Facebook has done a strange thing to the internet.  Users want people to agree with them to 'like' what they have said.  It is feedback that people strive for and I feel we need some type of system for positive feedback on the forum.  Liking something works both ways.  It shows the person who said it someone agrees with them and the person liking they are not the only that feel a certain way.

I don't want the forum to be facebook or be any more like facebook than it already is.  I have mentioned the desire to have this type of system in place in the past and it is generally met with different responses often positive.  I think if done properly this can be a very good thing.  If done improperly it will simply be a toy in GD with "like whoring" becoming a thing.


So WHY should there be a feedback system that is instant and easy for agreement?  
 If you look across the forum there are basically two main sections the technical forums and the general forums.  The feedback system would be of use in both of these sections.  

• In the technical section a poster can ask a question and have it answered in the first minute of being on the board.  The question may be a semi straight forward and the first poster can answer clearly with the correct information.  Today the answer is quoted and a person types "this" or "FPNI" underneath and goes on with his day.  The second post has simply bumped the answered question to the top of the board again possibly covering other unanswered questions.  With an agreement button of some kind the second poster can simply 'like' the post and then move on with his day.  When the original poster comes back to see his question answered with several in agreement that is all she wrote.  This also helps so that moderators are not swimming through 50 posts stating "buy a colt".  If a poster answers that others can agree and move on.


• In the general sections users could 'agree' in the same fashion as they quote tree now.  The hope is that it can create or cater to actual discussions between posts rather than 4 character replies

A simple button to agree is an option to make the forum easier to read and wade through especially for new shooters/members.  Right now new shooter threads can be a sea of fan boys each screaming to buy what they have bought.  Some threads in GD are actually worth reading.  The content is generally so spaced out that it isn't worth trying to read through to get to the good stuff.

As with any new shiny stuff there are possibilities of abuse or misuse.  Only a +/like/agree button should be present not a down button.  The mentality behind this is that if you disagree or do not like what is being said your recourse is already in place.  If the case of 'buy a colt' isn't something you like you should reply with WHY the user should not just buy a colt.  If you dislike it because it is something that is against the rules you should be reporting it not down voting etc.

I think it is important to stress this should not be a cumulative part of the forum such as post count.  It should not be a popularity contest but a tool to allow users to agree that something is correct when they have nothing else to add.  I often times do not bother to post in new shooters questions if they have already been answered.  I don't feel the need to drive my post count up arbitrarily and then get it updated in my subscriptions every time someone else agrees as well.  I would gladly click a like/agreement button though.

TL:DR

1. A like or agree button for each post.  Clicking says "user name" agrees at the footnote of the post.


2. There is no dislike.  Dislike/disagree should be a post saying why you disagree or if a violation of the rules report


3. Agreement or likes are not tallied up there is no running count it is only for the post


4. ......


5. profit

I don't care about what other forums are doing.  I don't want a popularity contest.  I stated It would not be a cumulative number I think that is the most important aspect to making it not like others.  There are other forums that use a variation of this but they have cumulative likes which breeds that popularity contest you talked about.  I won't link those forums because there is no reason to cross post other gun related forums that do not sponsor this site.  

I think the wording for it would be essential.  I think "agree" is the best way to do it really.  This in no way hinders discussion on the forum but instead helps keep a cleaner version where the agreement quote posts are not there to break up the flow of the conversation.  

The following things are bad.
Keeping track of likes or dislikes
A thread with 15 responses with quotes saying "this" because of a 4 character rule
A thread with 15 responses saying the same exact thing
Threads over taking new questions with no added content

the following things are good
Fast answers to questions with confirmation that the answer was indeed correct
Threads not bumping to the top of the subscription list when no new conversation has been added
Moderators not having as many responses added up making it easier to catch issues before they become problems.

If I agreed with your post I could have "agreed" to it.  Instead I disagreed and told you the reasons why.

You can remove clutter not add it.  So new guy comes in and says what trigger should I get.  

I would respond with it depends on your budget and application but I suggest geissele.  That might get a few agrees and some one else may resold with the sticky about trigger reviews.   With agrees there is no need to continue saying geissele over and over Bumping the thread which is already a monstrous dupe.

That wasn't clear.

Not cumulative in terms of it wouldn't say the total post count and "like" count.   It would say nickforney and 7 other people agree.  

I was a moderator in the basics forum believe me I know people won't stop dupes.  I do believe it would cut some clutter if used.