Did you just hit “like” without reading?

       photo credit: Mark J P via photopin cc

Today’s NaBloPoMo. Tell us what you’ve learned so far about daily blogging.

In the cyber world

What I’ve learned about blogging is that the blogging community is made up of very special, kind, and decent human beings.  Yes, there is the odd obnoxious one every now and then.   We are all really very similar, regardless of which country we are from.   Some people use their blog as a personal journal, others blog about business, sport or photography.   It is fun belonging to the global village.

I’d like to share with you my thoughts, and what I’ve learned regarding the “like” button.  Every now and then I come across bloggers not being terribly happy about people hitting the “like” button rather than commenting.  I know that some have taken the “Like” option off their blogs.  I don’t blame them for this because it can really knock the wind out of ones sails if you have worked really hard on a post, and as soon as you publish it, the “likes” flow too quickly, and it becomes obvious that the post was not read.  There are only a handful of people who “like” without reading though.  Here is the good news!  There is a flip side to the “like” button too…

In real life

photo credit: banpei via photopin cc

When someone compliments you, tells you your hair looks gorgeous, or you have a nice shirt on, or you are wearing a gorgeous pair of shoes, well, these can be seen as ”Likes” in real world,  just in cyberspace we do it in the cyber way.

Back to cyber the world

Most of the time I have something to say, and I will comment, but there are times that I will give only a “like,” and I believe there are many who give likes for the same reasons.

Here are my reasons for hitting the “Like” button:

The post was very informative, even a little over my head, and I could not add anything constructive – then a “like” is in order.

The post was heart wrenching to the core, and I feel that I cannot find the right words.  Sometimes, in cases like this,  I might leave a message which will say something about not having the right words, but that I do feel for them, and of course I would hit the “like.”

There are the times that  I “like” when my time is limited, the post is very long, and I have basically speed read through the post.  Often, in cases like that, I will “like” for the moment with the intention of coming back, and reading properly when I have more time.

There have been times that I have not felt very well, and have visited bloggers posts, but have “liked” rather than commenting, to acknowledge that I have read and that appreciate the post.

I LOVE browsing through photography posts, and since I am an amateur photographer, I don’t have any advice to give the professionals.  In those cases I “like” very often, just simply because I am in awe.

So all in all, the “like” is a good and positive thing, and I welcome it with open arms.  Thank you for the “likes” I have received in the past, and I hope you appreciate mine too.  I wouldn’t give a “like” just for no reason at all.  There will always be a reason.

It would be wonderful if we had an additional button to the “like” and that would be a “Love” button.  There have been so many times that I have wished that there was a “love” button.

PS: Edit.  A *hugs* button would be great too!

photo credit: erin leigh mcconnell via photopin cc

*hugs*