Oh, LJ...

[snowgrouse]

...I have been thinking about that LJ Like button thing for ages because it's just so awfully quiet here these days. I think it's all the microblogging stuff that just allows people to like posts and then move on that's made them more lazy when it comes to actual communication in the blogosphere. And of course, I prefer good conversation, but

Comments

[kalypso_v]

Yes, I do get your point; when I first looked at AO3, I thought "Oh, kudos is just a way of saving lazy people from having to comment." But now I've got my own stories on AO3, and have got used to the idea that people hardly ever comment, it does mean something to get kudos, because I know that someone liked that story even if I have no idea why. And comments are difficult to write, especially on fic; I often have to go away and think for a couple of hours before working out what I want to say, because "OMG I loved this!" doesn't tell the writer anything more than kudos does; and I can see that a lot of readers aren't going to bother with a detailed response, so kudos/like is a way of registering support without putting in the effort. And of course, at busy times of the year like this I just haven't time to respond as I might wish to. Must get back to work now.

[snowgrouse]

I love, love, love even the "OMG I LOVED THIS!", I really do--I just think people are too nervous to leave comments, especially if they do like the writing a lot, because then they will be comparing the prose to their own flailing or something. If I've read something poetic and sizzlingly hot, I do feel like a bit of an idiot going to the comments and just going "UNF UNF UNF, this was hot" or something. (Many readers, I think, forget that even the people who can write powerful and serious prose can be derpy drooling fangirls themselves at times, and the prose in my ToB fics has been so demanding and poetic that I worry it does scare some people off commenting

[kalypso_v]

Yes, I'd much rather get comments - but it's still better to know that someone read and enjoyed than to feel that no one even noticed.

you've got me thinking about the crazy difference between the amount of people who read a story and the ones who even click on the kudos button

I'm much prouder of the story with seven hits and three kudos than the one with 758/20!

[snowgrouse]

Yeah, the ratio is... something that really makes you think. I've found that there's a higher ratio of kudos and/or comments in proportion to the amount of readers in the fics that only really hardcore fanfic fans will read --meaning anything that isn't porn. Porn gets more readers but having 4100 hits/39 kudos on my most popular story just makes me wonder if the porn got too samey or squicky halfway through. But then again, people might be too embarrassed to even click on kudos when it's a really naughty story, so what the fuck do I know. And yet I am really positively surprised that that one teen-rated Devil's Whore fic of mine has 91 hits and 9 kudos *and* that an actual history teacher gushed over it on LJ. But it's rare to get comments like that any more. Sometimes I wonder if it's only us older fans and/or a certain type of excited puppydog fan that comments.

[cavefelem]

The thing is that often the things you write that are the most touching or thought-provoking, the ones you've put the most of yourself into, are the hardest for me to comment on. Sometimes the thoughts that arise are so large and complex, I would rather let them percolate in my brain for a while and then maybe write something of my own that was inspired by it later. Sometimes I can clearly feel how important the thing is for you, and I don't want to ruin it for you by possibly saying the wrong thing or getting something out of it that you didn't intend.

For those cases I would really love to have the like button.

[snowgrouse]

Once again, I'm not yelling at people for not commenting in general (and I still feel awkward because I think you're pussyfooting around me far too much. You're one of the few people who ever even get what I'm saying and are probably the unlikeliest to say something that'd upset me). Because I understand it when it's difficult to think of a comment. I often have a hard time of thinking of anything to say and then I just end up going off on a mini-rant in the comments of someone's and later realise how blinkered and self-centered I've been again, talking about my own pet peeves or going off on a tangent. So I'd need some sort of thinking buffer myself, really. Which is why we need that sodding like button D:

[snowgrouse]

Fixed the link to the conversation I was referring to. Nowadays people are too nice to even go "was there supposed to be a link there?" or something when I've been an idiot and forgotten to link it properly...

[vilakins]

I typed up a comment, then went off to look for the link (and I was going to ask for it) and closed the whole window instead of a tab. I wish LJ stored the last comment as they do for post drafts.

I totally agree with what you said in the comm.

Anyway, I echo some of the above, that often I can't think of what to say to certain deeply felt posts that would be at all useful or consoling other than perhaps "hugs".

Even on Facebook however (and I'm there as it was the only way to stay in touch with people who moved there) I sometimes can't use "like" as it's just inappropriate. Maybe LJ could provide "like" and something more, e.g. "agree" or even "hugs".

I'm with kalypso_v about kudos on AO3; I enjoy getting it as it means someone read and enjoyed. Like me, some people do leave comments when they have something to say, but a button when you can't think of anything other than "I liked this!" is so useful

[snowgrouse]

The hugs button would be a good idea--if someone posts about something really miserable having happened to them, a "like" does indeed feel inappropriate. I think that a lot of the time, people are too awkward about leaving even the "hugs" comment, even when they do read and are sympathetic--god knows how many posts I've scrolled past and have felt that but haven't commented, and feel bad about that

[vilakins]

I don't comment on people's fandom rants (and luckily I don't come across many) because I'm unlikely to change their minds. Just back away slowly. (Though I'd use an :agree" button for some of the old RTD ones.)

Sorry, but I have to say that I love the Moff, and Sherlock!

Maybe the Russians will ask for buttons. We can hope.

[snowgrouse]

I was just thinking that maybe I should ask for a like button in Russian and then they'd listen. Time to figure out how to say that in Russian...

[abates]

I know a lot of the time I write a comment somewhere and then at the last minute chicken out and not post it. A forum I frequent has just introduced like buttons recently and they work well.

I don't understand the argument that it will make LJ more like Facebook. No, it won't! Lots of sites have like buttons. Google has their plus button or whatever. It's like saying that if we make the trains run on time, it will make the country more like fascist Italy.

[snowgrouse]

Yeah, loads of places have those buttons anyway. I'm not sure if I'd want to have my personal posts judged with upvote/downvote arrows but I'd sure as hell like a like button.

[abates]

I wonder if opinion on the issue might have changed since that post. If you do suggest it again, I'd sure support it.

[snowgrouse]

I have thought of it, but I'm really not feeling like being yelled at, because I still think that'd be the most common response:(

[misanthrope_mom]

I won't deny that the desire for a like button is high, but I just recently came back to LJ, and you didn't really know me well back when I was around, and I know you get kinda creeped out by strangers.

You're amazing, I just don't say anything when I don't have anything to say.