Telly Talk's "Reaction" function (Likes, etc.)

[Mel O'Drama]

There's been some interesting discussion about these over in a thread on the Dynasty forum, which seems worth spinning off, The Colbys style...

To open things up, here for your perusal are some comments from @Snarky Oracle, @Willie Oleson and @Richard Channing..

This why the "optimistic" smiley is sorely missed.

There's still the passive-aggressive "informative" smiley.

It's useless even when it's used properly.
If someone posts interesting news it can be "liked" or "thanked".

After that it's time to remove "cool" because...what does it even mean? Probably something like "your new dress looks...interesting".

And then it's time to bring back the big fat dislike and disagree smileys because then we all know where we stand.

Not to mention the drama and arguments they can instigate, something that's kinda lacking around here these days.

It's not about the disagreement or disapproval, it's about how you communicate that. Like, maybe explaining in words why you disagree.
There's nothing I can do with a sarcastic optimistic/informative smiley. It's just a lazy way to have the last word and ridicule someone's post in the process.

But someone got rid of those "disagree" smileys. It was too harsh.

And then someone complained that other smileys (optimistic) were too passive-aggressive --- and now 'informative' should be on the chopping block??

So, what do we think?

• Do you like our Reactions?
• Are they all clear enough, or can some be misread or cause offence?
• Do we need to have a mix of "Positive" and "Negative" reactions?
• Are there any you'd like to see given the axe?
• Any previous ones that you miss?

Let us know here...

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Just for reference, here are our current under-post reactions:

• Like
• Thank You
• Agreed
• Informative
• Ha Ha
• Friendly Hug
• Celebrate
• Winning
• Sad
• Cool
• Wow

And here are ones we've previously used which are sitting dormant:

• Cheeky (clown face )
• Angry (red, angry face)
• Dislike (thumbs down)

While there are limits to what can be done, we can re-name the reactions, and we can also (up to a point) add one or two different ones if it's felt they're needed or wanted.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

It was once discussed that one of the useful reasons for likes/smileys that it kept excessive reactive postings down (which hasn't had that effect on me, as I've made 975 posts in the month of August alone).

Others, however, have complained that the likes/smileys have squelched commentary and discussion by allowing people to hide, "passive-aggressively", behind those likes/smileys.

The disagree/dislikes were removed. Which is okay, I guess. Then the 'optimistic' option was removed (the passive-aggressive issue) and now some call for the 'informative' option removed because it's also "passive-aggressive".

So I guess that gang should make the decision, as they seem the most objective.

 

[Richard Channing]

I don't have strong feelings about it either way, but I'm not really in favour of removing any of the current ones and I'd be happy to have the old ones back too. The more options the better. I think some of them were removed in response to those wonderful, crazy days when Dallas TNT was airing when there was a lot of people posting and debate could get pretty heated. But things have changed since then, not just here, but on the internet and in the world in general, and there's been a move to make things so that, god-forbid, someone might get offended about something. But we're all adults who don't need to be molly coddled, and a more sanitized forum is frankly more boring.
So I think the more smileys the merrier and people can take them how they wish. They can always bring it up in the thread if they take issue with something. And if they create a bit more drama, then great. That's why we all ended up here, because we enjoy a bit of drama, right?

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I don't have strong feelings about it either way, but I'm not really in favour of removing any of the current ones and I'd be happy to have the old ones back too. The more options the better. I think some of them were removed in response to those wonderful, crazy days when Dallas TNT was airing when there was a lot of people posting and debate could get pretty heated. But things have changed since then, not just here, but on the internet and in the world in general, and there's been a move to make things so that, god-forbid, someone might get offended about something. But we're all adults who don't need to be molly coddled, and a more sanitized forum is frankly more boring.
So I think the more smileys the merrier and people can take them how they wish. They can always bring it up in the thread if they take issue with something. And if they create a bit more drama, then great. That's why we all ended up here, because we enjoy a bit of drama, right?

I think the folks who care the most about "passive-aggression" will decide, because they seem to be the most sensitive and care the most.

