LIKE Button: Click and run or Stay and comment?

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

Do you utilize the "like" button that comes with reviews? Do you simply click and run, or do you stay and write a comment? Do you automatically 'like' your friends reviews or are you more discriminating?

For those who write reviews, if you get a 'like' for one of your reviews but got no comment, are you disappointed, or just pleased that somebody found and read your reviews?

I'm curious about how you guys use this GR feature. Comments are definitely welcome.

[Carolyn F.]

I click Like when I think the review is good is some way. I'll leave a comment when I've read the book, about to read the book, want to comment on something they've written. I don't click Like on everything, probably about 30%.

[Dana]

If I have read the book being reviewed and their words describe what I felt but in better words I will click. If i havent read and their review gives me a real feel for what they felt once they read it i will LIKE, that doesnt mean I wont give the book a try myselfjust that I got a sense of their feeling through their words.

[[deleted user]]

I click like if a review is exceptional, or has convinced me to read the book.

I appreciate it when someone comments after they have "liked" my review, cause it's a sharing of opinions.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

I use the 'like' when I have generally read the book and agree with the comments - more often than not, they are friends. I will normally only comment on my friends reviews, although not exclusively - I have commented on others reviews as well...

What I want to know - Do reviewers (or some reviewers anyway) want ppl to 'like' or comment because of GR stats?? (I'm not sure how the whole system works, but I think there is some sort of heirarchy based on # of comments/likes.)

I write a review for nearly every book I read, but it is more a note for me so that I can remember how much I liked (or really disliked) a book. I would prefer NOT to appear on any GR stats - but this isn't an option unless I get fiddly with the private notes. And I don't want to do that 'cos I enjoy the interaction with other GR members and friends too much to stop...

[D.G.]

I usually like reviews that are insightful or funny in some way (most of the time when the reviewer didn't like the book.) I don't comment on all reviews I 'like' though...

[AH]

I click like when someone has gone through the effort of making a review. If it makes me laugh, makes me think, or makes me want to read the book, I will click like. I think this encourages people to review.

I comment about 50% of the time, depending on how much time I have and if I have read the book, plan to read the book, or if I have something to nice to say.

I enjoy reading others' comments, too.

[Wan]

Before I pick/read a book, I may look at the rating (especially from some of my GR friends) but not the “reviews” per se. I think that reading the reviews before your read a book can sway your honest opinion of it. However, I do read most of my friends’ reviews and like them, but do not use the “like” button as much as I intended. I tend to make comment instead. – I use “like” button a lot more with my friend pictures.

I used to not writing reviews at all and just gave the rating but I do it now. Normally right after I read the book, when my thought's still fresh. I mainly do it for my own reference to see if my opinion would change over time. -- So if someone comes across it and like it, that’s great. If not, my feeling does not get hurt whatsoever.

I think it’s a nice thing to do, though. I will definitely do it more often.

[Tammy]

When I'm reading reviews, I use the like button quite a bit. I usually end up "liking" a friend's review quite often, but don't do it automatically.

Like others have said, if a review conveys a good sense of what the book is about, or "speaks" to me on some level on whether or not I will like the book, or if I've already read the book and I agree with what the reviewer has said, I will "like". I have also "liked" reviews simply because they were so well done. I like to read reviews that don't necessarily give a summary of the story (I can get that from the cover blurb anyway) but discuss how the reviewer felt reading the book, what the writing style was like, and generally what they liked or didn't like about the book. And if it is clever, and funny, even better. Sometimes the best reviews are when the reviewer didn't like the book at all. I will leave comments if I have something to add, or have a question, or just want to share opinions, like someone above said.

With the reviews that I write, I am always pleased when someone "likes" them, but even more so when there is a comment as well. I love to talk about the books I read as much as I like to read them, and that's one of the reasons we are all here, right?

Finally, while it's kind of fun to look at your stats as a "top reviewer" and "best reviewer" and "most followed", I would hate to see GR turn into a place where people are fighting about their rankings, and all reviews became a popularity contest rather than a place to share your thoughts about a book you were reading. I've seen this starting to happen here, and read some reviews that are more "look how clever I am!!" than anything else. I've heard about the nastiness on other websites and would hate to have that happen here.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

I agree Tammy - I would hate to see reviews become a popularity contest. That was sort of why I asked... I'm hoping everyone has your attitude - all just for enjoyment...

