Are Favorites Bookmarks or Endorsements?

October 18, 2007 8:31 AM

Are favorites meant to be bookmarks or endorsements?

I know Mefites use them as both, and I personally wonder if that muddies the water a little bit. When the functionality was first added, were they originally intended to be bookmarks, or endorsements, or something in-between, or something different altogether?

Since they are being used as both, is there any thought to separating them into separate bookmark and endorsement functionality?

Or do you think would that do something to the character of the site (e.g., make it Digg-ish)?

posted by WCityMike to Etiquette/Policy at 8:31 AM (80 comments total)

This has never ever been discussed before.
posted by chunking express at 8:34 AM on October 18, 2007 [10 favorites]

To clarify what chunking express said, we've talked about this a zillion times. Yes, they're used for both, there is no consensus on how they "should" be used, there never will be any consensus, and this thread is going to replicate the other zillion. Can we close it now?
posted by languagehat at 8:37 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

“This has never ever been discussed before.”

Heh. You know, I've never quite understood how they are useful as bookmarks, though I've not really made an attempt to really examine the issue.

I use them as they are named: not necessarily an endorsement, but more that they are a judgment that the comment has an extraordinary level of quality of some sort. In humor, in lucidity, in insight, in information, in notability, something that makes it stand somewhat above its peers.

But many other people use them neutrally as far as value judgments are concerned.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 8:37 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Yours (and everyone elses) are whatever you want them to be. Me, I trade mine like currency.
posted by inigo2 at 8:39 AM on October 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

Here's mathowie's original MeTa.

Think of favorites as an internal bookmark system, a way to keep a list of the good questions, great comments, or interesting ideas you've found here.

That was well over a year ago.
posted by carsonb at 8:40 AM on October 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

You know, I've never quite understood how they are useful as bookmarks

Once you've marked a few posts as favourites, you can click the 'My favorites' tab on the front page of MeFi/AskMe/MeTa and see the posts you've marked as favourites listed in order of recent comment activity. It's a neat way to keep track of the discussion in the threads that you're interested in.
posted by chrismear at 8:40 AM on October 18, 2007

I've never quite understood how they are useful as bookmarks

for people too lazy to hit CTRL + D, or who want their mefi "bookmarks" separate from their browser.
posted by desjardins at 8:41 AM on October 18, 2007

windows ate matts brain
posted by quonsar at 8:43 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

I favorite posts because I like watching Ajax-y things happen on my screen.
posted by pardonyou? at 8:45 AM on October 18, 2007 [7 favorites]

Everytime you favorite ambiguously, God smooshes a gnat.
posted by 31d1 at 8:46 AM on October 18, 2007

Favorite this post if you use them as endorsements.
posted by drezdn at 8:49 AM on October 18, 2007 [9 favorites]

mathowie: Favorites can do more than one thing, and mean different things for different users. Just like your bookmarks in your browser can be set for multiple reasons and just like how stuff at del.icio.us can be stuff you like, reference, and/or both. It's a flexible tool that does all three things pretty well.

mathowie: Future development around favorites will be centered around improving retrieval ("I know I marked something as a favorite about two months ago and it was about sharks... how do I find it again?").
posted by mosessis at 8:49 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Favorite this post if you use them as bookmarks.
posted by drezdn at 8:49 AM on October 18, 2007 [6 favorites]

Favorite this post if you use them as both.
posted by drezdn at 8:49 AM on October 18, 2007 [17 favorites]

I have developed a greasemonkey script which, when I favorite a comment, runs its words through a complex algorithm that, in turn, delivers to me via email a photograph from flickr of the physical object that is most representative of the favorited comment. I then endeavor to have sex with that object.
posted by kosem at 8:52 AM on October 18, 2007 [7 favorites]

In these prior discussions, did the admins ever comment on the idea of separating favorites' bookmark and endorsement functions into separate features? Was such an idea proposed before?

