Why favorites count dropping? May 21, 2011 8:46 AM Subscribe
Why is the number of favorites I have received dropping every once in a while? Can members unfavorite one of my posts?
[add to favorites] *click* [remove from favorites]
[+] *click* [1 favorite −]
posted by knapah at 8:49 AM on May 21, 2011
[+] *click* [1 favorite −]
posted by knapah at 8:49 AM on May 21, 2011
I suspect that many people use favorites as a 'I want to come back and look at this later'. You're probably seeing the effect of later.
posted by dws at 8:49 AM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by dws at 8:49 AM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]
Just a guess, but it might have something to do with the imminent rapture and you not being a good Christian.
posted by gman at 8:49 AM on May 21, 2011 [13 favorites]
posted by gman at 8:49 AM on May 21, 2011 [13 favorites]
/Waits for Blasdelb to notice that favorite, with cruel and heartbreaking intent.
posted by Artw at 8:54 AM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 8:54 AM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
People can unfavorite and if you have comments with a lot of favorites that also get deleted [happens, but not often, has not happened to you as near as I can tell] this can affect your favorites count.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:56 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:56 AM on May 21, 2011
Yes, people can un-favorite things, and frequently do.
Sometimes it's because they use them as a bookmark for something they want to come back and read later, and once they've done that, they remove the favorite. Sometimes people change their mind about using favorites to mean "like" or "agree", and go through their favorites list removing anything that isn't really a bookmark.
Some people like to keep a constant number of favorites and whenever they add one, they remove another. Some people get really pissed off about something or other, and remove all their favorites.
There are probably a lot more reasons, but those are the ones I can remember hearing about so far.
posted by FishBike at 8:57 AM on May 21, 2011
Sometimes it's because they use them as a bookmark for something they want to come back and read later, and once they've done that, they remove the favorite. Sometimes people change their mind about using favorites to mean "like" or "agree", and go through their favorites list removing anything that isn't really a bookmark.
Some people like to keep a constant number of favorites and whenever they add one, they remove another. Some people get really pissed off about something or other, and remove all their favorites.
There are probably a lot more reasons, but those are the ones I can remember hearing about so far.
posted by FishBike at 8:57 AM on May 21, 2011
When that happens, just go back and favorite one of your own comments to keep your numbers up. No one will ever notice! that your favorite count is built on a BED OF LIES
posted by MadamM at 8:57 AM on May 21, 2011 [10 favorites]
posted by MadamM at 8:57 AM on May 21, 2011 [10 favorites]
Yay, Artw loves me!
posted by Blasdelb at 8:58 AM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Blasdelb at 8:58 AM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
My impression is that if a comment is favorited, and then deleted, those favorites vanish. I might be wrong about that.
posted by box at 9:04 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by box at 9:04 AM on May 21, 2011
I use favorites as bookmarks and occasionally remove them when I get finished with whatever I bookmarked the post/comment for.
posted by immlass at 9:19 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by immlass at 9:19 AM on May 21, 2011
Sometimes, when I'm really sad, I unfavorite.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:19 AM on May 21, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 9:19 AM on May 21, 2011 [6 favorites]
HA HA HA HA HA HA!
posted by Artw at 9:20 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:20 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
You know what else? All those spouses you have? They can dump you AT ANY MOMENT!!!
posted by Curious Artificer at 9:40 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by Curious Artificer at 9:40 AM on May 21, 2011
Sure. I unfavorite your posts all the time.
posted by SLC Mom at 9:47 AM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by SLC Mom at 9:47 AM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Another possible reason for some of them (unless I am singularly inept): I find it's really easy to favorite things completely by mistake on my iphone. Like, I'm not even looking at the question/comment, I'm just trying to scroll down, and my finger catches the + somehow. So a few times I've looked at my favorites and went "Huh?! How did that get in there?!" and un-favorited things.
posted by DestinationUnknown at 9:48 AM on May 21, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by DestinationUnknown at 9:48 AM on May 21, 2011 [3 favorites]
Unfavoriting is essentially the same as sneaking by to dig up some plants after you've sold the house; or taking back your business card from someone's pocket when they aren't looking. Definitely OCD, because there's no point to it other than a personal hangup.
