An Alternative to Merit

[KingsDen]

As a newbie, I read many posts that has quality. After reading the posts I'll feel like to merit the post, but as a newbie, I might not have a sendable merit, I will have no option than to slide on.
Assuming there is an alternative to merit just like "Facebook like" along side merit, it would favour me.

Atleast if I don't have merit to give, I will just click like and move on pending when I'll have merit to award the user.
This proposed "like" might likely not be used by admins, or neither shall it determine ranking, but it should just be a mere appreciation for a quality post when merit is lacking.

[LeGaulois]

It's a bit too late to introduce a "Like" button in my opinion.
The users are so used to the Merit system that they will keep using it instead of the "Like" button

Besides it, while it can useful, I don't see the need to turn the forum into a Christmas tree and overload it with so many things. There is a choice to make between both and a "like" button wouldn't have encouraged the users to improve the quality of their post.
Secondly, if you notice how the Merits are sent, you can see the users already confuse it with a "Like" button like on Facebook.

[DireWolfM14]

The reason one has to earn merit before he can send merit is prevent abuse.  Many newbies are likely abuse their sMerit by sharing it amongst their newbie buddies (or sockpuppets,) thus undermining the point of having a merit system.  The premise is that if you've earned the merit, you're likely to know how to send sMerit.

If you find a post worthy of merit, but don't have enough to send yourself, report it here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5093271.0

[Charles-Tim]

The merit system has been so helpful in making this forum achieving quality posts, I do not think there should be any changes if it is working good, I mean there should not be any introduction of likes. Like me, I do send some people PM(s) if I have seen their post helpful for me (especially when I have no smerit(s) to send, I do not need any like button at all. All I can still prefer is to be a merit source so I will be able to have enough smerits all month long that I can send to the posts that are worth it. You too can try to become an established member on this forum and request for merit source. Also know that many of us do set the telegram bot to notify us of anyone that send us new merits and that also mention us, if you report such posts on [self-moderated] Report unmerited good posts to Merit Source, the user will be notified through telegram bot, and if the post you report are worthy to be given merit, you will see merit source and other users meriting such posts. I have done it several times and it has been working good for me.

Know that the posts on this forum is not about like or not, it is about having quality, if merit system can work this good so far, like button is not necessary. There is other platform called cryptotalk.org, the site make use of like and hate button, but the forum is full of spammers. Sticking to worth is working good is enough than advancing it to worth what may not later do the forum good.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

It's a bit too late to introduce a "Like" button in my opinion.

I don't really think it's too late; it's a matter of the community and Theymos thinking that a "like" feature is superfluous given that we have the merit system.  I'd suggest that if you see a post that you like and don't have enough sMerits, the world isn't going to end if you don't express your feelings toward that post--and you can always do as DireWolfM14 said and report the post in that thread.

This topic has come up numerous times since the merit system was implemented, and I've seen many threads by newbies (and higher ranked members, too) wanting something equivalent to a "like" button.  Every thread has ended the same way, i.e., it died off and that like button was never created--so OP, the bottom line is that it isn't going to happen.

[Upgrade00]

This topic has been discussed extensively on the forum and the admins have taken no action, so it's safe to say, it is not being considered;
Like button idea ?
Downvote / Dislike button
The like button
I keep looking for the 'Like' button

• You do not have to engage a post to show appreciation, you could simply read through and pick the important information,
• If necessary, you can report the post in the link giving in the first 2 replies or PM the user,
• Like buttons on social media are mostly useless and just a popularity contest, there's no need to replicate that here.

[KingsDen]

If you find a post worthy of merit, but don't have enough to send yourself, report it here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5093271.0

Thank you very much for this link. If something like this exists, that means my thirst for introduction of like is 50% quenched. I am grateful to know this.

[cryptoaddictchie]

Ive understand you OP. The urge to express our feeling over something we like is strong that a like button is sounds like missing here but thats a different case since this a forum and not can be compared with social media sites such as facebook and twitter.

In case you have encounter a lot of good post that you reallt admire or like. Drop a merit if you have, but its not necessary since you are still a newbie. Anyway I am not against of this like button but more in favor.

Theymos can implement it as trial since many already requested the featuee and just remove it if turns out to be funny in the end.

[shahzadafzal]

As a newbie, I read many posts that has quality. After reading the posts I'll feel like to merit the post, but as a newbie, I might not have a sendable merit, I will have no option than to slide on.
Assuming there is an alternative to merit just like "Facebook like" along side merit, it would favour me.

One-liner - Not gonna happen.

But don't worry, you will get along with it.. give it a time. This is common every new member coming from other social media platforms carves for this option but trust me this "like" feature has peen proposed like gazillion times. and here are reason its hasn't been implemented. What you think when theymos introduced this merit option would not he have thought of "like" option which is much simpler and easier to implement.

If you have noticed even Facebook somehow ditched this option with emotions. Also when you bring "like" button, automatically you need a "dislike" button and that brings additional many ifs and buts with it. So I guess this simple "merit" systems working fine for years and that's something exclusive to Bitcointalk. I guess only thing which we should not be asking for is "Where is the new forum software?".

