Software transfer to XenForo

[Orphia Nay]

When we unFoundationeded ourselves, one of The Plans was to upgrade the forum to better, more modern forum software, XenForo.

I've been really looking forward to that.

Is that still happening, and if so, when?

(I totally want the "like" function, as I seem to be more active these days in places that have it.)

 

[Klimax]

When we unFoundationeded ourselves, one of The Plans was to upgrade the forum to better, more modern forum software, XenForo.

I've been really looking forward to that.

Is that still happening, and if so, when?

(I totally want the "like" function, as I seem to be more active these days in places that have it.)

Last we heard from Icerat he was testing it. (IIRC - bit lazy to search...)

As for like function, I am pretty sure won't happen. (Respectively, I hope won't happen, just sucks terminally)

 

[icerat]

Is that still happening

yes

and if so, when?

During the northern summer is my current goal

 

[Orphia Nay]

I think The Plan with likes was that you would be able to enable or disable it on a user basis.

 

[Orphia Nay]

yes



During the northern summer is my current goal

Yay, thanks!

Good plan. When you'll have time to tweak, I gather.

If you have time, could you answer the "like" question?

Thanks again.

 

[icerat]

Yay, thanks!

Good plan. When you'll have time to tweak, I gather.

If you have time, could you answer the "like" question?

Thanks again.

I'd like a like, I'm not sure how easy it is to implement the user disabling part

 

[Orphia Nay]

Cheers!

I found this, which appears to do it, but not sure how tricky it would be.

https://xenforo.com/community/threads/disable-likes-and-trophies.36226/

ETA: And that may be forum-wide. Sorry.

 

[xterra]

I like Orphia, but I don't like the "like" feature, and would not "like" Orphia.

Or anyone else. Or "dislike" them either.


I vote, "Nay," Orphia.

 

[theprestige]

What benefit does the "like" bring?

 

[arthwollipot]

What benefit does the "like" bring?

It allows you to express agreement with or appreciation of a post without actually needing to use words.

I like the Like, but only when it isn't partnered with a dislike. The SGUForum uses a Like, and it seems to work pretty well. The community has embraced it.

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

What benefit does the "like" bring?

I could see:

• Decrease in "This ^" posts
• A metric of reader participation in threads. People will know others value their input.
• Incentive for educational, non-fluff posts.

For cons:

• Incentive for circle-jerk group-think.
• Incentive for popular, non-educational, fluff posts.
• People will know more acutely they are out of the circle-jerk and will drive off "outsiders".

(For both of these there are assumptions behind each of the bulletpoints. These are arguments, not an objective pro/con review.)

 

[arthwollipot]

How can a single mechanic be an incentive for both educational, non-fluff posts and popular, non-educational fluff posts? Doesn't this mean that it's just an incentive for posts?

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

How can a single mechanic be an incentive for both educational, non-fluff posts and popular, non-educational fluff posts? Doesn't this mean that it's just an incentive for posts?

See parenthesised at bottom.

 

[Orphia Nay]

Of course, I'm assuming there is no "dislike" feature with XenForo.

ETA: Disliking is rude and awful.

But the places I'm keen on all use just the Like function, and it keeps me coming back, showing my admiration, and posting more.

 

[Dan O.]

If the system were SMART (Sophisticated Multiply Associative Rating Thingy) it would learn to correlate my likes and dislikes to those of posters with similar tastes and could recommend threads I might want to read or shield my eyes from posts I'd rather not see.

 

[theprestige]

It allows you to express agreement with or appreciation of a post without actually needing to use words.

I like the Like, but only when it isn't partnered with a dislike. The SGUForum uses a Like, and it seems to work pretty well. The community has embraced it.

I could see:

• Decrease in "This ^" posts
• A metric of reader participation in threads. People will know others value their input.
• Incentive for educational, non-fluff posts.

For cons:

• Incentive for circle-jerk group-think.
• Incentive for popular, non-educational, fluff posts.
• People will know more acutely they are out of the circle-jerk and will drive off "outsiders".

(For both of these there are assumptions behind each of the bulletpoints. These are arguments, not an objective pro/con review.)

In that case, instead of having Like, I would rather see content-less agreement posts moved to AAH and infracted.

This is supposedly a site for critical thinking and skeptical debate. If you have nothing substantive to add in response to another member's commentary, then let that commentary speak for itself, and save your post for when you have something worthwhile to contribute.

Ah, who am I kidding? Go ahead and implement Like. Literally Reddit: The Forum.

 

[DrDave]

In that case, instead of having Like, I would rather see content-less agreement posts moved to AAH and infracted.

This is supposedly a site for critical thinking and skeptical debate. If you have nothing substantive to add in response to another member's commentary, then let that commentary speak for itself, and save your post for when you have something worthwhile to contribute.

This ^

 

[arthwollipot]

In that case, instead of having Like, I would rather see content-less agreement posts moved to AAH and infracted.

Such an arrangement would be a nightmare for the moderation team. They would have to increase both their numbers and their powers, and can you imagine the uproar from the community who get their posts moved? People think this place is over-moderated now.

Ah, who am I kidding? Go ahead and implement Like. Literally Reddit: The Forum.

