I have read posts lately that I wanted to Like but couldn’t find a Like button. Instead, I engaged my brain to find a few words I could comment to show my appreciation.
Often, with a full inbox, it’s tempting to Like without commenting
– this is often possible from an email without even opening the post. But I don’t see how that benefits anyone: either the writer, who’s getting spurious feedback, or the reader, who hasn’t read the post.
Unless (heaven forbid) the ‘reader’ who Likes the post they haven’t read is merely hoping the blogger will reciprocate by visiting their own blog. (This is particularly obvious if they’re selling something.)
Now, I try to find a few pertinent words to comment. After all, if I can’t identify why I like a post, how can I identify what will interest others in my own posts? And how will the writer know what has sparked this reader’s interest?
So – although I’m a relatively new blogger, and every Like is an award
– I’ve turned off the Like button on my WordPress blogs.
You’ll know if it all goes pear-shaped when my Like button reappears.
Experienced bloggers please
enlighten me. What am I depriving myself of – other than a confidence boost – by eliminating Likes to my posts?
Stop Press: As of September 2019 the Like button is back, since I discovered the Reblog button disappeared with it. (Not that I get reblogged, but I can dream, can’t I?)
I will always read a post before I press the like button. Sometimes I can’t summerise, my thoughts adequately in a few words but like to show my appreciation or support.
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Ah, but that’s you, Phil. I suspect these guys wanting to sell me their editing services, web hosting, courses or financial products haven’t bothered (especially the financial products).
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I am the same as Phil, I make sure I read before I leave a like. If I have things to say I will leave a comment, otherwise, the like button enable me to show a token of appreciation to the writer/post quickly.
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I confess, I’m finding it difficult to ignore the Like button on other people’s posts, but I’m working on it. I’ll just have to learn to type quicker
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I have mixed feelings about the “Like” button. In general, at least for me, a high number of “like’s” will go along with a high number of “comments.” I too am a bit suspicious of people who have never read any of my posts before but give me a “Like.” Yes, they are often trying to sell something.
For my regular readers though, I interpret a “Like” as at least keeping along the same lines of what I normally share and which they appreciate along the same lines as before. When a regular reader leaves a comment, that’s like “gold” in a way because it lets me know that there was something special in what I shared, something beyond just the normal everyday “chicken story.”
I do follow a few writers who don’t have a “Like” button at all. I follow them because I usually benefit in some way from what they have shared. But I have to admit that it seems odd not to have a “Like” button because it sort of says, “I don’t care what you think.” And although that may be true, it does make me say to myself, “Well, if you don’t care what I think, why am I even bothering to read what you have written?”
For me, I like the “Like” button. But this is mostly because I have a hard time knowing whether what I’ve written is good or bad. To me, it’s all good because it’s about my chickens! So I’m blinded, I guess you could say, to anything about my chickens. If it’s about my chickens, it’s got to be good because they are so wonderful, at least in my eyes. The writing could be absolutely awful, but I’d never know because I’m so very fond of my chickens!
Anyway, that’s about it! Thanks!
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I’m looking on it as an experiment. I may well change my mind after a couple of lonely months and quietly reinstate it with my tail between my legs. A learning experience.
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It all really is a learning experience for sure. Best wishes to you always!
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Hi. I find there isn’t time to comment on every article I read. So, the Like button often comes into play for me. Take care.
Neil Scheinin
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Me too, but I’m trying not to. Trouble is, there’s no time left for my writing :(. I look on it as a learning experience.
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i agree. i like the like button because its a faster way to say a post was an enjoyable read. because i usually read the blogs i follow on my phone, i dont bother to correct my non-capitalizations, as u can see, due to my being a poor texter on my phone. so i much like the like button 🌅😄
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I’ve kept it on my comments – as you can see
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I wrote my post today as a response to yours. Thanks for the chance to rethink the whole issue.
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I’ll go along and read that. thanks for commenting
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You know, I don’t use social media. WordPress is it for me so I may not fully understand the etiquette. But when I read something, I “like” it to acknowledge that I’ve read it and appreciate what’s written. I don’t always have time to comment thoughtfully, so unless I have something right there in my head, I just leave the like.
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I confess, since giving up the Like button, I’m not getting much writing done… I’m also learning to be more selective about which posts I open. (I may be missing out on some useful stuff). The jury’s still out. Thanks for commenting.
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Of course. Good luck with the experiment. Lol.
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I think this is a fair position to take- I’ve seen a few people over the years do this for the same reason and I think it makes sense. I do like the like button to be fair- but that’s cos I like to show appreciation and sometimes I’m exhausted/don’t have the words to express what I’m thinking beyond “I liked it”- which the like button nicely sums up 😉
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I’m missing that growing line of icons, but I’ll give it a couple of months before I decide. Thanks for adding your thoughts.
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I quite ‘like’ the like button, but I’m not entirely sure why because as you say, there’s little benefit when people can like without reading or ‘like’ loads of things in the hope of getting reciprocation. The issue I’m finding is that I follow quite a few blogs & always try to read and support some of the amazing bloggers I love, but I spend hours doing it every day.. when I fall behind, which is also every day, I start panicking and stressing because I don’t want people thinking I’m not bothered because I do genuinely care. That said, I’m left with little time for writing my actual blog. So it’s a tricky one. I do think there’s more value to words and comments, of course. When I see someone I’ve not come across before ‘like’ a post I tend to check out their blog and read a few of their posts, and I’ll follow if I like what they’re writing about. But I do the same if someone’s left a comment, too. I think it’s a good thing to try, Cathy, see how it goes and whether to keep it like-button-free or not.. 🙂
Caz xx
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I completely relate to that. I sometimes think I’m spending more time sifting through blog emails and commenting than I am blog-writing. not to mention story-writing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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This is basically me. I spend more time supporting other bloggers than writing my own posts, so I can’t always comment. However, I’ve been undergoing a process of trimming down my “followed” list so that I can devote more time to my favorite bloggers.
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I’ve recently had a cull as well. I haven’t stopped Following but I have stopped automatic emails from the ones I find I’m deleting from the inbox. I just have to remember to go to my Reader from time to time to catch up.
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Courageous decision. I appreciate that.
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Thank you.
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Nice post. It’s hard for me to keep up sometimes, but if I miss a few posts I’ll always circle back
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I know what you mean. I just spent 27 hours in the air and I’m still catching up! Thanks for circling back.
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😁 Wow, that’s a lot of flying time. Catch up on some rest too
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Sounds like a great idea, although my understanding is that only WP accounts can Like a post with anyone can Comment (or vice versa), so guess it’s a catch-all to have both?
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I’m still missing that little line of icons, but sticking it out for a couple of months
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Firstly thank you for the follow, Cathy…Secondly I always read before I like and sometimes don’t like because I haven’t enjoyed the read, sometimes I wish there was a love it or haha button…I comment if I have something to say and some posts even though I like them maybe I feel I just don’t have adequate words to say and Nice post doesn’t really cut it for me…Your outcome will be interesting at best( I hope) or as you say the like button with just reappear 🙂
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Thanks for dropping by. I do seem to be getting more interaction since I took off the Like button, but that may be because I’m taking more trouble myself to think of a comment on other’s blogs. Sometimes though there’s nothing I can think of, so I am still guilty of clicking (unless, as you say, I don’t).
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