Forum improvement

[brymoore]

mmm, interesting, didn't see that post from @Big Fin ...

if the forum goes real name only i'm 100% out.

Me too!

 

[Tradewind]

Happy Monday

In an effort to improve your time here on HT you will notice the like/dislike & emoji button is gone.

This will help optimize engagement using written posts and will reduce non-verbal confirmation biases.

Please enjoy your stay and have a great day!

 

[Khunter]

Happy Monday

In an effort to improve your time here on HT you will notice the like/dislike & emoji button is gone.

This will help optimize engagement using written posts and will reduce non-verbal confirmation biases.

Please enjoy your stay and have a great day!

Not a good move nor improvement that I can see. I much prefer to not wade through pages of what amounts to non content non content with pages of 'thanks for sharing' 'like' 'boo'

Was the "non-verbal confirmation bias" actually that this forum and metrics or traffic are dependent on actual posts to fluff up the numbers and emoji thumbs up/down were not providing that.

I guess I am asking what non-verbal confirmation bias and what harm was it causing?

Stating the obvious but a thumbs up etc. emoji in no less 'verbal' than saying 'like'. It literally says 'like'?

 

[MTLabrador]

Does everything really need to be so serious all the time? I don’t see what’s wrong with a bunch of guys who like to share hunting stories, talk about gear, and poke fun at each other as their primary reason for being on hunting forums.

If grown ass men are really so sensitive to internet “bullying” that’s pretty sad. People need to lighten up.

 

[El Jason]

Does everything really need to be so serious all the time? I don’t see what’s wrong with a bunch of guys who like to share hunting stories, talk about gear, and poke fun at each other as their primary reason for being on hunting forums.

If grown ass men are really so sensitive to internet “bullying” that’s pretty sad. People need to lighten up.

Like.

 

[Big Fin]

Call me paranoid , but I feel this is directed at me , somewhat .
OK , I'll stop posting funny shit .

It seems silly to me , we can't ask for help , and if we do we can't mention units . And if we do ask for help we get the same reply , do your homework . So we are just going to post about random scenarios? Local politics affecting hunting , that I can't vote on or have any impact ?
IMO , this will just lead to more bickering and more work for the mods.
I've seen this on other sites , it never improves the site , IMO .

It's your world @Big Fin and things like this are a matter of perspective so I'm sure I'm missing something . Maybe you are trying to weed out people like me , and thats ok , with me anyway .

Not directed at anyone. Not trying to weed out anyone.

 

[Big Fin]

Not a good move nor improvement that I can see. I much prefer to not wade through pages of what amounts to non content non content with pages of 'thanks for sharing' 'like' 'boo'

Was the "non-verbal confirmation bias" actually that this forum and metrics or traffic are dependent on actual posts to fluff up the numbers and emoji thumbs up/down were not providing that.

I guess I am asking what non-verbal confirmation bias and what harm was it causing?

Stating the obvious but a thumbs up etc. emoji in no less 'verbal' than saying 'like'. It literally says 'like'?

The forum and its existence have nothing to do with posts to fluff up anything, or any other metric. The only metric I care about is the number quality of the discussion and the time required to keep it operating. The intense amount of moderation required in the last six months is what is driving most of my decisions about the forum.

 

[EKYHunter]

Seems like a solution in search of a problem. So it’s better to say “wow, beautiful bull” than to hit the like or love button? How does one contribute more than the other?

 

[Big Fin]

Yep protecting grownups feelings seems to be the goal not "optimizing engagement". Not my house so not my rules and if I wanna play in another man's house I'll abide his rules. But don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining.

Nobody is pissing down anyone’s back. Your impression that this was due to folks reporting posts is incorrect. The decision has nothing to do with “protecting feelings.” Over 90% of reported posts are rejected for moderation.

 

[MTTW]

I think it would be cool if anyone who hit the report button lost forum privileges for a month, like a honeybee losing its stinger. I don't care if they are reporting the Russian.

 

[mtmiller]

I was looking for another opinion to compare with mine.

