Forum's "Like" Box has gone "AWOL."

Greetings Jim,

Using "all" of my powers of concentration  - I've "Verified" (whoops) "Clicked your new, "This resolved my issue" box."

Thank you, Sir for so quick and detailed a response - much appreciated.

May I note that (prior to your change) multiple (needless/disturbing) "repeats of MCU part number" appeared w/in "new poster's" Subject line.   (i.e. TM4Cxyz:  TM4Cxyz)      Such provides NO/ZERO insight towards poster's issue - thus FAILS to "Sell" such posting.    It requires a "very fine" reading to prevent that repeat - this (may) require "more thought" from your side...

Your mentions of my "presence" were appreciated - yet I've received much assistance - and do seek to, "Pay it Forward" - when, where and as able.  (and - should note - forum activity is "part" of my work-release requirement...)

Again - never did I expect so detailed & caring a response.     (and my tears have (almost) stopped over the departed "Like.")    (almost)

Jim Carrillo said:

As you saw, we made a significant upgrade to the E2E platform yesterday. A couple goals of yesterday's upgrade were:

1. Simplify the Homepage and clarify how to search (previously there were 2 text boxes and we had numerous users tell us they were confused between the 2 text boxes)

2. Similarly, simplify our button structure. Many users told us they didn't know when they were supposed to click "Like", "Suggest Answer" or "Verify Answer". Specifically with regard to the "Like" button, data showed that button was clicked a very low percentage of the time.

And the addition of a help button which takes you to, umm...  advertising.

Robert

Perhaps that button was there and less emphasized before.

cb1_mobile said:

Forum "Like box missing!"

In an active community the absence of a like button is likely to promote more intrusive alternatives such as multiple posts of "I like this"

Robert

Well argued - the loss of "encouragement" - especially for those posts which display "special care - effort - shared insight" - is NOT to be taken lightly.       Jim - now (at minimum) TWO POSTS stand in opposition to this "loss of affirmation!"

If the Forum is to bend to the "lowest common denominator" - can that be good?

The removal of the LIKE appears not "well considered!"

@Robert - perhaps we should give our protest a few days to percolate - then launch a NEW POST - "RESTORE the LIKE" (ripped from our (not yet) cold, dead hands...)

Jim Carrillo said:

Similarly, simplify our button structure. Many users told us they didn't know when they were supposed to click "Like", "Suggest Answer" or "Verify Answer".

My experience has been that while "Suggest Answer" is used inappropriately reasonably often and "Verify answer" sometimes I don't think I've ever seen "like" misused. "Verify Answer" misuse is mostly a matter of overconfidence and not really addressable except through experience.

If any button were to be removed to reduce confusion, I would think it should be the "Suggest Answer" one

Robert

Robert Adsett said:

I don't think I've ever seen "like" misused.

I believe vendor's agent noted that (some) users were "confused" by the (complexity) of the "LIKE" button.

That said - is it not (beyond) clear that such "confused" users are those, "least likely to employ LIKE?"

cb1_mobile said:

Robert Adsett

I don't think I've ever seen "like" misused.

I believe vendor's agent noted that (some) users were "confused" by the (complexity) of the "LIKE" button.

Yes, I was just adding that my observations that forum behaviour contradicted the idea that there was confusion over the like button.

And as of this morning confusion continues apace with the suggest as answer button.

Robert

Too bad there is no 'dislike' button, so we can express our disapproval on the disappearance of the like button :)

You're right, a like button isn't an uncommon thing in the internet. The only 'confusing' thing about it is that the like button here didn't not push TI's Facebook account.
And nobody did receive unwanted (and often bogus) 'this E2E user suggests reading that thread" (or TI product) ads in his inbox or on completely unrelated pages. (as it happened with FB)

I really liked the like button as it significantly reduced the number of 'yes' and 'I agree' posts in the threads. While it instantly added a 'quality level' to the liked answer.

IMHO, removing it wasn't the best decision ever made.

