I think a like button is a great idea. But I wouldn't tie it to any "reputation" count for a member. And, I'd make it a searchable feature.
What is wrong with a PM to the person? Nothing, and it could still occur if a post was really helpful in some super-personal way. If a post had information you think is inaccurate, I think responding with a correction and your reasoning is the appropriate thing to do...then other members benefit from your expertise, too. (As an example, on my chicken igloo thread I was brainstorming on how to make one for a large flock, and a member corrected my idea of lining it with a leakproof barrier because of the likelihood of mold/bacteria. I hadn't thought of that, and she was right! I'm glad she said that so others would see it too.)
As for reputation around here, we already have the awards that go out each month acknowledging those who are super knowledgeable or helpful /welcoming / funny.
Why not just reply with a smilie or thumbs up? Well, after scrolling through a few of these, it gets old to other thread viewers. If I see 6 people have already said "hey cool, thanks!" Then I am less likely to...it's already been said and is adding nothing new to the discussion. I'm even less likely to do this is the thread is old because it seems like I'm rehashing it for no good reason.
However, a "like" button doesn't disturb the flow of a thread. If I have nothing new to add, but appreciate the ideas within, I can just "like" it. Even if it is old, my "liking" a thread shouldn't bring it back to the top of a topic, either, so I'd be more likely to click a "like" button for those older threads.
If I can search by the number of likes, I could probably find the best thread on gapeworms quickly or the medium-sized coop people like the best, or how best to get rid of a coon, or how to wire a timer on a pop door. As it is, there are probably several individual threads on a topic... they may end abruptly when a senior user links to an older, helpful thread that thoroughly discussed the topic. With a search tool, maybe people would be less likely to start threads on a topic that had already been well discussed and well-liked if it covered everything already.
Quote:
We are not Facebook. And why do we want to be like Facebook? I think BYC works just fine how it is.
You can actually say Thank You here instead of "liking" a post.
I am not trying to make BYC like Facebook in any way! They are two completely different websites! I'm just stating my opinion that a like button would be cool. And if you are worried of being associated with fb, it doesn't have to be the word "Like."
I do not, under any circumstances, want to cause problems. If you disagree with my opinion, and do not want a button, I am fine with that.