Louie May 12, 2023
Marcus

I think Mastodon people should use the "like" button more.

People are told not to like because liking doesn't broadcast posts like boosting does, and the site needs boosts. And replies are preferred because they're deeper engagement or something.

But, on some level, we want people to keep using Mastodon. If someone posts something and followers like it, they know stuff is getting seen here and they'll want to keep using the site. I just don't see what's gained by holding back on the likes

May 12, 2023 at 2:14pmWeb
Show threadMarcusMay 12, 2023

There's tons of posts you enjoy seeing for a second but don't want to boost (for all sorts of reasons), and sometimes trying to build up the energy to interact is way more work than it feels worth just try to tell someone you liked their post (even if you love interacting, you're only going to reply to a small fraction of posts you enjoyed seeing).

Those would be great times to hit that "like" button! How is it better if everyone is encouraged to just scroll past posts like that?

Show threadMarcusMay 12, 2023
Gonna have to stop answering to everyone who hits back at this by pushing the superiority of replying or conversation over "inauthentic" or "shallow" likes. For me, replying takes a *lot* of energy, even when I'm enjoying doing it. I see and appreciate way more on here than I could ever have the energy to reply to. So I see liking (here, where there's no algorithm) as a way to say to someone easily "I liked that you posted this. Thank you!" without using up all my easily-depleted social energy
Show threadMarcusMay 13, 2023

Haha, I can't keep up with replies to this post & thread at all so I'm mostly giving up! [Edit: Muting this conversation so my notifications are legible]

Lots of thoughtful and supportive and interesting responses though, truly appreciate this place. And I hope I contribute to more clicks of the star or heart thing in general!

Show threadRalph BrandiMay 13, 2023
@mrxmrt Funny that you only got 1 like on the original post (by me)
Show threadMarcusMay 13, 2023
@thereisnocat Some of that is down to the weirdness of how federation works, though (which it took me a while realize). That is, right now 1.7k+ people have liked that original post, but I think when you look at the post from your instance, you only see likes from your instance. It's possible you'd see a different number of favorites if you looked at it using different apps? Not sure about that, and I'm not sure how the boosting counter is visible relative to that
Show threadRalph BrandiMay 13, 2023
@mrxmrt That makes sense, actually. Mastodon likes are weird.
Show threadShiMay 13, 2023
@thereisnocat @mrxmrt
I see 8 likes and 167 boosts on the original post. Hmm 🤔 really weird. The boosts look like a correct number but the likes not at all. Really wonder how this number gets calculated?
Show threadmalenaMay 13, 2023
@mrxmrt funny how posts about mastodon really go viral in mastodon lately
Show threadMarcusMay 13, 2023
@seachanger Haha I was just joking that if someone really wants to make a post that gets a lot of engagement, just go post an opinion about Mastodon on Mastodon
Show threadmalenaMay 13, 2023
@mrxmrt my only truly viral post was on mastodon about mastodon
Show threadmalenaMay 13, 2023
@mrxmrt cc @redrummy
Show threadRyan The Red 🖥️🚲🍺🏳️‍🌈May 13, 2023
@seachanger @mrxmrt Um, I ilke this place, but why am I tagged here?
Show threadmalenaMay 13, 2023
@redrummy @mrxmrt you were wondering about making friends and finding followers! Just post about masto on masto!
Show threadRyan The Red 🖥️🚲🍺🏳️‍🌈May 13, 2023
@seachanger Okay, hello @mrxmrt
Show threadDarren du NordJun 15, 2023
@mrxmrt like are welcome. Like away, friends!
Show threadkatherine montaltoMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt I love getting likes! I love when someone takes time to let me know they like my post.
Show threadMittenGirlPeachMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt totally agree!
Show threadJustNateMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt I like posts and no weird, argumentative nerd on the internet is gonna make me stop. Additionally, just because i personally enjoy a post does not mean I want to endorse it with my own bandwidth. ⭐️
Show threade.w. isquithMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt yeah. it doesn’t seem necessary to me that we moralize how we express approval and how we seek little endorphin hits by receiving approval in turn… we don’t need to be so Calvinist about everything!
Show threadRhiannon GrantMay 13, 2023
@mrxmrt I agree - a like here is still feedback and can help build connections and friendships. I often notice who sends them and am more likely to make the effort to reply or otherwise interact in future.
Show threadknapjackMay 14, 2023
@Adam_Cadmon1 @mrxmrt I use Honk for my Fediverse feed and it has no likes (either direction), so I sympathize. I sometimes reply back with "💯" to save the energy, or when I want to support what they said but have nothing additional to add to the conversation.

