message reactions

[VeryGoodDog]

this was mentioned in the other topic but i really think being able to react to a post without making a new one is a good idea.

[atKingMSPFA]

posting.cool has a feature like that where you can like other people's posts, and it shows your likes & the number of likes you've given on your profile.
Although this often leads to react-spamming and low quality threads to make the number go higher, so maybe not that second part.
Still, reactions are an okay concept.

[少女の口びるに蝶よ止まれ]

I'd prefer not having it. I think forcing one to have to post to express anything about another post or a thread is healthier than bringing the like economy here.

[techramancer]

I'd prefer not having it. I think forcing one to have to post to express anything about another post or a thread is healthier than bringing the like economy here.

Complete agreeance with this.

[Grafo]

I'd prefer not having it. I think forcing one to have to post to express anything about another post or a thread is healthier than bringing the like economy here.

100% agree with this. I think a lot of value is taken out when reactions are introduced.
Even just replying "cool stuff you wrote there" has so much more meaning than a thumbs up reaction

[VeryGoodDog]

I'd prefer not having it. I think forcing one to have to post to express anything about another post or a thread is healthier than bringing the like economy here.

100% agree with this. I think a lot of value is taken out when reactions are introduced.
Even just replying "cool stuff you wrote there" has so much more meaning than a thumbs up reaction

honestly, fair enough

[Sadness]

this was mentioned in the other topic but i really think being able to react to a post without making a new one is a good idea.

I know this is from a while ago but I managed to find a reactions extension that works with phpBB! You can now react to any post by selecting the smiley dropdown at the top right. You can view reactions at the bottom right corner of every post.

Also just wanted to say - at first I waffled on the value of reactions but have come to the conclusion that they still have value, even when a text response would suffice. I didn't go too crazy and only added a few to start out so we'll see how it goes!

I hope this helps!!

[GaryStu]

I like reactions! It doesn't stop members from replying with "I agree". But it makes things feel more lively, to get reactions in between replies. I've been on other independent forums with reactions, like ones using software such as Discourse or XenForo. And its a welcome feature there as well.

I hope a bigger variety of reactions are added in the future. This starting selection isn't bad, but it feels like three flavours of "like". For example we could use a lol, and a wtf. I also wish the reactions had pixel/old-school style icons, like the smilies.

[ZinRicky]

You can now react to any post by selecting the smiley dropdown at the top right.

Good move in keeping the reactions simple and positive-oriented! If anyone disagrees with a post, and the post is worth of a reply, then people should reply.

[Sadness]

You can now react to any post by selecting the smiley dropdown at the top right.

Good move in keeping the reactions simple and positive-oriented! If anyone disagrees with a post, and the post is worth of a reply, then people should reply.

Thank you! Yes, that is what I had in mind by only having positive reactions (at least initially) - I don't think negative reactions are constructive by themselves, and a negative reaction could just be elaborated on in a reply.

But like all things, these might change if we find there's value in adding a larger range. Definitely love to hear input from you all!

[Starfia]

Oh, look – I came to comment on "reactions" and found a post documenting the entire brief history of the decision to add them.

I'm also on the side of having them, but appreciate the prudence around the "like economy." Presumably those who don't want to deal with reactions are reasonably sated by the ability to disable the whole thing.

When I'm using reactions, my intention is to express something like "I've noticed this, taken a moment to read it, and appreciate that you took a moment to share it." I don't necessarily want to say that I agree with the text, or that I even like it – essentially the equivalent of nodding at someone after they've spoken during a friendly or civil conversation. The reaction functions as the person's way of perceiving that "nod." (Which is why I think reactions have value: to acknowledge what someone said, you needn't reply with text on a forum in the same way you needn't speak out loud in person.)

What's surprising is that out of the currently-available three (the "+1", the "heart", and the "ty-in-a-heart"), the one I think best expresses that sentiment – thus, the one I've exclusively been using – is the heart. I think "+1" is too likely to be interpreted as "I agree with your statements," and "ty" explicitly means "thank you." The plain heart might be interpreted as agreement as well, but it's more ambiguous than the others, so it wins. It's surprising because this is therefore *only* social forum where I've settled on the heart among multiple options, owing entirely to that deduction performed on the narrow selection.

I'm not sure I have a specific suggestion; I think I'm just offering one answer to "we made this decision – what do people think of it?".

[Starfighter]

I've always been torn on the topic of reactions, on one hand I'm human and sure enjoy the confirmation (that my input matters), and on the other hand I can see how reactions run the risk of becoming an economy of sorts (mostly refered to as "a popularity contest" but I don't really like that way of describing it since it makes the critics seem simply jealous). I see others have touched on this very risk already so I'll stop there, with me being torn; I want equality but also to feel like I matter.

[Ray]

On the other hand - I actually prefer having those reactions, because I'm not a fan of people commenting just to say "I agree" or "Yes thank you" or variations on the theme. I feel like when I can just +1 someone, I can basically nod at them and be like "yess I agree with you!", but let people who actually have anything meaningful to add respond to the thread.

...I abuse the reactions a lot because of this, which I'm happy to do less if people don't like them so much of course! But, I still prefer to make posts when I have something substantial to say, myself. It's a matter of preferences imo!