Yes and yes. I don't have time to track down individual comments right now, but (a) it's been proposed one way or another several times now, and (b) Matt's been fairly consistent about keeping it as is: favorites as whatever-you-use-them-for, with the aim of improving the interface for navigating them in the future.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:53 AM on October 18, 2007

In these prior discussions, did the admins ever comment on the idea of separating favorites' bookmark and endorsement functions into separate features? Was such an idea proposed before?

I'm pretty sure the standard line was use them for what you want. I'm also pretty sure there is no move towards having a bookmarking functionality and a favoriting functionality.

I personally use favorites for stuff I want to mention on the podcast and other thngs I have mentioned before.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:55 AM on October 18, 2007

I would favorite the whole dang thread here, but I have used up all my favorites for the week. I think it is unfair and arbitrary that we can only give 327 favorites/week. I quit!
*Severs right hand*
*Severs left hand*
posted by Mister_A at 8:58 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Favorite this comment if your favorite band sucks.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 9:01 AM on October 18, 2007 [7 favorites]

I'm looking forward to your followup comment, Mister_A:

mkxc zm,ikcvc nmxc z8xcv8890y89iisd mxcvcfhiop ncv vn,k ,v
"cvkcv ,k cv,cvcv ,.m mnm6u7yweq
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:01 AM on October 18, 2007

I have my favorites reviewed by my accountant and lawyer on a quarterly basis to ensure that all my favoriting activity has been conducted on as arm's length basis. Past performance may not be indicative of future results.
posted by mullacc at 9:05 AM on October 18, 2007

Bookmarks? Are we really pretending that those with thousands of favorites don't delight in the Mefi-love, chests distending in hubris at their own clever snarkiness? Bookmarking, pah, this is a popularity contest, plain and simple. Bring on the ceiling cat, or whatever.
posted by dead_ at 9:08 AM on October 18, 2007

Please make deposit to $3 via Paypal to not.a.nigerian-scammer_really@gmaildotcom to get all comments to made favorite!
posted by beaucoupkevin at 9:13 AM on October 18, 2007

Are favorites meant to be bookmarks or endorsements?

Yes
posted by caddis at 9:16 AM on October 18, 2007

I'm pretty sure they mean that I'm totally AWESOME. Wheee!
posted by miss lynnster at 9:20 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

I think we're nearing the part of the thread where someone comes in and favorites every comment.
posted by brain_drain at 9:21 AM on October 18, 2007

I'm pretty sure they mean that I'm totally AWESOME.

Which means I am three times MORE awesome than you. Wheee!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:28 AM on October 18, 2007 [3 favorites]

I package my favourites together and sell them as CFOs to unsuspecting investors. Beware the imminent sub-prime favourite collapse!
posted by patricio at 9:29 AM on October 18, 2007

Yes
posted by blue_beetle at 9:29 AM on October 18, 2007

I use mine as part of an elaborate numerological ritual that is hastening the return of the Dark Lords of the Utmost Abyss, and simultaneously causing my hated neighbour to suffer from a particularly painful and disfiguring outbreak of suppurating boils.
posted by Abiezer at 9:34 AM on October 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

For every favorite I get, I cut myself a little bit. You know, just to chastise myself and stay humble. Also, it's the only way I can become aroused.
posted by hermitosis at 9:36 AM on October 18, 2007 [9 favorites]

I would like to see a visual representation of favorites where each user is assigned a node, and lines are drawn from user to user based on who has favorited whom. You could increase the line density as the amount of favorites increases.
posted by dead_ at 9:46 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

I recommend using favorites to mark comments you can use later against your personal grudges. Remember how boring it was trying to find that comment by ParisParamus about how the President should be impeached if they didn't find WMDs? Yeah, that's the ticket.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 9:55 AM on October 18, 2007

There is nothing more discouraging than having your "favorited" comments go down. I hate that!
posted by DenOfSizer at 9:56 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

They don't work without javascript, so they are dead to me now.
posted by bonaldi at 10:01 AM on October 18, 2007

Stop it, guys, I'm running out of real estate, if you know what I mean...

