Should I start 'liking/starring' posts again?

[blag@typo.social]

Should I start 'liking/starring' posts again?

Context: I've tried to be more actively engaged here by forcing myself to only boost or reply but am now thinking about flexing my star button again.

#AskFedi #Fediverse #Mastodon

[ee@phpc.social]

@blag I always prefer replies. I find people that way. Seldom do stars catch my attention.

[grahamdunning@post.lurk.org]

@blag If people boost too much and flood my timeline I tend to switch off boosts on their account. Not suggesting you do that, and I do like to see occasional boosts in lieu of algorithmic suggestions, but might be a consideration.

[grob@mstdn.social]

@blag starring is a good way to tell people you appreciate their posts even if you do not want to share it further.

[blag@typo.social]

@ee Yes, replies are my favourite too, and this exercise forced me to consider how/where I could do more of that. I started doing it negative I felt that likes/stars were somewhat 'passive', but then they do offer up a feedback mechanism outside of wanting to share and/or reply.

[blag@typo.social]

@grob Yes, it's a bit like a hierarchy of engagement progressing from stars to replies, with boosts in between.

[blag@typo.social]

@grahamdunning Yes, I try not to be indiscriminate with my boosting, and appreciate the new stuff I see as a result of others doing the same. Likes on the other hand seem to be more like a 1-2-1 feedback mechanism between viewer and poster, while replies are the most solid form of 'engagement'.

Something I like doing is just muting someone for a month, and then seeing how I feel when their posts/boosts return to my timeline.

[grahamdunning@post.lurk.org]

@blag That's a nice idea. I do wish there was a "show one post per day" button or similar. Like, some bots I would like to follow just post too often, so I don't bother. Anyway, very minor gripes!

[blag@typo.social]

@grahamdunning Yes, I definitely agree on the bots front, as I think that one post per day is generally sufficient from them versus actual humans.

But, as you say, it's small beer when zooming out and considering all the benefits of this place versus other social media.

[letterror@typo.social]

@blag There’s no algorithm to feed. So all interactions have value. Star as much as you want. Reply. Boost. Nothing else will do it for you.

[ewalthert@typo.social]

@blag The only use of staring is, that you show love to the post and might find it again (depending on your app). It won’t amplify a post other than people see its appreciation and might boost it therefore.

I’m also careful with boosting, because too many boosts make me mute boots for accounts I follow.

All thumbs up for getting more engaged on here in general.

[bammerlaan@mastodon.nl]

@blag I mean... It won't hurt anything. Replies are nicer to get, of course, but getting a star to my posts at least tells me someone read it and appreciated it. Which is always nice.

[blag@typo.social]

@letterror Likes incoming — the people have spoken!

[blag@typo.social]

@eWalthert It's been a useful exercise, challenging me to consider 'higher' levels of engagement as alternatives to hitting 'like' as the feed drifts by.

But I'm hearing some good arguments in favour of sprinkling some star dust into the mix once again ⭐️

[oblomov@sociale.network]

@blag if you liked something, like it. If you think others might be interested in it, or should see it, boost it. If you have something to say, reply to it. This is my strategy.