No, Reddit is quite different. Adding both Like and Dislike completely changes the feel and approach. When you can only Like, you can only act positively to support something, as opposed to Reddit, where you can downvote anything you don't like or disagree with, just because you've had a bad day or there's a mispaced comma.

 

[MetalPig]

This ^

I see what you did there

there's a mispaced comma.

I like my commas to be stationary.

I like the idea of a Like button. Sometimes you just want to indicate that you agree and have nothing to add.

 

[Klimax]

To ensure clarity of my message, I am -1 (alias dislike) on any like functionality.

 

[Slowvehicle]

This ^

QFT

 

[Ryan O'Dine]

Would it possible to limit "Like" to members' only forums? Might reduce some of the negatives.

 

[arthwollipot]

Would it possible to limit "Like" to members' only forums? Might reduce some of the negatives.

What negatives? Remember, we're only talking about Like and not Dislike.

 

[Klimax]

What negatives? Remember, we're only talking about Like and not Dislike.

Some sort of popularity contest.

 

[Donn]

Like, like, like like like!

 

[Klimax]

Like, like, like like like!

Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill (the idea, bit more and I'd have overkill... )

 

[Ryan O'Dine]

What negatives? Remember, we're only talking about Like and not Dislike.

I personally would like a Like everywhere, but as Klimax and others say, even a Like button can be construed as a popularity contest. I'm sure you know this has been debated on numerous other threads (the "Dying Forum" being one of the latest), and the consensus is always against. For us Fors, we need to think outside the button (I'm clever).

 

[Orphia Nay]

I'm sure you know this has been debated on numerous other threads (the "Dying Forum" being one of the latest), and the consensus is always against.

There was a lot of support for a like function in that thread at the start, until the thread turned into a free-for-all whine fest.

 

[arthwollipot]

Yes, the community in general has always come down on the side of not having a Like function, but that doesn't mean that we can't talk about it.

 

[Orphia Nay]

Yes, the community in general has always come down on the side of not having a Like function

I'm not so sure about that. My impression is that a lot of people have called for it.

Maybe we need an evenly-worded poll.

 

[arthwollipot]

I'm not so sure about that. My impression is that a lot of people have called for it.

Maybe we need an evenly-worded poll.

Well, it seems that way every time it's been asked previously. A poll would be interesting, and instructive.

 

[DarthFishy]

Well, it seems that way every time it's been asked previously. A poll would be interesting, and instructive.

A Poll? A Poll is merely another kind of popularity contest. How dare you suggest anything like that!

 

[DarthFishy]

More seriously I lurk a lot on this Forum. I read pretty much every day but I don't post a lot (as can be seen from my post count ~0.3 posts a day!). This is often because there are posters who I agree with you are making the points I would want to make. A like button could help me take part (to a small degree) in the conversation without having to spam "^ This" or "+1" posts.

 

[Orphia Nay]

More seriously I lurk a lot on this Forum. I read pretty much every day but I don't post a lot (as can be seen from my post count ~0.3 posts a day!). This is often because there are posters who I agree with you are making the points I would want to make. A like button could help me take part (to a small degree) in the conversation without having to spam "^ This" or "+1" posts.

I know how to type the BBcode for that smiley by heart, but I'm getting old and time is a-wasting. Likes, please.

 

[SezMe]

I know how to type the BBcode for that smiley by heart, but I'm getting old and time is a-wasting. Likes, please.

Thanks. I did a quote of your post so now I know how to use that smilie, so I will

I like Orphia, but I don't like the "like" feature, and would not "like" Orphia.

Or anyone else. Or "dislike" them either.


I vote, "Nay," Orphia.

 

[Ryan O'Dine]

Great! Let's figure out a poll and opening statement. Here's my suggestion:

__________

Dear Forumites, Icerat and TPTB are contemplating moving the forum software to Xenforo, which would be a good opportunity for making some changes. There've been numerous debates through the years about including a "Like" button, such as one can find on many another forum. I don't believe a poll has ever been conducted, so now seems as good a time as any.

POLL: I would like a "Like" button...

1. Everywhere, always
2. Only in the "Members' Only" sections
3. Nowhere, ever
4. Hilarious Planet X option

__________

I'm not married to this, I just want to get the ball rolling. "Like"?

 

[rjh01]

Change "another forum" to "other forums"

 

[MetalPig]

POLL: I would like a "Like" button...

Do we need to specify that it is about liking posts, not people?

 

[Ryan O'Dine]

Do we need to specify that it is about liking posts, not people?

Good question. Do we need to explain what a Like button does?

Also -- I'll post the poll if no one else volunteers, but I'm surely the least known poster on this thread and so least likely to attract views. Someone else should step forward. arthwollipot suggested it, but whoever's comfortable. I think it should go in the Community subforum.

 

[Klimax]

Good question. Do we need to explain what a Like button does?

Also -- I'll post the poll if no one else volunteers, but I'm surely the least known poster on this thread and so least likely to attract views. Someone else should step forward. arthwollipot suggested it, but whoever's comfortable. I think it should go in the Community subforum.

More of question where to post it?