*faints*
posted by hermitosis at 10:04 AM on October 18, 2007

I have my favorites reviewed by my accountant and lawyer on a quarterly basis to ensure that all my favoriting activity has been conducted on as arm's length basis. Past performance may not be indicative of future results.

Remember, if you favorite a post or comment, you should wait at least a year and a day to unfavorite it, in order to get the more favorable (heh) tax rate.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:16 AM on October 18, 2007

Wait... are we talking about boobs again?
posted by quin at 10:25 AM on October 18, 2007

When I favorite something it's a bookmark.

When someone favorites something of mine it's an endorsement.
posted by OmieWise at 10:26 AM on October 18, 2007 [6 favorites]

I use them as a way to measure my value.
posted by The Deej at 10:27 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Favorite this post if you use them sarcastically.
posted by signal at 10:44 AM on October 18, 2007

Favorites are the hugs daddy never gave me.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:46 AM on October 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

Favorites are exactly like pokes.
posted by klarck at 10:56 AM on October 18, 2007

Favorites shot JFK.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:04 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

FAVORITES = INSIDE JOB
plustruth.com
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:06 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Here's something I've noticed: Every time I utter the words Christ, what an asshole anywhere on the blue or gray it gets favourited a couple of times.
posted by sveskemus at 11:07 AM on October 18, 2007 [4 favorites]

Favorites are simple and favorites are straight
Favorites are lazy and favorites are late
Favorites all come with points of view
Favorites dont do what I want them to
Favorites just twist the truth around
Favorites are living turned inside out
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:11 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

WCityMike: "Are favorites meant to be bookmarks or endorsements?"

mathowie has said "both" before.

But really, I think everybody knows by now that they're just bookmarks, not endorsements. If they were endorsements, you all would've had to pay me $615,000 so far.
posted by koeselitz at 11:25 AM on October 18, 2007

I've written up reciepts, if you'd like to see them
posted by koeselitz at 11:28 AM on October 18, 2007

I use them in place of goat entrails to divine the day ahead. When I wake up, I check and if I have some new favorites, I forge ahead with the day. If not, I go back to bed.
posted by madamjujujive at 11:30 AM on October 18, 2007

*goes back to bed*
posted by madamjujujive at 11:31 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

...if not, I go looking for some goat entrails.
posted by Wolfdog at 11:37 AM on October 18, 2007

"favorites is a seductive kiss" (from the Googlism results for "What are favorites?"). I think that sums it up pretty well.
posted by amyms at 11:54 AM on October 18, 2007

Oh man, Googlism. Forgot about that thing. Just an fyi: cortex is activated during breaches of expectation. Also, cortex is quite clearly aimed at a younger demographic, is making significant strides in developing revolutionary drug therapies , and is actually the gray.

Metatalk, on the other hand, is apparently a kabillion times easier to learn than perl, and also is a mattress.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:04 PM on October 18, 2007

Christ, what an asshole.


?
posted by bonaldi at 12:07 PM on October 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

Whatever you fucking do, do not favorite this comment, I hate it when people do that and get no ego satisfaction at all from it.
posted by edgeways at 12:07 PM on October 18, 2007

Can we get it so that Matt's favourites count for two or three regular favourites?
posted by GuyZero at 12:30 PM on October 18, 2007

Oh man, Googlism. Forgot about that thing.
Neat. I was considering starting to use my real name for online communities in the future, but how could I so long as this stays the way it is?
posted by juv3nal at 12:43 PM on October 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

I personally wonder if that muddies the water a little bit.