 

[Frank Underwood]

Funny, I've only ever used the "informative" reaction in a sincere way. I never even thought of it being used sarcastically.

Several years ago, a poster clicked the dislike button on many of my posts. It had nothing to do with their dislike of my posts and everything to do with their dislike of me.

Even with the negative reactions gone, I still see people use the positive reactions as a means to insult people. Like when a poster bashes another member, and their post receives the "winning" reaction from their pals. If the goal is to prevent hurt feelings, getting rid of the "mean" reactions isn't enough to do that. That's why I'd like to see the negative reactions return in order to directly convey displeasure with a particular post (including those that are only being liked to get under another member's skin.)

 

[Ome]

Firstly, I had no idea some people would view ‘cool’ and ‘informative’ as passive aggressive, so that’s quite interesting to learn.


As for the ‘disagree’ & ‘dislike’, I’ve never been able to make my mind up whether it’s a good thing or not. That said, I would be happy to bring them back if that’s what people wanted and we could keep it neutral rather than negative. As Richard said, we’re all adults and we don’t need wrapping in cotton wool (Richard didn’t say that last but, i ad-libbed at bit) and if someone was to abuse that we can deal with it rather than prevent everyone or anyone else who wishes to use it.

 

[Crimson]

I've never thought of "Informative" as anything other than an acknowledgment that some useful information was provided. Unless it's used on a post where no information is provided, I'm not really sure how it could be perceived negatively or passive-aggressively.

I would vote quite strenuously about any return of the "Disagree" or "Dislike" buttons. Talk about passive-aggressive! This forum (well, its predecessor) went through a phase of practically being a cesspool of hostility. I wouldn't blame that on the negative emotes, but they certainly didn't help! "Like" or "Agree" are self-explanatory, but "Disagree" or "Dislike" are not. If there's something a person disagrees with, then by all means state it. But if a person can't be bothered to explain their disagreement, what value does a passive-aggressive emote offer?

To anyone who may be tempted to vote for the return of those buttons, let me preemptively ask: how would you feel if a person's reply to a post of yours was simply "You're wrong"? Would you find that informative, productive or conducive to discussion? If not, why in the world would you want that in button form?

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I suppose the safer, least controversial option would be to eliminate all reaction emojis entirely except for one which says "I Love ***** !" and nothing else.

The remaining problem being that even that reaction would quickly be labeled "passive aggressive" for not being sincere enough, which would probably be true.

 

[Crimson]

I suppose the safer, least controversial option would be to eliminate all reaction emojis entirely except for one which says "I Love ***** !" and nothing else.

You're wrong.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I never really thought about all of this much til now. Personally I never really cared if anyone liked or disliked what I said as long as I didn’t offend them. I’d like to think my skin is tough enough that I can handle criticism of what I post. What I’ve learned here is ten people can watch the same show or be discussing a topic and we can all view it ten different ways. To me that’s the beauty of it. I never looked at the like, ha ha, informative, winning, cool, wow, etc buttons as anything other than just that; buttons. They mean something, yes, and I do use them, but to me they’re not words. The words and opinions I read are way more important to me, whether I agree with them or not. I would never use a dislike or disagree button. To me that would be kind of cold. I’d much rather quote someone’s post and respectfully disagree.

 

[Richard Channing]

To anyone who may be tempted to vote for the return of those buttons, let me preemptively ask: how would you feel if a person's reply to a post of yours was simply "You're wrong"? Would you find that informative, productive or conducive to discussion? If not, why in the world would you want that in button form?

Just like I don't need someone to explain why they think my post is 'winning' or why they like it, or think it's funny, I don't need an explanation as to why someone doesn't like it or disagrees. And if I did, I'd just ask.

 

[Richard Channing]

I would never use a dislike or disagree button.

Actually I rarely ever used them myself, and probably still wouldn't, but sometimes it's fun to watch how other posters use them!

 

[DallasFanForever]

Actually I rarely ever used them myself, and probably still wouldn't, but sometimes it's fun to watch how other posters use them!

