I took a few metaphorical steps back from my monitor today, and considered my relationship with 'Like' buttons (I know, Google, you like to be a bit different from everyone else, and you can label them +1, or anything else that takes your fancy, but they will still be 'Like' buttons). When they first appeared on Facebook, the idea of declaring to the world that I like, for example, Nike (I don't, particularly, but I don't dislike them [it?], particularly, either) seemed weird to me. But then I don't really do that brand loyalty thing. Where is the 'Indifferent' button when you need it?
If a product or service meets my definition of good, then I might buy, and possibly recommend it, for as long as that product or service continues to meet my definition of good. I might also be influenced, when looking at a new product or service, by my assessment of previous products or services, from the same source. What I won't do is make excuses for a poor product or service out of (misplaced) loyalties.
In the real world, I shy away from buying products which amount to not much more than an advert for their manufacturer (it really is a marketing coup when you get your customers to pay for the 'privilege' of advertising your product). The way the 'Like' button was promoted seemed to be the online version of the same thing, albeit considerably cheaper.
I use 'Like' buttons now, mostly to express my appreciation of what someone has written, or perhaps a photograph or graphic they've posted. Occasionally, I 'Like' pages (eg. Grief Beyond Belief) to show my support for what it stands for, provides, or promotes. I have yet to 'Like' a commercial product page.
Two things happened recently which prompted me to think about why I click 'Like'. Firstly, this post on Sam Harris's blog, and secondly the introduction of the 'Like Stream' on Diaspora*. Sam Harris's post is the transcript of an interview with Daniel Kahneman, who has a new book out called Thinking, Fast and Slow, which I haven't read, but it's on my ever expanding to read list. Sam's first two questions are about our use of intuition and/or reasoning to determine our actions.
The new Diaspora* 'Like Stream' displays only those posts which you have 'Liked', a handy feature which allows you to more easily find that funny graphic which made you LOL a while back, and which you'd now like to share with Aunty Gladys. Looking through my 'Like Stream', Daniel Kahneman's answers to Sam's questions came to mind, and got me thinking about my relationship with 'Like' buttons. Some days I'm click-happy, something akin to being trigger-happy, but without the resulting carnage, but other days will find me analysing what I really think before I click, usually resulting in far fewer 'Likes', but more comments.
And while I'm on the subject of 'Likes', please spare a few moments to think about a new breed of junkie, the 'Like' junkie. These are the people who implore you to 'Like my page!' and judge their personal worth by the number of 'Likes' they get. Sigh.
"So, EVERYBODY, like my page!" he cried, wiping away a little drool from his chin, desperate, wild eyes darting to and fro, manic grin distorting his features.
If you were crazy enough to click that last link you will now know that my Facebook page is not much more than a mirror for my posts here!
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