If these people weren't blocking 80% of the Fediverse, maybe they would find out about emoji reactions and realise why _likes fucking suck_.
Likes are meaningless by themselves. “Oh, so you've read what I wrote? Well, I assumed as much, given that I had just _mentioned_ you in my post.”
In my opinion, these people are addicted to the dopamine rush, which is precisely why I ask people NOT to like my posts. If you really, _really_ liked it, leave a comment. That way a real connection can be established between us, which is the point of a social network. And if you think it might be of interest to others, boost it. But likes? They make no sense.
@josemanuel That's your opinion. I like it when people like my posts, thank-you-very-much! Comments are better if you want a discussion/conversation going, but a like can be sufficient.
If you want emoji reactions, hop over to a Misskey server or one of those others allowing those. I wouldn't mind Mastodon having those either, but this instance just doesn't have it.
@trinsec I don't feel the need to have emoji reactions, but at least they carry some meaning. A like, on the other hand, has none, and even if it did, it would be a very shallow one.
I could be liking your post to signal acknowledgement, or maybe to bookmark it. I could also be liking it ironically, as a lot of people did with my OP.
Whichever it is, my point stands. I get no dopamine rush from likes and no connection with other people either, so, to me, they're useless.
@josemanuel Ok, to you they're useless, noted. To me they're usually a form of acknowledgement (since Mastodon has an actual bookmark feature and I think other servers too). To someone else it means something else again. It doesn't really matter, they all convey a message of some sort anyway which is better than a silent treatment.
@josemanuel Not quite, indeed, I agree. But sometimes you really don't want to say much if at all, but just let them know that your post isn't lost in the void. Or whatever. There's plenty of times where I saw something that was humorous... so I just go like it instead of saying 'lol' or something equally nonsensical that's more effort, heh. I'd be annoyed at a shitton of 'lol' at my jokes or so. :D Just give me a like, that doesn't bother me like a mention does (no dopamine rush here for me, lol).
@trinsec
> they all convey a message of some sort anyway which is better than a silent treatment.
And that's why I enjoy replying to people who take the time to reply to me. I honestly appreciate it (even when they disagree with what I said), and I don't think a like can convey that.