Recently I’ve noticed several new users of the forum who go about liking every single post in a thread, presumably not because they actually value the content, but because they want to get one of the badges that I named in the title.
Is this what liking is for? I personally use my likes to mark posts that I find interesting, amusing or valuable, and in a discussion it becomes clear which posts are worth reading by looking at the number of likes. It also shows to a certain extent what the general consensus is on the forum during discussions.
Furthermore, I get a notification with every like, and I usually get excited by notifications, since it could be a thoughtful response to something I posted. It’s a little disappointing when it’s only some likes on old posts without any engagement.
Is this just me, or do others agree that these badges stimulate behaviour that is not necessarily beneficial to our forum? It’s a rather minor issue anyway, and in no way do I intend to criticise those who try to get the badges, just curious to the general opinion.
It’s possible to turn off or decrease the notifications for likes in the settings.
Maybe some people are gaming for those badges, but it seems to be only a handful at best. At least once they get those badges, they might slow down, if that’s all that they were liking for.
I think it’s the kids here who want to “collect” badges, like “achievements” in a game. They also want to be “friends” with, and play with, mods/admins. Maybe we should create autograph cards for them <jk>
I think we shouldn’t worry too much about it, it will pass.
Mh… not sure, I think that may be taking it a little bit too far. I wouldn’t want to encourage such behaviour, and I for one do NOT “like” every one of their posts, and sometimes I counter them (maybe a bit harshly), to show my disapproval (of the post/comment, not the person!), just like I do not accept every game invitation (I still don’t like the word “challenge”, reminds me too much of those challenges in Western movies where gunslingers are “challenged”).
But overall … they’re children, and we (i.e. OGS) want to be a kid-friendly site also. I think we had a rush of kids recently, some school (or even Go school), I think. Let’s welcome them—while at the same time teaching them Go etiquette and netiquette also.
Now I came to a problem. I like every post in this thread and feel they have something to add to the conversation. What do I do now??? I don’t want to break this thread by breaking the rule that is valid.
Edit: @trohde, I would like your post because it has a good message and is directed towards me, but then I would be destroying this thread from the inside. Great post though!
IIRC, if you click those notifications, you’re taken to a page where you can see ALL those comments/posts at once, no need to visit every single one; this I find very practical.
I know, although I then scroll and find old notifications or accidentally clear the other notifications that I want to look at. I don’t know if I will still have that notification if I don’t, and I don’t want it that to happen.
I for one am young enough (feels like sixteen) to look at every of my “liked” posts, just to see which one it was 