The question is: why was the like button originally introduced, and was it removed again because it didn't serve the original purpose or because it had some realyl negative impact. It is unlikely that removal was performed (which means some effort and therefore some cost) without a good reason. And confusion about the meaning of a like button is IMHO quite unlikely (especially amongst people who roam an engineers forum) and therefore much less a good reason.

Indeed - the decision to,  "Descend even faster/harder" - to the "Accommodation of Lowest Common Denominator" was either, "Not properly weighed/considered or was deliberate, and to my mind destructive!"

As one here the longest (but for poster Jens) I recall a "Portuguese EE student - Luis" as being (alone) in receiving "4 Likes" (one of them, mine) for his special care & effort in aiding a "struggling" poster.      Such affirmation ALWAYS is warming - and proves LIKEly to inspire others - to provide real, thoughtful, even highly detailed guidance - when, if and as needed.

And that incentive - is now GONE!      And for very suspect reasons...     Caveat Emptor...   (Let the MCU buyer/specifier & "helper" beware!)

Robert Adsett said:

They have effectively rendered the site unusable on mobile platforms by hiding all the navigation underneath the top bars

Yet - has not the vendor written: "As you saw, we made a significant upgrade to the E2E platform yesterday."

I saw, No such thing - the "over accommodation" of those "confused, very new & (effort-light)" ... hardly ... qualifies as a "self-awarded" significant upgrade.

Might it be that such an AWARD (especially  one "Self-Awarded") - should result from positive user feedback?        (of which - by the way - NONE/ZERO has arrived/appeared!)

Robert Adsett said:

An additional note on the changes. They have effectively rendered the site unusable on mobile platforms by hiding all the navigation underneath the top bars

And as illustration of the unusability of the navigation see the screenshot

Note the navigation is not visible. This is the closest I can get to the top of the page.

Robert

You are correct Sir - "Cricket soundings" replace the more (usual) yet (apparently) "past" vendor presence.     And "not" just here (this thread) but throughout this (now) "LIKE-less" (degraded) plain.   (note that I cannot "retrieve nor remove" my past "Post Resolved" - which I would - if I could.     (I cannot (somehow) even find the "other" upgrade, "the new - and charmed - DATE box...")     Bloody pity...

Thanks for that - yet can the "short-sighted, uncomprehending cries of the "uninvolved" - trump the FAIR requests of posters: Jens (he of the "first to 100K forum posts fame" - or exemplary Robert - or "this guy?"

Again - perfection is NOT expected - but encouragement of excellence - of focused effort - of hard work by outsiders - (as insiders significantly "dial down" their presence) should be considered - and (clearly) has been "Short-Changed!"    And that is NOT GOOD - NOR CLOSE and so VERY FAR from (even) a "self-awarded" Upgrade!    (can you say, Degrade?)

I have no doubt that "Forum Regulars" would be proud/pleased to respond - PRIOR to such "heavy handedness."    And we were not (at all) even considered - such is clearly  NOT  "Upgrade Registering!"

My friend - Thank you - appreciated.     (and your check - per promise - is "in the mail.")      (yet - as it routes thru this forum's (claimed) "LIKE-LESS upgrade?" - I'd, "Not hold my breath" on (anytime soon) arrival...

R.A. : "Maybe I'm being too cynical?"

Mon ami - "You - cynical - how unlikely!" (do you not (choose) to live in a (mostly) frozen tundra - reachable only by No. Atlantic sailors - w/2 functional wrists?) Hardly cynical - most would say...

Always "beware" when the (giant) "does something that's (claimed) to be for your benefit." (i.e. "affordable care act" - anything BUT! ... "empty" words cannot trump reality... )

Any "enlightened & reasonable" attempt @ "forum upgrade" would likely seek (some) input from those, "most engaged, most motivated for forum's excellence." No such input was sought - "big brother" - once again - proves that they know, "FAR from best..." (and then adds "injury to insult" by (falsely) claiming "upgrade!")

cb1_mobile said:

(do you not (choose) to live in a (mostly) frozen tundra - reachable only by No. Atlantic sailors - w/2 functional wrists?)

We've preserved a few in ice as well.

Robert

Do note that - just as was done (or tried) here - HMS Erebus & Terror (both) had their "LIKE" pennants cast over-board!