On the other hand, I would not put any negative/mean reactions, as I think those could cause more drama than else. Like, if I agree in toto, I can put a +1. If I agree with some extra comments, I can put a +1 and/or comment to keep the conversation going. If I disagree, it would be more beneficial to the conversation for me to point out *why*, thus commenting, rather than giving a thumbs down.

[glacial_pace]

i think reactions are bad, and don't think anything is wrong with quoting a user and saying "lol" or something similar. Conversations feel more organic that way, and reacting to posts is what is so wrong about modern social media platforms

[Ray]

reacting to posts is what is so wrong about modern social media platforms

Why do you think that it's inherently bad?

[glacial_pace]

reacting to posts is what is so wrong about modern social media platforms

Why do you think that it's inherently bad?

i mean the same reason they're ass on social media. it just turns into making posts for the numbers. granted, it's probably only a problem for bigger communities, but i just think they're mindless and don't add anything.

[techramancer]

reacting to posts is what is so wrong about modern social media platforms

Why do you think that it's inherently bad?

It feels like a cop out. Instead of engaging in any conversation, you just thumbs up someone and move on. It doesn't add anything to a conversation if you just have someone give you thumbs up while you're talking. To me, it just seems like it's a random hit of dopamine, and that's something we need less of.

[yequari]

reacting to posts is what is so wrong about modern social media platforms

Why do you think that it's inherently bad?

It feels like a cop out. Instead of engaging in any conversation, you just thumbs up someone and move on. It doesn't add anything to a conversation if you just have someone give you thumbs up while you're talking. To me, it just seems like it's a random hit of dopamine, and that's something we need less of.

Quoting a post and writing "^ this" adds just as little to the conversation

[vincent]

-snip-
Quoting a post and writing "^ this" adds just as little to the conversation

Gonna have to agree with this sentiment. I think having reactions as a way to show agreement without having to make a post just keeps things smoother. I'd rather encourage people reply if they have something to add to the conversation rather than having threads that just turn into chains of "this ^" and "I agree.", especially considering there's fundamentally no difference to me between those two things. Both of them are acknowledgements of a post, both of them can be assigned numerical values as a 'numbers go up' thing if you wish. I think it's a perspective thing but I disagree with seeing them as a pointless dopamine hit.

[juette]

It feels like a cop out. Instead of engaging in any conversation, you just thumbs up someone and move on. It doesn't add anything to a conversation if you just have someone give you thumbs up while you're talking. To me, it just seems like it's a random hit of dopamine, and that's something we need less of.

i mean in real life conversations people usually just nod or say something along the lines of "yeah you're right" which isnt that 'productive' either i guess.

also if people are really worried about others making posts solely to gather reactions i guess
a rule could be made against those kind of pointless posts? like no "react with a heart if...." type posts ?

[Ray]

Quoting a post and writing "^ this" adds just as little to the conversation

Gonna have to agree with this sentiment. I think having reactions as a way to show agreement without having to make a post just keeps things smoother. I'd rather encourage people reply if they have something to add to the conversation rather than having threads that just turn into chains of "this ^" and "I agree.", especially considering there's fundamentally no difference to me between those two things. Both of them are acknowledgements of a post, both of them can be assigned numerical values as a 'numbers go up' thing if you wish. I think it's a perspective thing but I disagree with seeing them as a pointless dopamine hit.

i mean in real life conversations people usually just nod or say something along the lines of "yeah you're right" which isnt that 'productive' either i guess.

...
I agree.

[vincent]

I would also like to point out to everyone that in your user control panel, you can make it so users cannot use reactions to your post if you're uncomfortable with them for whatever reason.

[techramancer]

Quoting a post and writing "^ this" adds just as little to the conversation

You make a valid point, and I'm definitely guilty of doing this, and have done it once or twice here on the forum as well.

i mean in real life conversations people usually just nod or say something along the lines of "yeah you're right" which isnt that 'productive' either i guess.

With that, though, that's more often (at least, in my experience) used as a means to let the speaker know that you're engaged in what they're saying.

[amagicmuffin]

Adding my lil bit: I would rather type out "lol" or "mhm" or something in a instant messaging chat because chat messages there seem more ephemeral, seem like they don't matter as much. Throwing a lower effort "mhm" in there while a chat's participants are typing up a storm is totally acceptable to my mental model because everything's getting pushed up anyways.

However, in a forum like this where it seems like everyone's making big contributions, I'm more hesitant to take up what my brain views as more valuable pixel space with an entire post's height's worth of Re: {title} Author: {amuffin} Date: {} "mhm" {Author Signature}.

It's interesting that even on instant messaging, I like using reactions in more formal settings eg with my boss.

[lethaloxygen]

I'm really glad you guys decided to add reactions to the forum. I have social anxiety, and find it really hard to make conversation with people I don't really know, especially in a place like a forum, where you're expected to actually contribute something to the conversation. Even now I'm re-thinking sending this message because it doesn't really add anything. But I do still want to show that I agree with something and/or like it. I also think it'd be a good idea to add more reactions like lol and other things. I completely get the people who are saying they'd rather someone just post 'lol' or 'this ^', but my social anxiety doesn't really let me do that. But that's just my perspective.