[ScamViruS]

This is a forum, considering it would not be right like social media. I understand what you mean, but it's not necessarily that everyone has to give merit in just one post. You can also appreciate that post by replying to that post. It is a misconception to judge content by the number of likes on social media.

And if the like button is implement on Bitcointalk like Facebook, then it will work differently than intended. Because we see how the like system of Facebook is working, many useless things are also getting a lot of likes on Facebook. So considering Bitcointalk as a social media and introducing the Like button can lead to misunderstandings when using this option. I'm not against the like button, theymos can implement it experimentally if he want.

[FatFork]

This topic has been discussed extensively on the forum and the admins have taken no action, so it's safe to say, it is not being considered;

We don't know that. Since the new forum software is still being developed, it is difficult to say what features it will have or won't have.
As every platform changes over time, so will bitcointalk. If enough people show an interest, the administration might take that into consideration.

• Like buttons on social media are mostly useless and just a popularity contest, there's no need to replicate that here.

I don't know why everyone compares the forum to Facebook.
The Upvote/Downvote feature on Reddit is a very useful tool. It is unlikely that the platform would be as popular as it is today without it.

[KingsDen]

Ive understand you OP. The urge to express our feeling over something we like is strong...

Very well said here, the feeling is strong, atimes I become emotional about it. Maybe I will overcome it in due time. Atimes I feel like I have committed a crime for not appreciating a very good post that is helpful to me.

Theymos can implement it as trial since many already requested the featuee and just remove it if turns out to be funny in the end.

Yes, I strongly agree with you, there is no harm in trying.

[lovesmayfamilis]

You talk about posts that you liked and that you would like to celebrate, but despite this, only one merit has been sent from you, although you still have 2.  Isn't it strange? What are these likes for? On the forum, so, many go crazy about how difficult it is for them to get merits, now there will be a second madness for earning likes or dislikes? The forum is self-sufficient to parody any social networks.

[TopTort777]

What is the purpose of your like for others? Specially if you say you will "like and move on". How it will be useful for others or you want it only to be visible for you? If there will be like button, there must be a dislike button also. I think that will simply make post look bulky. If you really like someone post - I don't know, copy/paste that in a notepad so you can re-read it once again or save as a bookmark. Or send a virtual smile to the screen or simply nod.

[crwth]

If you really think a post is worthy enough to be merited, create a sticky note and paste the links there. That's what I do if I don't have any more merit to send and then once I received enough merit again, I will go back to the topic and then merit the deserving post.

You could do that or follow DireWolfM14 and send the links to the topic he included.

[Upgrade00]

We don't know that. Since the new forum software is still being developed, it is difficult to say what features it will have or won't have.
As every platform changes over time, so will bitcointalk. If enough people show an interest, the administration might take that into consideration.

I briefly forgot about the new forum software, and if I remember correctly, a thank option was suggested as a new feature in it, although the completion of the new forum has been long delayed, lots of users have stopped waiting for it.

I don't know why everyone compares the forum to Facebook.
The Upvote/Downvote feature on Reddit is a very useful tool. It is unlikely that the platform would be as popular as it is today without it.

There's no comparison to Facebook, just that a like and dislike option would have little practical use besides popularity if everyone is allowed to give it out freely. Upvote and downvote may work on Reddit, but this forum already has a quality grading system - the merit system. Adding another layer to it is somewhat superfluous, imo.

[isaac_clarke22]

~

For me I usually just bookmark threads in here that are supposed to be liked, like I would also be able to use it as a future reference in case someone asked a question related to those I bookmarked.
Chrome's enough for me to save few clicks.

[OgNasty]

I think adding more positive things to this forum is needed.  So much time and effort is spent by members of this community on negative added value items like trust flags and negative feedback.  It would be nice to see members as proud of how much positivity they've spread or how many members they've been able to help.  Merit seemed at first like it would be a decent addition, but it's been mostly hijacked by merit circles seeking to control who gets to be in DT.  Adding something fun and positive without any negative association seems needed on this forum, even if it is functionally worthless. 

[crwth]

For me I usually just bookmark threads in here that are supposed to be liked, like I would also be able to use it as a future reference in case someone asked a question related to those I bookmarked.
Chrome's enough for me to save few clicks.

Well, I have used the Watchlist feature here in the forum and I'm quite happy with it. All the important and interesting threads that I would find that possibly would be helpful to me and to other people, I put it there. I'm just not using it as a keeper for threads that I'm probably not going to use. Bookmarking is easier for sure but I don't want to increase the number of bookmarks folders in my system though.

[Quickseller]

As a newbie,

I gave you enough merit for you to get promoted to a junior member.

Atleast if I don't have merit to give, I will just click like and move on pending when I'll have merit to award the user.

Some kind of waitlist for posts that deserve merit would be nice. There is a thread that you can report good posts that deserve merit that is monitored by many merit sources. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5093271.0