Does the brohoof feature result in higher quality posts?

[Nohbdy 4,108]

Ok, I can see how removing the counter can stop users from making judgements on the quality of a user's posts based on the number of brohoofs received but what I would like to know is does the counter have a negative effect on the quality of the posts.

Negative effect? I don't see how it does, unless one is blatantly spamming or begging for brohoofs (which, IMO, is obnoxious).

 

Does one post getting tons of brohoofs just for being the post of a popular user cause the posts of less popular users to go unnoticed and brohoofless even when they deserve it? 

I just don't see it.

I'm assuming you're talking about this part:

 

Good posters with little popularity may well have fewer brohoofs than popular users who get free brohoofs everywhere they go. While much-brohoofed users may be genuinely great posters compared to those with fewer brohoofs, it's a mistake to judge the quality of users' posts by brohoof statistics.

Hm, it seems I may have poorly phrased my post (and I do apologize; my multitasking means that my posts may end up becoming disorganized). I'm not saying that people will look at a user's statistics and then decide not to brohoof. I'm saying that people who are generally more well known are more likely to receive attention.

 

For example, you've probably noticed that staff members receive more brohoofs for almost exactly the same post as that of another user, or even receiving brohoofs just for posting. Now, I'm not saying that staff shouldn't be getting brohoofs--their posts usually are worthy of them--but that it seems that people are more likely to read (or heck, just simply brohoof) a post made by a prominent member. Naturally, this means that those who are already more popular will end up receiving more brohoofs. It almost becomes a positive feedback loop.

 

I don't have hard data or statistics to back me up, but it's nevertheless something I've observed as a lurker.

[Zygen 6,066]

I dunno if it really means high quality posts all the time, sometimes its just random funny posts, not always high quality posts.

 

I personally like them, just because idk I like giving brohoofs to people, can't explain why I feel like I'm addicted to it(I use to like brohoof tons and tons of posts.)

 

Its a nice feature to show you like something if you don't have a whole lot of time(Like me) to post and then ramble on about stuff (like me) .

 

Its a nice feature though, not 100% accurate to determine quality posting. But its still a nice feature.

[IceStorm 7]

You may tell me this is a no-brainer, but I'll throw it out there anyway. Do you think the ability to send and receive brohoofs are a successful incentive for quality posts? Would content be less entertaining, less informative, or less thought-provoking without it?

 

The last online forum I was a major participant in was Powerpuff Girls World. They had no like or thumbs up feature. And brohoofs were non-existent then. If you wanted to let somebody know you like what they said or acknowledge that you read it, you had to post a comment of your own. There was no character limit. But aside from a section similar to forum games here, mods would discipline members for continuous spammy entries.

 

But my basic attitude here is no different from there. I like to state my points and give solid reasons to back them up. Attack the idea, not the person presenting it. I don't talk down to anybody. And what I relish more than anything is the opportunity to help fellow fans see something from a new point of view that they never considered before.

 

When I first joined, I was somewhat preoccupied with getting brohoofs because they seemed to be an important status symbol like post count badges. Now I see neither matter much in the big scheme of things. I spent enough time trying to get lots of brohoofs and replies that I was quickly reminded of one of the unwritten rules of online forum life: The more feedback you hope to get, the less feedback you will get.

 

So now I take a pragmatic approach. I speak my mind and let the chips fall where they may. And to answer the original question, for me, I don't think brohoofs or lack there of has had a noticeable effect in the way I approach the forum. But I'm in favor of keeping the brohoof feature. It's still a very handy way to let others know that you like or have read whatever they posted.

 

What does everybody else think?

 

EDIT: If this belongs elsewhere, feel free to move it.  There's another discussion pertaining to forum brohoofs in this section.  But this topic has a different spin to it so I'm starting a new one instead of reviving the old one. 

 

whats a brohoof?

 

im new so your going to have to forgive me im afraid 

[Wingnut 7,003]

whats a brohoof? im new so your going to have to forgive me im afraid

 

A brohoof here is the same thing as a like or an upvote on other websites.  See the little button which says "brohoof this" in each post?  We click on that to let people know we like what they said (not necessarily agree with it) or to acknowledge that "Hey, just wanted to let you know I saw your comment!"

 

I brohoofed your post just now as an example.  You should get a notification which says, "Wingnut brohoofed a post you made in Does the brohoof feature result in higher quality posts."  This will be in addition to the note that I just quoted you.  Welcome to the Forums!

Edited March 11, 2013 by Wingnut

[~Scootaloo 440]

I think brohoofs are a nice feature for when you don't have anything to contribute to the conversation or don't have time to make a well thought-out post, but want to show someone that you like/agree with their post. I also think it is a good way to encourage people to make eloquent and useful posts as opposed to just "Yeah, I agree." For me, brohooves turn it into "Yeah, I agree, and here is why." 

 

I also use brohooves to investigate people. Why did one user brohoof this comment, but not this one? I like dissecting people like that.

Not to sound rude to you however: some people are perceived as attention whores when in reality they are not. Like lets say a post gets popular for whatever reason and then someone comes along and sees they have like 30 Brohoof's some people might say "pfft attention whores". It's just people who randomly assume that popularity = attention whoring.

[Wingnut 7,003]

I also use brohooves to investigate people. Why did one user brohoof this comment, but not this one? I like dissecting people like that.

 

 

Not to sound rude to you however: some people are perceived as attention whores when in reality they are not. Like lets say a post gets popular for whatever reason and then someone comes along and sees they have like 30 Brohoof's some people might say "pfft attention whores".

 

Those are both interesting points.  I can safely say I'm not an attention whore, because I only have 2 or 3 popular posts to my name so far.    Some people are just forum celebrities who became known over the course of time.  It seems like they get brohoofs and replies just for sneezing, LOL.  But there I tend to question the people who give them brohoofs for something relatively trivial. 

 

The other thing is why do some people brohoof one person and not another?  I can only speak for myself. Until recently, two members accounted for two thirds of my brohoofs received.  Therefore I felt a bit obliged to reciprocate.  But I am not an automatic brohoof.  Their post either has to be something that has some kind of appeal to me or it's something I want to let them know I read. 

 

Another fascinating item is the brohoof to post ratio.  Some people are very high, over 2:1.  Most of these people are busy in uncounted sections like the lounge.  Then there is the generosity effect.  Some members are very generous in giving out brohoofs.  They tend to have a very high brohoof ratio themselves from fellow members returning the favor. 

 

Are some people attention whores?  As far as brohoofs given go, I don't think so.  I personally have yet to notice anybody who gives out brohoofs for NO good reason.  Virtually everything I see with a brohoof has at least some kind of merit to it. 

Edited March 11, 2013 by Wingnut