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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

OK let's settle a debate. Should Mumsnet have a LIKE button? Or not?!

123 replies

littlepattilou · 05/04/2021 20:35

Debates have been going on over several threads this past few days.

Some people think we need a LIKE button on here. Like on facebook, and Digital Spy, and I think Money Saving Expert may have one.

So, should Mumsnet have a LIKE button? So people can 'like' a post when they think it's good? (And it may save people having to post to say they agree?)

Or is it a bad idea? Because it may create cliques and ganging-up, and may give the person with the most 'likes,' the impression they are correct, and may make the other person feel isolated and ganged up on.

So click YANBU, for we do NOT NEED a 'like' button.

or

YABU, for we DO need a 'like' button?

Thanks Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
littlepattilou · 05/04/2021 21:07

@Giantrooster

Is this what you are referring to 'To think mn would be better with a thumbs up/down for each post. (88 Posts)' from Thursday? It's a 50/50.

Op is referring to a different thread from today. Smile

Yes, this is a different one. Thanks giantrooster. So that was 50/50 huh? I think a thumbs-up/thumbs-down idea is even WORSE than a 'like' button! Shock

As a few people have said, I really do think an EDIT button would be very beneficial! Smile

As I said, if only for one minute. (Pref two.) I don't know about anyone else, but I tend to spot my errors quite quickly. Weirdly though, there's often one or two that I don't spot before I post, (and when I review the 'draft.') GRRRRRRRR! Angry

OP posts:
Susie477 · 05/04/2021 21:10

I don’t want a like button, but an edit button would be extremely useful. It works well on Pistonheads, and adds an ‘edited at x time’ footnote.

FlibbertyGiblets · 05/04/2021 21:15

No thank you. We use our words on here.

HTH. sniggers childishly at using an acronym whilst pontificating about using our words

MrsMackesy · 05/04/2021 21:19

Not this old chestnut again?! No like button, thank you.

Parkerwhereareyou · 05/04/2021 21:25

I think we should have a 'fuck off you're being really mean now' button

Original poster
littlepattilou · 05/04/2021 21:28

Sorry to drag up the old chestnut. Blush

I just did it because I don't think we have had a poll before, and it will be interesting to see the result. Smile

Personally, I don't want a 'like' button. Some people do. Mumsnet have said no to one (quite a few times,) but I was still curious about the % of posters who wanted one, and didn't want one.

OP posts:
TomPinch · 05/04/2021 21:28

Any Guardian Online reader ought to know what happened when a like button got brought in there. Until then, the standard of debate was OK, by the standards of discussion forums really high and lots of thoughtful, knowledgeable comments like here.

Now it's just a mixture of witticisms, one liners, rantings, froth, cut and pasted opinions, it's become just a lot of very boring people shouting at each other, and comments now aren't allowed on most articles.

If you bring in a likes button, people post for the likes, not to discuss.

TomPinch · 05/04/2021 21:29

@FlibbertyGiblets

No thank you. We use our words on here.

HTH. sniggers childishly at using an acronym whilst pontificating about using our words

'Like' Grin
Strangekindofwoman · 05/04/2021 21:31

yes

Emeraldshamrock · 05/04/2021 21:31

No it would cause popularity issues think it is fine as it is. 👍

BaggoMcoys · 05/04/2021 21:33

I really don't want one because I don't want posts to turn into people saying things for likes. People get so OTC on twitter for a reaction, it takes away the balance.

Original poster
littlepattilou · 05/04/2021 21:33

@Emeraldshamrock

No it would cause popularity issues think it is fine as it is. 👍
That's what I said. The poster with the most LIKES in an argument between two posters would feel they were the one in the right, and the other poster would feel like shit. (And may feel ganged up on.) I feel a LIKE button would create divisions, cliques, and bullying.
OP posts:
DuchessOfBuggerAll · 05/04/2021 21:41

More of a priority would be to get rid of the ridiculous voting button which you seem to have mistaken for a poll function.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 05/04/2021 21:42

No. With out disrespect it'll just be the popular posters bigging each other up.

