832. When you suddenly remember that there is a points system 833. When you find a thread you like and comment on it solely for the purpose of getting you one step closer to another badge 834. When that last one is partially a lie because I really do love this forum 835. When you come to the sudden realization that "You know it's a normal day in the forum when" is the most meta of all threads on the forum 836. When you facepalm for not realizing 835. sooner 837. When someone's post drags on for no real reason 838. When the meme thread discusses memes that have been previously posted instead of actually posting more memes 839. When you realize that in addition to 835. the "You know it's an normal day in the fourm when" thread is also a meme in and of itself 840. Ditto for the meme thread
Also forum reactions can actually be a hindrance. Because people can watch and learn what generates a lot of forum reactions. So they may actually change their behavior and not be themselves just to generate more of them.
It has been discussed many times. Overall we still think the reactions do more good than evil. But I've seen the reaction gathering posts as well. Actually we banished someone a few years ago for, among other reasons, spamming many threads with the same comment just to get reactions..
Reactions are there to reward people for posting comments that are likable, agreeable, and insightful. People like getting likes, agrees, and insightfuls, so they try a little harder to make posts that enrich the community.
Upvotes are indeed artificial, and they don't accurately measure what a forumite brings to the community. But they are not meant to determine the value of a forumite. They're just there to encourage people to contribute more to the forum. Without them, people don't try as hard, because they don't get that artificial reward.
An upvote is a digital bonbon, something that people enjoy collecting just for fun.
845. When people discuss why we have forum reactions, anyway. 846. When people wonder if Forum reactions and points are merely there, as one person long ago put it, "to measure their e-peen." 847. I wonder how soon people will discuss people bringing back dislikes and disagrees. 848. Yet, I know this will never happen.
846. When people wonder if Forum reactions and points are merely there, as one person long ago put it, "to measure their e-peen."
I've seen a forum where the unit was actually labeled "e-cock." I don't think I could tolerate being an a forum that actually used that specific label. The word itself would just be embarrassing. I mean, it was right under people's usernames.
I'm sure there are forums where people take such numbers very seriously and believe they convey rank (a view which is probably localized in the people with the high numbers and no one else), but the old-timers around here with high point counts have pretty consistently said that they are not important and should not be taken seriously. I think that's the ideal view.
@Shandyr I feel like you're taking the whole reactions things a little too personally. We're not here to get reactions, we're here to enjoy the forum, but if we get reactions it's not a bad thing to be proud of that.
That doesn't mean that it belittles people who don't get reacts, it's like you said; people have different tastes and we have to except that. Is it wrong to change yourself to get reactions? Absolutely. But it's clear that you aren't doing that, I'm not doing that, and when I look around I can't identify anyone that is doing that.
If we don't get reactions, of course it isn't going to be the end of the world, but I think being able to tell people what you think increases the feeling of camaraderie between everyone here at the forums.
Reactions are there to reward people for posting comments that are likable, agreeable, and insightful. People like getting likes, agrees, and insightfuls, so they try a little harder to make posts that enrich the community.
Comments "are" not likable, agreeable or insightful by themselves. Other people may seem them that way or not.
Someone may as well formulate a negative opinion about Beamdog and earn likes and agrees for that. Enrichment? That someone may also formulate their opinion harsher than intended to earn more reactions. Enrichment? People may overreact on purpose and post polarizing opinions just to earn more reactions. Enrichment? If a community cannot tell anymore if their members behave a certain way because that's who they are or because they want to maximize their reaction income. Enrichment? People may also spam the same content on different places on the forum to get more reactions. Enrichment?
And if people like getting reactions, then think about how people feel who don't get many reactions DESPITE TRYING. Try harder? It doesn't matter because not only do you have to try harder but you also have to cater to the tastes of the many in order to maximize your reaction income.
I feel like shit when I feel like I'm trying my best but people have different tastes (which is totally fine). But other people who do cater to the tastes of the "masses" they get more reactions. And thus their contribution is seen as more of an enrichment than mine?
Should I stop my Icewind Dale to HoMM3 project because of a low reaction income - simply because there are not as many people on this forum anymore who appreciate such a project as they did back then with my first map? Does that mean my Icewind Dale to HoMM3 project is less of an enrichment as some funny memes that get more reactions?