posted by Brian B. at 9:48 AM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Brian B. at 9:48 AM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]
Every time you unfavorite a pixie looses its wings and hurtles toward the ground.
posted by The Whelk at 9:49 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 9:49 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
do you have any metafilter spouses? if you leave the toilet seat up or the cap off the toothpaste, that's an unfavorite just begging to happen
posted by pyramid termite at 9:56 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by pyramid termite at 9:56 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Once in a while, I go through my favorites and cull out the ones that, on introspection, didn't really deserve it.
posted by dunkadunc at 9:57 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by dunkadunc at 9:57 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
I think that favourites from deleted threads also don't show up.
posted by atrazine at 10:04 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by atrazine at 10:04 AM on May 21, 2011
I receive personalized ads sent to me from Metafilter that are derived from the favorites I've given. So, you're damned right I try to manipulate the system. Take that, mathowie!
posted by found missing at 10:27 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by found missing at 10:27 AM on May 21, 2011
I occasionally favorite comments when I strongly agree but have nothing to add. But it's not important that those comments "stay favorited" forever, so I've started going back and unfavoriting those comments that are neither blow-me-away awesome nor foreseeably useful.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:35 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:35 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Just a guess, but it might have something to do with the imminent rapture and you not being a good Christian.
Or to be more explicit with regard to the vanishing nature of the favorites ... you received them from good Christians who, when raptured away (it's happening all the time these days, I hear), magically seem to take their favorites with them.
More Bible study is required to discern what exactly this has to say about the Lord Jesus Christ's relationship with Metafilter as a whole.
posted by philip-random at 10:41 AM on May 21, 2011 [3 favorites]
Or to be more explicit with regard to the vanishing nature of the favorites ... you received them from good Christians who, when raptured away (it's happening all the time these days, I hear), magically seem to take their favorites with them.
More Bible study is required to discern what exactly this has to say about the Lord Jesus Christ's relationship with Metafilter as a whole.
posted by philip-random at 10:41 AM on May 21, 2011 [3 favorites]
Let us now read from the Book Of Whelk
posted by The Whelk at 10:43 AM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:43 AM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]
Is this the thread where I post for free favorites?
posted by shakespeherian at 10:44 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 10:44 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Statistically, 3.9% of people are hyperfickle. Using advanced analysis of the live userbase of MeFi, that equates to 1,692 people.
These people wreak havoc with our collective vanity by favoriting and unfavoriting comments, posts and questions.
At the moment, Matt and the team are working on an algorithm that can spot these people early and eliminate them. Something should be done. Don't listen to people who call them bookmarks. A bookmark is a flat piece of paper, card or plastic you put between the pages of a book. Self-evidently, this can't happen if you have no book.
A favorite is for life, not just Christmas.
posted by MuffinMan at 10:57 AM on May 21, 2011
These people wreak havoc with our collective vanity by favoriting and unfavoriting comments, posts and questions.
At the moment, Matt and the team are working on an algorithm that can spot these people early and eliminate them. Something should be done. Don't listen to people who call them bookmarks. A bookmark is a flat piece of paper, card or plastic you put between the pages of a book. Self-evidently, this can't happen if you have no book.
A favorite is for life, not just Christmas.
posted by MuffinMan at 10:57 AM on May 21, 2011
I lose favorites all the time as naive new members begin to realize what kind of person I really am.
posted by jamjam at 11:01 AM on May 21, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by jamjam at 11:01 AM on May 21, 2011 [3 favorites]
I made a comment on a post that I thought the post was chatfilter. Five or six people favorited that comment.
Then the post was deleted.
My total number of favorites declined accordingly.
posted by dfriedman at 11:06 AM on May 21, 2011
Then the post was deleted.
My total number of favorites declined accordingly.
posted by dfriedman at 11:06 AM on May 21, 2011
Every time you unfavorite a pixie looses its wings and hurtles toward the ground.
Damn pixies killed my turtle. I'm dumping my faves
posted by Redhush at 11:29 AM on May 21, 2011
Damn pixies killed my turtle. I'm dumping my faves
posted by Redhush at 11:29 AM on May 21, 2011
Unfavoriting is essentially the same as sneaking by to dig up some plants after you've sold the house; or taking back your business card from someone's pocket when they aren't looking. Definitely OCD, because there's no point to it other than a personal hangup.