I nearly did it just now. 😁

Show threadRev. GothAliceMay 12, 2023

@mrxmrt I absolutely use both, with minor complication if I'm replying to something. Do I boost the root of the thread? My reply?

Likes are separate. I might like but not boost, or boost and not like. Or both. Boosting without liking: I agree the message needs to be seen, but might not agree with it. Like without boost: I agree with it, but those that follow me are possibly not in a relevant domain.

Both: aw hells yes. 🧈🥬💃

Show threadSheets ΡϘͲMay 14, 2023
@alice @mrxmrt that is so funny - I just use liking in this contexr as saving a post for later and unlike it once I have boosted it.
Show threadRev. GothAliceMay 15, 2023
@PepperQT @mrxmrt One aspect where there is a bit of algorithm; I use bookmarks as “save for later”, which can influence the “what’s trending” instance moderation activities. Bookmark counts aren’t seen by the post author; un-liking seems almost hurtful. 😜
Show threadkcǃMay 12, 2023

@mrxmrt exactly! I go by the rules:

if it brings joy, then favorite;
if it will bring others joy, boost;
to remember later, bookmark;
and if there’s something to add (that hasn’t been said already), comment!

Show threadGaryMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt Yeah I like if I like something. An algorithm never came into it for me. And I like it when someone favorites something I post too.
Show threadthefathippyMay 13, 2023

@mrxmrt
I already engaged, so don't expect much more...

But... THIS ☝️☝️☝️

Show threadThiernaMay 13, 2023
@mrxmrt where did you get the advice to scroll past?
I have seen so may posts from people telling they are happy to like and get likes. And only yours stating you were told to not like.
Show threadAnxietocracyMay 13, 2023
@mrxmrt I'm still new here, but my thinking on fedi 'likes' is that when I appreciate a post, but don't have anything substantial to add to the discussion, I have a way to send that signal without cluttering up the conversation for others who are more fully engaged with the topic.
Show threadInaya Shujaat عنايه شجاعت 🇳🇿🇵🇸Jun 14, 2023
@mrxmrt I honestly feel like there's a bit of snobbery in much of the fediverse when it comes to "likes." Folks go on about there not being an algorithm, as if that was the only reason to ever let anyone know that you liked what they posted. We talk about Mastodon being like the old days of the internet, but people fail to understand that we expressed appreciation all the time back then, long before an algorithm even existed!
Show threadWedgeJun 14, 2023
@mrxmrt I am a big "liker" and was totally bummed how it is so looked down on here. Why? It's just another way to say, me too!, or aww, nice! or you're not alone...
Show threadTom WatsonMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt
Ironically I'm boosting this to show people it's ok to just like posts.
Show threadmichael fulgenziMay 12, 2023

@mrxmrt

Liked and boosted and replied to this one!

Show threadDrewMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt I agree. I think a ‘like’ is a good way of saying I enjoyed your post, or I agree with your statement when there isn’t much more to add to a reply other than agreement. I try to Boost posts I think my friends and followers would find interesting.
Show threadRom | Tapas in the sunMay 12, 2023
@drewwestcott @mrxmrt I agree with this 100%. If you boost everything you like, followers are likely to block your boosts. My posts are mainly about film photography, so I’m more likely to boost posts about that topic. I acknowledge other posts I enjoy with a like.
Show threadPJ "Vote Green" CoffeyMay 12, 2023

@tapasinthesun

It is possible to hide boosts which can be necessary and you can temp mute people for a day or 6.

@drewwestcott @mrxmrt

Show threadRom | Tapas in the sunMay 12, 2023
@Homebrewandhacking @drewwestcott @mrxmrt When I said that I “block boosts”, I meant hide boosts. If I find boosts from someone I follow to be irritating or off topic, that’s what I do. But, that defeats the point of boosts!
Show threadmorphMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt ⭐
Show threadMarcusMay 12, 2023
@morph LOL
Show threadDan Wentzel 🏳️‍🌈May 12, 2023
@mrxmrt I am “liking” and boosting this post. If all a “like” does is tell the author that you appreciated their post, what is the harm? Why be stingy with our appreciation.
Show thread🐚 Undo Influence 🐚May 12, 2023

@danwentzel @mrxmrt

It's not *stingy*. JFC.