Do you see my way of thinking in this very comment as an enrichment? Well it was the forum reactions who paved the way to this kind of thinking in this very post that you will not give an agree, likeable nor insightful.
Because this very post is no enrichment to the community. (See what I did there? Shouldn't you change your opinion about placing an "agree" now?)
Having forum members who can drive a serious discussion (even off topic in a light hearted one) is more important than having those who attempt to farm reactions. I think those forumites enrich this community more than anything else this forum offers.
Let's put this into a different perspective. Does having reactions on posts matter? Does having forum points matter? If the answer to these questions is "no", then what is the point you are trying to make? If the answer to either of those questions is "yes", how do they matter? Is it positive or negative? What effect do you think they are having on the forum at large, if any?
450. When you find that a casual observation that you made has inspired a serious discussion, and you cannot help but feel amused at how unpredictable the future can be.
@Shandyr Sorry that was actually a typo, I meant to say you AREN'T doing that.
I profusely apologize for the implications that my typo created, that was NOT my original intention. I was trying to convey that I don't think most of us are trying to farm any reactions, at least nobody that I've noticed.
I believe this has come to a point the thread should be split. It is an interesting topic after all... I won't do it right now because there are many partially on topic comments that would look strange on a new thread.
@Shandyr I'm not saying that I don't see your points, all I'm saying is that I feel that the positive atmosphere that the forum normally has outweighs the negative aspects that you put forward, which I feel may have come across a bit too harshly. Then again, I sometimes have trouble understanding social cues and can't always identify when I'm being rude, so the same being the case for identifying if others are being rude is possible. (Hooray Aspergers!)
In any case, I would really appreciate if the thread would return to relative normalcy instead of continuing this arguably uncomfortable topic.
Comments
843. When foruming is gamefied.
Upvotes are indeed artificial, and they don't accurately measure what a forumite brings to the community. But they are not meant to determine the value of a forumite. They're just there to encourage people to contribute more to the forum. Without them, people don't try as hard, because they don't get that artificial reward.
An upvote is a digital bonbon, something that people enjoy collecting just for fun.
846. When people wonder if Forum reactions and points are merely there, as one person long ago put it, "to measure their e-peen."
847. I wonder how soon people will discuss people bringing back dislikes and disagrees.
848. Yet, I know this will never happen.
I'm sure there are forums where people take such numbers very seriously and believe they convey rank (a view which is probably localized in the people with the high numbers and no one else), but the old-timers around here with high point counts have pretty consistently said that they are not important and should not be taken seriously. I think that's the ideal view.
I feel like you're taking the whole reactions things a little too personally. We're not here to get reactions, we're here to enjoy the forum, but if we get reactions it's not a bad thing to be proud of that.
That doesn't mean that it belittles people who don't get reacts, it's like you said; people have different tastes and we have to except that. Is it wrong to change yourself to get reactions? Absolutely. But it's clear that you aren't doing that, I'm not doing that, and when I look around I can't identify anyone that is doing that.
If we don't get reactions, of course it isn't going to be the end of the world, but I think being able to tell people what you think increases the feeling of camaraderie between everyone here at the forums.
Having forum members who can drive a serious discussion (even off topic in a light hearted one) is more important than having those who attempt to farm reactions.
I think those forumites enrich this community more than anything else this forum offers.
Hmmmm, maybe this should be its own thread?
Sorry that was actually a typo, I meant to say you AREN'T doing that.
I profusely apologize for the implications that my typo created, that was NOT my original intention. I was trying to convey that I don't think most of us are trying to farm any reactions, at least nobody that I've noticed.
I'm not saying that I don't see your points, all I'm saying is that I feel that the positive atmosphere that the forum normally has outweighs the negative aspects that you put forward, which I feel may have come across a bit too harshly. Then again, I sometimes have trouble understanding social cues and can't always identify when I'm being rude, so the same being the case for identifying if others are being rude is possible. (Hooray Aspergers!)
In any case, I would really appreciate if the thread would return to relative normalcy instead of continuing this arguably uncomfortable topic.