MarcusMay 12, 2023

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

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 threadknapjack
@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. 😁

May 14, 2023 at 2:52pmWeb