I can't really wrap my head around "likes" here. For example, I like to respond to users and try to let them know I relate to something they wrote or have been through something similar, which I think it's very important to know someone relates to you, and that almost never gets a "like." But then I'll get a like for something that I really have no idea why, lol. So, I'm just wondering how other people use the "like" button on this forum. List anything that makes you want to hit "like."
Generally it seems like people like stuff if it either applies to them directly in some way like an 'I've been there and agree' or 'this helped me too even though I'm not the original poster' type of thing, or just to show support for a really detailed or a kind post. I also use it on pretty much every post that quotes, tags, or mentions me just as a way to show people I read their post even if I didn't respond.
If I agree with what someone is saying; If someone's response helps me in some way (even if directed at someone else)
I use the "like" feature to either show that I agree with what someone said, or if I felt that their post was really helpful, insightful, or deep either to the original poster, or to other people in the thread that may also find it helpful for them, or even myself.
We (the admins) thought quite a bit about whether to implement the 'like' functionality at all, as we were concerned about it becoming a popularity contest which is inadvertently shaming (people basically farming likes, or being really concerned about whether they got likes on their posts and such.) So we limited the functionality to the support forums, with the intent that people would 'like' posts they concur or agree with, or feel some connection to. And for the most part it seems to be working that way. What we don't want is for anyone to use the 'like' functionality as a measure of worthiness or popularity or anything else. It's pretty much intended for what most people above have indicated. It's also sort of in an indefinite trial period. If it were to become problematic, or we were to see signs of the sort of 'like farming' or popularity, or focus on likes that are common on many other social media sites, we'd likely discontinue it. But so far, it seems to be working, and seems to be beneficial.
I usually like - as a thank you - to say that I would say the same but would have worded it worse probably - insightful, helpful, etc
