"Like" is a quick form of feedback and very popular on many fora. How easy would it be to achieve it – if the MODS decide it's a good idea?

Do you use any other fora frequently? I use the excellent PhysicForums and most of the discussions are at a very high technical level with contributions from many professional Physicists and Engineers. Definitely not "populist". I also spent years on the Westerly Owners Association Forum. Both those fora had a like facility and I can't say it was anything other than useful to discussions. There are, of course, many (the majority of) fora that are simply dreadful, with or without a few bells and whistles.

To be honest, the quality of this forum interface is nothing like as good as the quality of the information that's exchanged and he level of knowledge of members. Would the membership change if the site were improved?

On a similar topic, It's amazing to see the reaction of some people against the Zoom / Webex etc. culture. My French and Astronomy groups all learned to use it and we have all felt the benefit in these dark times. Don't we need to move on, sometimes?

Andrew

I don't want to get into the politics of the situation. That's almost certainly against Forum policy and we could find ourselves banned. Just using the technology that gives us this forum takes us into the same sort of territory.

My question was a general one about using new available technology. I am reasonably elderly and a lot of the people I meet in the pursuit of my hobbies, are even older. I notice a strong reluctance to take up 'new' facilities. I am a member of U3A and I've actually been impressed by the large number of 'really old' members who have embraced the new media. Initially getting through the front door of Zoom is daunting but they arrive at meetings.

I have looked at the thread about changing the forum and I see an amazing reluctance of members to it. So it's not too surprising that "like" is viewed with suspicion. But what a shame. I seriously can't imagine ME ever getting too populist. It's so 'deadly boring' – unless you are into it and then it is one of the best things since sliced bread.

I remember, perhaps forty years ago, at a Computer Fair in Brighton, hearing a guy 'explaining things' to his wife. He told her that a computer mouse was pointless and that he could do everything he wanted to with the cursor keys. I wonder if he ever got round to using a mouse.

PS How relevant to our lives is the encryption that's available on social media? Important transactions are pretty secure when we talk to the bank. It's quite simple to communicate with people with very high levels of encryption, if we are prepared to use appropriate private encryption systems. Does anyone really care about our WhatsApp threads being snooped on?

LIKE

That was an effort for me.