[Danielle]

I like knowing I'm going to read a good book period. =)

[Sandra]

My reviews are really just so I remember the book and I am always astounded when pple like or comment on them.

Saying that, I LIKE reviews when they are well written, say what I wish I could say about a book or make me add that book to my tbr. I comment only when I have something to say that adds to the talk or answers a question that has been asked - and I have the answer. LOL.

I don't automatically LIKE friend reviews but am always glad to read them.

[D.G.]

Sandra wrote: "My reviews are really just so I remember the book"

This is pretty much why I write reviews too. :) I also write reviews when my friends ask me to.

Like Wan, I don't read reviews of books I'm planning to read. I find that some of my friends have really different tastes than mine and if I have high expectations of a book, I may be more dissapointed if I don't like it as much (case in point: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake.)

When one of my friends likes a review or comments on it, I take a look and most of the time I butt in the conversation and like the review as well. You cannot imagine how many friends I've discovered that way!

[Yz the Whyz, Moderator]

I have to admit I'm pretty liberal clicking the 'like' button. If I enjoyed reading the review, I would use it. I read reviews by my friends and other reviews my friends had 'liked'.

On the other hand, I don't comment as much. Still once in a while I would, since I like talking about books too.

As for my own reviews, I'm pretty inconsistent about writing. I usually write some thoughts down to help me remember the book, rather than a formal review for others. Still, I'm pleasantly surprised when I get a 'like' for one of my reviews. I would then reread my review and would check what I have written down. : )

[Kathy Anne]

I don`t comment or click but when I see the group that give each other a very large number of likes I skip them.

[Steph]

AH wrote: "I click like when someone has gone through the effort of making a review. If it makes me laugh, makes me think, or makes me want to read the book, I will click like. I think this encourages people ..."

I am the same. Although I have to admit not checking out my "updates" tab as often as I'd like. When I do, I follow the same basic ideas as AH.

I, for one, definitely get a little boost whenever someone "likes" one of my reviews. It certainly keeps me motivated to continue writing something for each book I've read.

[Shadow Jubilee]

I click "like" if I thought that the review was well written, organized, and provided examples of what the reviewer liked and/or didn't like. If the review makes me laugh, I will usually click "like". If the review makes me want to read the book or to not read the book, I will usually click "like" because the review helped me make a decision about the book.

I am more discriminating regarding the "like" button, and will not click it for all "friends" or those whose reviews I follow.

Sometimes I will just "like" a review and sometimes I will comment. I will comment when I have something to say. Although, if a "friend" "likes" my own reviews without leaving a comment, I'm a little disappointed because I am not sure why that "friend" "liked" it. Was it because she felt that I had written a review that she enjoyed or was it out of loyalty? On the other hand, if it is someone entirely unfamiliar, I don't mind if the review is "liked" without leaving a comment.

Edit: Can I "like" Tammy's post? lol. She put into words what I wanted to say better than I did. :D

I write reviews to remind myself what I liked about the book and/or didn't like, but I also try to write reviews for books I did not find many reviews for. I like to read reviews to get a sense of whether I would like a book or not, and I try to offer the same to those who want this too.

[Mojca]

Well, in general I'm a reader first and then a reviewer, not a liker.
I write reviews because I read reviews myself and sometimes get a good tip about a book or am convinced about giving a book I was vacillating about a try by reading others' thoughts about it. Sure, people have diverse taste, but if I can give back, help someone pick up a book they wouldn't normally read with my review, I'm a very happy reader (and reviewer).
For me, it's not a popularity contest, but I did notice an increment in review-writing-just-for-points around here. Which is a great pity.

Now, onto the "like" button. I use it very sporadically. The review really has to be something special for me to "like" it (funny, insightful, book-reading inspiring...). I usually just comment on a started thread if I read the book. Or comment if I did "like" the review.
I think commenting on "like" is an almost must. Why did you like it? Did it make you want to read the book? Have you already read it and feel the same? I prefer some feedback on the "like" button, not just click-and-run.

[Kathy Anne]

Mojca,
You said it perfectly,the popularity contest isn`t anything but that.