The like/dislike button is neither inherently good nor bad—it depends on how it's used and the context in which it appears. Here's a quick breakdown of both sides:

Pros (Good Aspects):​

• Feedback Tool: It provides quick, low-effort feedback to content creators or platforms.
• Personalization: Helps algorithms tailor content to individual preferences.
• Engagement: Encourages user interaction and participation.
• Community Signal: Can surface valuable or popular content.

Cons (Bad Aspects):​

• Oversimplification: Reduces complex opinions to a binary choice.
• Popularity Bias: Promotes content that is sensational or widely appealing, not necessarily good or accurate.
• Negative Impact on Mental Health: Dislikes (or lack of likes) can be discouraging, especially for smaller creators or younger users.
• Trolling and Abuse: Dislike buttons can be weaponized for mass-downvoting or harassment.

In short, like/dislike buttons are tools, and whether they're good or bad depends on how responsibly users and platforms manage them.

Do you have a specific platform or use case in mind?

 

[EKYHunter]

I was looking for another opinion to compare with mine.

The like/dislike button is neither inherently good nor bad—it depends on how it's used and the context in which it appears. Here's a quick breakdown of both sides:

Pros (Good Aspects):​

• Feedback Tool: It provides quick, low-effort feedback to content creators or platforms.
• Personalization: Helps algorithms tailor content to individual preferences.
• Engagement: Encourages user interaction and participation.
• Community Signal: Can surface valuable or popular content.

Cons (Bad Aspects):​

• Oversimplification: Reduces complex opinions to a binary choice.
• Popularity Bias: Promotes content that is sensational or widely appealing, not necessarily good or accurate.
• Negative Impact on Mental Health: Dislikes (or lack of likes) can be discouraging, especially for smaller creators or younger users.
• Trolling and Abuse: Dislike buttons can be weaponized for mass-downvoting or harassment.

In short, like/dislike buttons are tools, and whether they're good or bad depends on how responsibly users and platforms manage them.

Do you have a specific platform or use case in mind?

Is it really that complicated?

 

[mtmiller]

Is it really that complicated?

Not in my opinion. I was looking for the issue that I was missing.

 

[PoleX]

 

[Darkside]

Like.

Dislike.

 

[WildWill]

Nobody is pissing down anyone’s back. Your impression that this was due to folks reporting posts is incorrect. The decision has nothing to do with “protecting feelings.” Over 90% of reported posts are rejected for moderation.

After reading you post #119 on the region 3 thread I can understand your viewpoint a bit better. Hindsight is 20/20 but putting that explanation here at the beginning I think would have helped many (definitely me) understand the motivation behind the move better than what was offered. Not that you owe any of us a explanation as I've said your house your rules.

 

[Nameless Range]

IMO, in a perfect world there would be a like button, but the results of others clicking on it would only be visible to the person who posted the comment initially. That way you could let whoever wrote something know that you agree or that it’s good, but it would not have the madness of crowds effect and would let those who want to quote it and perhaps disagree not feel like they are up against way more than one poster’s opinion.

We are sacrificing efficiency for something but I’m not sure what. I’m a guest here though and I appreciate this place.

 

[Jnasa]

It’s funny to me how many posts are on this thread doing nothing but complaining. Complaints about QSB, complainers, whiners, sissy’s, and other terms. Yet all I’m hearing is whining from these critics.

I’ve had enough of the BS. Majority of people throwing rocks here live in a glass house.

I don’t necessarily like the removal of a like button but I don’t intend to loose any sleep over it.

I’m here to talk hunting and outdoors.

 

[DFS]

View attachment 371562

 

[Darkside]

IMO, in a perfect world there would be a like button, but the results of others clicking on it would only be visible to the person who posted the comment initially. That way you could let whoever wrote something know that you agree or that it’s good, but it would not have the madness of crowds effect and would let those who want to quote it and perhaps disagree not feel like they are up against way more than one poster’s opinion.

We are sacrificing efficiency for something but I’m not sure what. I’m a guest here though and I appreciate this place.

Like.