It could definitely lead to some laughs! I know it wouldn’t bother me one bit if I got a disagree or dislike. I’d keep posting as usual. Even I don’t agree with some of my opinions so I’m good with it.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

All emojis can be interpreted as negative (and, of course, some are) or pandering ambivalent/passive-aggressive (and therefore negative).

And even openly-praising emojis may be deemed as sarcastic or not sufficiently sincere.

So perhaps we should either dump them all, or reduce the choices down to concrete death threats or legally-binding proclamations of marriage.

 

[DallasFanForever]

reduce the choices down to concrete death threats or legally-binding proclamations of marriage.

Pretty cut and dry, I have to say. My only criticism would be aren’t they really the same choice?

 

[Angela Channing]

I'm not a big fan of the reactions, although I do use them from time to time. I prefer people to post a comment regarding whether or not they like a post or what specifically they like, dislike or disagree with. I wouldn't be in favour of bringing back the negative reactions because they would discourage discussions as it gives someone an easy way to respond negatively without actually saying why.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Pretty cut and dry, I have to say. My only criticism would be aren’t they really the same choice?

Sometimes you just have to murder your husband.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I think the folks who care the most about "passive-aggression" will decide, because they seem to be the most sensitive and care the most

Read the first two posts.
Jeff Freilich's FC. | Forums for television shows past and present (tellytalk.net)

• Like
• Thank You
• Agreed
• Informative
• Ha Ha
• Friendly Hug
• Celebrate
• Winning
• Sad
• Cool
• Wow

LIKE has two useful purposes: 1) the obvious one and 2) to let someone know that a post-within-a-discussion has been read and that there will be no follow-up comment (for the time being).

THANK YOU if someone took the time to answer a question or post (additional) interesting facts or pictures or videos within the context of topic being discussed.

AGREED is self-explanatory and also the most important rating because it keeps threads from being unnecessarily bumped for no other reason than an "I agree" comment.

INFORMATIVE. If a post is informative does it also need to be rated as informative?
It reminds me of the "repeating same phrase" topic in the Dynasty forum.
It's like if someone posts a video and then rate it with a video smiley.

Unless it's used on a post where no information is provided, I'm not really sure how it could be perceived negatively or passive-aggressively.

It's happened to me quite a few times that my opinion which contained no new information whatsoever got an "informative" rating.
I read that as: "whatever, nobody cares what you have to say".
Now, since I'm not here to be loved or appreciated I don't care if someone thinks that my post is embarrassingly irrelevant, but it's not very nice to rub someone's nose in it. Then just don't comment or rate at all.

HA HA, same as AGREE

FRIENDLY HUG, almost always used in a positive way. And sometimes less is more.
It can be abused as a way of saying "I feel so sorry for you that you got it so very wrong and I sympathize with your inability to comprehend the issue being discussed".
But that rarely happens.

CELEBRATE, probably the most community-spirit-friendly smiley.

WINNING, to show apprecation is someone goes the extra mile or post something that pleases you very much (for whatever reason).

SAD, same as HA HA (tears and sadness and happiness)

COOL. We're discussing Dallas and Dynasty, we are never cool. But we are niche, and personally I like that even better.
As a rating it's impossible to decipher what it means. See example of the FC discussion posted above.
Shades = shady = cheeky?

WOW. Probably the most confusing one. "Wow" what? Shockingly good, surprising, sexy, bad, awful, inconsiderate?

DISAGREE

I think some of them were removed in response to those wonderful, crazy days when Dallas TNT was airing

Absolutely. I remember a psycho who rated everything with disagree even if someone agreed with him.
It shouldn't be used as ammunition.
But when I feel I got my point across and someone decides to disagree with me without stating why then I know I shouldn't waste my time elaborating since it's obvious we're not going to be on the same wavelength. That's the positive part of it.

DISLIKE. I think this is a very childish rating and nothing constructive can come from it. It's also far more personal than DISAGREE.

 

[Barbara Fan]

. I would never use a dislike or disagree button. To me that would be kind of cold. I’d much rather quote someone’s post and respectfully disagree.

I tend to use the same smilies like, agree, thanks, informative, friendly hug, haha

I would also never use the -ve ones, and I dont think they should be included as they are open to abuse by posters