Yeah, I think that mud is supposed to keep us humble. It doesn't, but it's supposed to...
posted by mdn at 12:46 PM on October 18, 2007

That's not mud.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:57 PM on October 18, 2007

languagehat is here to remedy the omission
languagehat is not real thrilled about this
languagehat is priming the pump to run oulipo up the daypop word burst chart
posted by languagehat at 1:01 PM on October 18, 2007

Sorry, Google doesn't know enough about hermitosis yet.
posted by hermitosis at 1:14 PM on October 18, 2007

favorites is unique in that it delivers for the first time in over fifty years exclusive your show of shows and caesar's hour comedy sketches

Sounds about right.
posted by pardonyou? at 1:31 PM on October 18, 2007

I like it when people say "its ok mods you can close this thread now", as though they don't do that anyway. Or perhaps they mean "its ok mods you can delete this thread and i wont start yet another metatalk thread about it". And i especially like it because ive just realised that i've confused closing and deleting a thread and then added to my confusion by not being sure if i have, actually
posted by criticalbill at 2:42 PM on October 18, 2007

to me favorite = digg.

They're kinda useless as bookmarks.
posted by empath at 2:48 PM on October 18, 2007

i find favoriting posts really good as bookmarking, especially when it's something you don't have time for, but will dive into on the weekend or something.

Favoriting comments i do as endorsements.
posted by amberglow at 3:02 PM on October 18, 2007

wolfdog is a real charmer, and
wolfdog is a wonderful animal
posted by Wolfdog at 4:01 PM on October 18, 2007

I'm pretty sure they mean that I'm totally AWESOME.

Which means I am three times MORE awesome than you. Wheee!

Oh TPS, that went without SAYING! Duh!
posted by miss lynnster at 5:10 PM on October 18, 2007

we've talked about this a zillion times

There are actually only 4 metatalk threads and the answers are:
Banned!
Flag it and move on!
No!
CWAA!
posted by DarkForest at 5:15 PM on October 18, 2007

"You know, I've never quite understood how they are useful as bookmarks"

Well, when you don't favorite every fucking thing you see, you don't have 527 favorites to sort through. It is possible to only favorite a handful of things for later reference. FireFox's "find as you type" utility helps further winnow it down once you're viewing your (hopefully single) page of favorites.
posted by Eideteker at 6:52 PM on October 18, 2007

taz is not a harbinger of some pie kind of hurt my feelings.

but then, taz is een perfecte tactiek voor een tijdperk waarin de staat alomtegenwoordig is en tegelijkertijd vergeven van de barsten en lege ruimten, so I feel better.

I'll be glad when we can search within favorites.
posted by taz at 10:55 PM on October 18, 2007

Google doesn't know enough about jacalata: but jac is australia and new zealand's largest manufacturer of self!
posted by jacalata at 11:45 PM on October 18, 2007

You just -know- that I'm going to be -somewhere- in a thread about favorites.
posted by tehloki at 1:18 AM on October 19, 2007

taz, you'll always be a harbinger of pie to me.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:31 AM on October 19, 2007

*Severs right hand*
*Severs left hand*

The second one's the worst. It takes forever because you just can't get much downward pressure holding a bonesaw with your teeth.
posted by Sparx at 4:13 AM on October 19, 2007

taz won't be a harbinger of pie to me until she has successfully heralded the arrival of some pie (to me).
posted by Wolfdog at 6:05 AM on October 19, 2007

Tart me up, baby!
posted by Abiezer at 6:27 AM on October 19, 2007

I've never quite understood how they are useful as bookmarks

for people too lazy to hit CTRL + D, or who want their mefi "bookmarks" separate from their browser.

Favorites are useful as bookmarks because there are comments deep in a thread that you want to come back to, not so much the thread itself. In a thread that is 40 screens long you might not remember where the post you were interested in was, or even what it was about. But seeing the first few lines of the post reminds you. I'm not interested in keeping the thread readily accessible, but I've gone a back a time or two to read this genius comment from fishfucker.
posted by BigSky at 7:47 AM on October 19, 2007

I use favorites for similar purposes sometimes, BigSky, but to be clear: it's pretty easy to make a browser bookmark of a given comment. Maybe slightly more complicated than just Ctrl-D, but they all have anchor tags.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:02 AM on October 19, 2007

Holy shit that fishfucker comment is awesome! In that case my favorite is totally both a bookmark and an endorsement.
posted by OmieWise at 9:19 AM on October 19, 2007