I posted a thought on another thread about responding or not responding to others’ posts. I’ll read them and sometimes won’t respond for various reasons: maybe it was just interesting to read and that’s the extent of it; maybe I have to think about it more; maybe I don’t know about the topic.
Often there seems to be an urge, or an unspoken social etiquette (?), that we nod or respond to a statement. It’s easier when you’re with others in real life. If someone says something and you don’t respond at all, well, we often view that as rude.
Social media, online is different (obviously not including video chats). We communicate to what? People? The void? Bots? It depends. It can be a leap of faith.
Most social media sites include the ability to like, heart, thumbs up, respond, to a post. I’d say most of us here are not new to social media. We click the like button, even if it’s to acknowledge that we saw the post. Of course, not everyone does, but we certainly have been trained over these years.
I remember when Elsa had a like button here. I’m not saying I want it back or not. I’m saying, this site stands out in that it doesn’t have that. And that’s refreshing in its difference.
As someone who never chased follower numbers on any social media accounts, who’s had to start over on some many many times, who could say that she knows all about the zero heart/like posts and DGAF, I’m wondering something:
Would it seem that people who are older, did not grow up with social media (even if they do use it often now), put much value on knowing whether they’ve had engagement on a post (on any site). Compare this to kids who didn’t know life before social media even existed, who would place value on followers, engagement, because they have been…let’s face it, groomed for such.
I realize that I’m biased in thinking that it’s probably not the best thing for people to place such value on likes and hearts, but we’d probably have to destroy the entire system to undo it. Or for a family instill other values in their children, if they wish.
(I’m excluding using such engagement to track for business purposes. There is absolute value in that.)
Just a bunch of thoughts 💭
I can just tell you that we got rid of the like button thinking that people might be more willing to engage... make an investment. I often feel I am talking to myself and wonder why I bother... but then I have client that tells me they read here daily... this happens at least once a week, so I think people do read. I keep it up with them in mind... like a service.
People don't write for a myriad of reasons. Most people are so crushed right now, it's not even funny. It's almost a brave act of rebellion to post something on the internet at this point.
I don't know what to do. If there is a good answer, I can't think of it.
@elsa ive read daily for at least 10 yrs if not longer... i think thats more the likely, those that were already early readers before the crazy algorithm days are locked in
@elsa I like that there’s no Like button. It sets this site apart. What you said: engagement beyond just a button.
People being crushed. Almost as though by design? Or a result of recent events?
I never talk to other people in real life who are on sites, other than maybe Facebook, I guess. I’m not there. I really don’t talk to a huge number of people in real life, in my life, very often. Maybe 20? I don’t talk to my husband about many things because we just don’t jive like that. Science, aviation, hunting…those things.
It’s good to see people here talking, putting things out there. It’s not always easy.
I read here nearly every day and enjoy and appreciate it very much. But feel that I don't have very interesting things to say.
IRL I dont know very many people, so here it is a bit like having faraway friends.
I really like learning about astrology, other people and things and life in general.
So, THANK YOU ELSA for keeping up this courageous site!!!
The stress over these last years has done a number on pretty much everyone. Lots of people have lost their jobs, their businesses, their hope and their families, either to death or fighting.
Good deeds are punished, judgement is rampant, people are depressed, kids are doing horribly in all this... I mean, people just have no time and energy?
So I keep this site going the best I can, because it's meant to be a light; a porch light left on, for weary travelers.
I do read, all day every day, but I am one of the 'crushed' ones. I quite simply have very little time to spare at the moment but thank you all from the bottom of my heart for being here.
Says natal moon/pluto/merc TSquare
I thought this was a thread about drug use!!!
I've been busier with actual talking to family lately. I mean my siblings and cousins. I live a couple of driving hours away from all of them.
I don't spend much time on the computer these days. I had a broke one for over a year.
Transiting Pluto has been opposite my Cancer Moon and square my Saturn-Neptune conjunction for a while now. Seems like it's normal now.
@sue-ellen lol That’s where my brain was going:
Like/heart/favorite buttons on many sites and we are used to them. You know I’ve read newspaper articles (like, real paper) and my brain instantly went to “Like”. 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
I think we’ve been trained that way. I mean, it’s just the way it is. But Elsa got rid of that here and I was thinking about how different that was compared to other sites. I understand why she did it. I actually like the way it is.
So that made me think of the action of hitting a like or ❤️. Or of people receiving the responses to their posts. Is there a dopamine effect to the likes, hearts, 👍? How do older people, who didn’t grow up on SM feel or react, how does it impact their response system vs younger generations who didn’t know life before the 👍 ❤️ ✅? What if they received no responses? Are they crushed? Is it a form of a value system? The more they get the more they want? Is it a form of dopamine?
Dopamine has drug effects I guess.
As for talking to people in real life, it really is refreshing. It brings everything back to what matters.
Cocaine hits our dopamine receptors for a dopamine hit. You're on the right reward track!!
To your point, I'm of the older generation. When the like option was available, I wondered why people wouldn't give me a like. I didn't know if it wasn't read or was disregarded. My amount of concern was proportional to the amount of effort I put into post.
I'll admit it's easier to hit a button than do a written response. Most days, I don't have the time.
I'm glad the likes are gone. No reason to wonder any more. I think the lack of like response silenced many people.
@sue-ellen It’s good to see you here, again, even if briefly!
I really love the engagement on all types of topics here. Lots of variety.
I read posts here often. Glad this place still exists.
I've gone through a hard time over the past few years - still ongoing. Pluto transits probably. Rarely have the energy to post and feeing somewhat speechless.