Show threadMichelle HughesMay 12, 2023

@mrxmrt

At least on my instance, I can full-text search the stuff that I've liked. So even if I don't want to boost it, if I'm ever in a conversation that reminds me of something I saw on mastodon, I can search for it if I've liked it.

Show threadMarcusMay 12, 2023
@MegaMichelle Oh, that seems super useful! I don't know if my instance works that way, I'll have to look into it
Show threadMargaret MoonshadowMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt I agree and I practice this philosophy as much as possible.
Show threadStygian LizardMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt All these people boosting this post and not liking.👀
Show threadZavMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt ironic that this post has more boosts than likes...
Show threadNona RoseMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt I don’t have a problem with lack of likes. I do have a problem with lack of boosts and/or actual interaction. Maybe people just don’t care enough about what I post to engage in that way. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I see so many posts with no likes and heaps of boosts and it makes me wonder what I’m doing wrong.
Show threadPJ "Vote Green" CoffeyMay 12, 2023

@nona80_swanette

I was wondering about that. A lot of your posts are boosts, so you won't see any interaction on those. You'll only see favs and boosts on your personal work.

It's not like elsewhere where every time you RTd you'd get notified.

@mrxmrt

Show threadNona RoseMay 12, 2023
@Homebrewandhacking @mrxmrt no, I understand that. I was meaning on my actual posts. I boost because I want to share the love and want other people to see the cool stuff other people are posting. I don’t expect hundreds of boosts for my posts but it’s disheartening when you know people have seen it because they are liking it but they don’t like it enough to share it with anyone or aren’t engaged enough to have a conversation about it. I guess I shouldn’t expect social media to be social.
Show threadPJ "Vote Green" CoffeyMay 12, 2023

@nona80_swanette

Yeah that sucks. :-/ I spent 3 years shouting into a void on Twitter and tootling along replying to stuff, and it was OK. Not good but I got along.

@mrxmrt

Show threadNona RoseMay 12, 2023
@Homebrewandhacking @mrxmrt I find this better than Twitter but only marginally in terms of engagement. I just like the lack of hate here.
Show threadPJ "Vote Green" CoffeyMay 12, 2023

@nona80_swanette

It's much nicer that's true. The disagreements are frosty rather than vicious.

I want to say you're a Swans fan. 😀

Show threadNona RoseMay 12, 2023
@Homebrewandhacking I am a swans fan ❤️ who is off to work on this coolish Saturday morning then off to watch the Sydney Swans play footy.
Show threadNullNoMoreMay 12, 2023

@mrxmrt - I posted a silly thing because I thought exactly one person would like it and they did! It was never worth a boost, but it had value.

Also, I now have a very long scroll of past likes to look at when I'm in that mood. So many bot pictures of goats and cats and volcanoes.

Show threadEllenInEdmonton May 12, 2023
@mrxmrt I’m big on liking and sparing with boosts, which can easily clutter up timelines. I hide boosts from most of the folks I follow because I prefer to engage with original content. Please don’t be shy about replying to posts either! Connections are what make this place great.
Show threadMarcusMay 12, 2023

@EllenInEdmonton I think that attitude about boosts makes sense (and is how I think most people feel), though I try to remember that the design of Mastodon relies on boosts in order for posts to circulate, so the site kind of necessitates more boosting than most people really like to do or see.

FWIW, shyness or not, replying takes a *lot* of energy for me, even when I'm having fun doing it. If I start to question myself for not replying enough, it makes me less likely to interact in general

Show threadEllenInEdmonton May 12, 2023
@mrxmrt Well, thanks for taking the energy to reply. I try not to invest myself too much in the outcome of my replies. Some boosting is essential but there are some folks who only boost. It’s a bit like posting memes on Facebook with less curation.
Show threadAmiW Streetart ❄️May 12, 2023
@mrxmrt 👍😘💕
Show threadM. Ocampo McIvorMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt I'm fairly new here and only check maybe once a week. I didn't realize people were hiding back on likes, how odd!
Show threadcleverpidgeonMay 12, 2023
@mrxmrt i've always been a big like button user on pretty much every site i've been on that's had one. it's nice to get and to give likes. i like likes :)