Not really. We've bean plated this repeatedly. Different mefites use favorites differently. People who favorite things as a bookmark remove the favorite when the reference is no longer needed. People who use favorites to say they agree, sometimes change their opinion. Some people favorite the mods' posts just to suck up.
Whatever. Favorites come and go. No need to be all judgmental about it.
posted by 26.2 at 11:36 AM on May 21, 2011
Not really. We've bean plated this repeatedly. Different mefites use favorites differently. People who favorite things as a bookmark remove the favorite when the reference is no longer needed. People who use favorites to say they agree, sometimes change their opinion. Some people favorite the mods' posts just to suck up.
Whatever. Favorites come and go. No need to be all judgmental about it.
posted by 26.2 at 11:36 AM on May 21, 2011
It is of vital importance that as closely as possible the number of favorites you give should coincide with the number you receive.
Sometimes in order to favorite a new post parity demands un-favoriting an old one.
Symmetry is important.
posted by Iron Rat at 11:41 AM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sometimes in order to favorite a new post parity demands un-favoriting an old one.
Symmetry is important.
posted by Iron Rat at 11:41 AM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Definitely OCD, because there's no point to it other than a personal hangup.
I favorite things I want to remember for the podcast. And then I unfavorite them after the pocdcast. I also favorite things I like in the "usual" way. I contain multitudes. Sorry about that.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:48 AM on May 21, 2011
I favorite things I want to remember for the podcast. And then I unfavorite them after the pocdcast. I also favorite things I like in the "usual" way. I contain multitudes. Sorry about that.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:48 AM on May 21, 2011
Favorites are like post-it notes. They have a multitude of functions, some of which serve good, others evil. What I would like to see is a feature that allows for a particular emotion I sometimes feel in certain contentious threads which is best summed as, "If I could unfavorite that comment, I would, a thousand times. But first I'd have to favorite the f***ing thing, and I'd never do that, not in a thousand years."
posted by philip-random at 11:55 AM on May 21, 2011
posted by philip-random at 11:55 AM on May 21, 2011
What I would like to see is a feature that allows for a particular emotion I sometimes feel in certain contentious threads which is best summed as, "If I could unfavorite that comment, I would, a thousand times. But first I'd have to favorite the f***ing thing, and I'd never do that, not in a thousand years."
We need to be able to OMEGA FLAG comments. It will never be displayed, or used for moderation, but we will know it is there, oh yes.
posted by Artw at 12:10 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
We need to be able to OMEGA FLAG comments. It will never be displayed, or used for moderation, but we will know it is there, oh yes.
posted by Artw at 12:10 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've always wondered -- if someone deactivated their account, do all the comments they favorited get unfavorited?
posted by onlyconnect at 12:16 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by onlyconnect at 12:16 PM on May 21, 2011
That does not appear to be the case, no. (Deactivated accounts are still there - nothing gets removed, and if you look at a deactivated profile it still lists all their favorites.)
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 12:39 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 12:39 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have seen people zero out their favourites, but that's more of a Personal Drama Moment thing than a site feature.
posted by Artw at 12:40 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by Artw at 12:40 PM on May 21, 2011
Thanks, restless_nomad!
posted by onlyconnect at 12:55 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by onlyconnect at 12:55 PM on May 21, 2011
Small buttons, small iPod, big fingers. I accidentally fave stuff now and then unknowingly and find and edit them later on the desktop.
posted by peacay at 1:48 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by peacay at 1:48 PM on May 21, 2011
Some people like to keep a constant number of favorites and whenever they add one, they remove another.