AuntieStella · 05/04/2021 21:43

I wouldn't want one. I like a site where people have to engage more.

There are oodles of sites with that function for them that wants it.

Leave MN quirks as they are

Original poster
littlepattilou · 05/04/2021 21:48

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

No. With out disrespect it'll just be the popular posters bigging each other up.
Yep. This. ^
OP posts:
GlutenFreeGingerCake · 05/04/2021 21:56

I don't want a like button or an edit function. I think not being able to edit adds to the resilience building bootcamp atmosphere of AIBU where any rogue slip of the keyboard can lead to a multipage thread of jokes about your hilarious autocorrect failure. I enjoyed the recent one where a poster was getting her "joysex" renovated. Not to mention the ever present lurking threat of a grammar pedant catching you out using the wrong form of there/their/they're or a using a misplaced apostrophe. It really does make my forum use more exciting and is good for my mental toughness regime and SPAG.

As for a like button it is very nearly as convenient to put a short version of the name of the poster from several pages back in bold and say you quite agree with them with no hint on what they actually said, and it forces people to go back and RTFT with proper attention to detail.

So to sum up changing MN to be more like FB is like changing from a vintage Mini Cooper to a bland Mondeo or selling your soul to Jeff Bezos.

Crunchymum · 05/04/2021 22:15

Leave the likes for FB!!

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 06/04/2021 02:06

@GlutenFreeGingerCake

I don't want a like button or an edit function. I think not being able to edit adds to the resilience building bootcamp atmosphere of AIBU where any rogue slip of the keyboard can lead to a multipage thread of jokes about your hilarious autocorrect failure. I enjoyed the recent one where a poster was getting her "joysex" renovated. Not to mention the ever present lurking threat of a grammar pedant catching you out using the wrong form of there/their/they're or a using a misplaced apostrophe. It really does make my forum use more exciting and is good for my mental toughness regime and SPAG.

As for a like button it is very nearly as convenient to put a short version of the name of the poster from several pages back in bold and say you quite agree with them with no hint on what they actually said, and it forces people to go back and RTFT with proper attention to detail.

So to sum up changing MN to be more like FB is like changing from a vintage Mini Cooper to a bland Mondeo or selling your soul to Jeff Bezos.

Every word of this Grin
DramaAlpaca · 06/04/2021 02:16

Absolutely no to a 'like' button. I'm sure someone has already said it but MN is a chat forum, not a popularity contest.

'Like' buttons are for FB, or for downmarket comments sections on the likes of the Daily Fail.

NiceGerbil · 06/04/2021 02:19

Hard no from me.

And this thread is a case in point.

60% say they want a like button but pretty much all the posts say no.

So why do that 60% want it? I am none the wiser. Because, no post to say why. Which is really annoying.

Also, on here with the contentious topics you will get loads of 'likes' on stuff but without engagement. So it'll be ner net you're wrong look at the likes but no chance to debate.

Also a firm no to an edit button. I like that people can't change what they say.

Original poster
littlepattilou · 06/04/2021 09:56

@DuchessOfBuggerAll

More of a priority would be to get rid of the ridiculous voting button which you seem to have mistaken for a poll function.
Errrrr, actually, the 'AIBU' or 'YANBU' thing on here IS a poll function. Confused

It's there to create a poll! That's the whole idea of it.

OP posts:
Original poster
littlepattilou · 06/04/2021 09:57

@DramaAlpaca

Absolutely no to a 'like' button. I'm sure someone has already said it but MN is a chat forum, not a popularity contest.

'Like' buttons are for FB, or for downmarket comments sections on the likes of the Daily Fail.

Exactly this. ^
OP posts:
Original poster
littlepattilou · 06/04/2021 09:57

@DramaAlpaca

Absolutely no to a 'like' button. I'm sure someone has already said it but MN is a chat forum, not a popularity contest.

'Like' buttons are for FB, or for downmarket comments sections on the likes of the Daily Fail.

Exactly this. ^
OP posts:
GreenSlide · 06/04/2021 09:58

Must have missed that debate. No. I left Digital Spy when it went all modern and shit and came here to where the emphasis is on conversation.