s a sad development.I do wish that individual bloggers such as myself could disable likes for comments entirely. It might be worth some thought on the part of WP, since it seems that you’re actually undermining something that you’ve otherwise supported: an active, involved community.
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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The opposite argument is that those who would never have commented will use the like button. However, I agree that there is a pattern that you indicate ie. likes suppress commenting. I also agree that it’s frustrating that we WordPress.com blogger do not have full control over like button use on our blogs. Currently logged in wordPress.com/gravatar account holders cannot be prevented form clicking the button in the Reader or on their Admin bar even when we disable it on our blogs.
http://en.support.wordpress.com/likes/#turn-likes-onoff-on-specific-posts-or-pages
http://en.support.wordpress.com/likes/#turn-likes-onoff-on-specific-media-filesThat said, I don’t think this is about to change any time soon.
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I don’t think it’s likely to change either, TT. That’s one reason I posted in “Ideas” rather than “Support.”
On the other hand, there’s no harm done keeping the issue in front of the powers that be. There’s a whole subset of WordPress users who make use of the platform in ways quite different than Facebook, and we count, too!
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Hi again,
I choose to use the like button now in cases where I do not have a meaningful comment to submit. In many cases I read blogs wherein all the other commenters have said what I would have said. In my offline life I also find the same is true. Have you read Susan Cain’s book titled Quiet?There’s no harm done at all by posting to the Ideas Forum. :)
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If a double post is the worst thing that happens today, we’re doing great. And no, I hadn’t even heard of the book (I don’t think) but I’m going to take a look. Thanks!
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It’s a worthy read. I have read it twice. I shouted YES! all the way through it on the first read (borrowed from a friend) and then I purchased a copy for myself.
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Hello Shoreacres and Timethief,
I agree with both of you about Likes and Comment Likes, I too wish that we had full control of these so that people can not use the Reader/Admin Bar/et cetera to get around us users having them disabled, but until then I will probably keep them both enabled.
Most of the Likes on my blog seem to just be Like Spam, and my blog posts are usually not even viewed when the Likes are made (unless they are viewing my posts in a way that does not get counted in the Stats).
It would also be nice to have some extra ways to help you figure out/tell if a Like is a Real/Legitimate Like or a Spam Like, so that you will have a better idea of who is a Like Spammer, and who is a not.
-John Jr
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