0_o
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:02 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
0_o
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:02 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
BitterOldPunk- as to the constant number - there's a mefite who has one favorite and if he ever finds another favorite comment he'll unfavorite the first to favorite his now true favorite comment...until it gets replaced as well.
posted by nadawi at 2:28 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by nadawi at 2:28 PM on May 21, 2011
I get unfavourited all the time. I'm actually trying to do a scientific analysis of it. I have this suspicion that it usually happens when I say something mean about Bob Dylan or god. Like how some people seem to confuse the two, which isn't surprising because they're both vastly overrated... my god, the count is tumbling again! I was right!
posted by Decani at 2:55 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Decani at 2:55 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm going to have to consult with tehloki about all this favorite business before I make a comment.
posted by Sailormom at 2:58 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by Sailormom at 2:58 PM on May 21, 2011
It's probably just people accidentally giving temp-faves. You have to doubleclick now for them to be permanent. There's been an experiment running all month.
posted by klangklangston at 3:07 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by klangklangston at 3:07 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Definitely OCD, because there's no point to it other than a personal hangup.
I favourite comments because they're either very informative or very witty.
Weeks/months later, though, I'll think to myself: "What was that very informative comment I once favourited that covers this exact situation?" Minutes after that, I'll go: "Fuck, why the hell did I have to favourite every goddamned thing that gave me the lulz? Now I have to sift through pages of witty bullshit that lacks all context and therefore seems strange and idiotic."
I unfavourite those now-strange-and-idiotic items along the way.
[Think of it as a half-assed compliment: I once thought you were witty, but now I just think you're weird.]
posted by matlock expressway at 3:14 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
I favourite comments because they're either very informative or very witty.
Weeks/months later, though, I'll think to myself: "What was that very informative comment I once favourited that covers this exact situation?" Minutes after that, I'll go: "Fuck, why the hell did I have to favourite every goddamned thing that gave me the lulz? Now I have to sift through pages of witty bullshit that lacks all context and therefore seems strange and idiotic."
I unfavourite those now-strange-and-idiotic items along the way.
[Think of it as a half-assed compliment: I once thought you were witty, but now I just think you're weird.]
posted by matlock expressway at 3:14 PM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Especially if I've favorited a comment as an "I agree" statement, I'll remove the favorite later, because it really isn't something I care about long-term.
I am one of those people that likes to edit her favorites list; I want to look back on my favorites and see the best (IMO) of what I've found on Metafilter.
posted by litnerd at 3:52 PM on May 21, 2011
I am one of those people that likes to edit her favorites list; I want to look back on my favorites and see the best (IMO) of what I've found on Metafilter.
posted by litnerd at 3:52 PM on May 21, 2011
Hey, I lost one this afternoon.
I want it back, on the comment from which it was removed.
*Folds arms*
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 4:38 PM on May 21, 2011
I want it back, on the comment from which it was removed.
*Folds arms*
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 4:38 PM on May 21, 2011
How am I supposed to keep track of my score if it's changing all the time
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:12 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:12 PM on May 21, 2011
Huh, I still have favorites in my count from a comment on a post that was just now deleted. I thought those were supposed to go away. I guess that happens later after the favorites part of the db catches up with the deleted posts part of the db or something.
posted by immlass at 5:39 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by immlass at 5:39 PM on May 21, 2011
I believe (purely via observation) that favorites on comments in deleted posts don't go anywhere, whereas favorites on deleted comments go poof.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 6:05 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 6:05 PM on May 21, 2011
Metafilter: we used to be witty. Now we're just weird
posted by Redhush at 6:52 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Redhush at 6:52 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
(Deactivated accounts are still there - nothing gets removed, and if you look at a deactivated profile it still lists all their favorites.)
Actually, a lot of the profile content gets removed. (But that has nothing to do with this favorite/unfavorite thing.)
posted by John Cohen at 8:10 PM on May 21, 2011
Actually, a lot of the profile content gets removed. (But that has nothing to do with this favorite/unfavorite thing.)
posted by John Cohen at 8:10 PM on May 21, 2011
If you have very few favorites, every time you get a new one, your proportional increase is comparatively greater. So really, you're just winning faster.
posted by estlin at 8:22 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by estlin at 8:22 PM on May 21, 2011
Actually, a lot of the profile content gets removed.
To be more specific, a lot of the profile content gets hidden.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:20 AM on May 22, 2011
To be more specific, a lot of the profile content gets hidden.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:20 AM on May 22, 2011
Sometimes if I disagree strongly with a comment, I'll take away one of the favorites someone else gave it.
posted by maryr at 7:21 PM on May 22, 2011
posted by maryr at 7:21 PM on May 22, 2011
BitterOldPunk- as to the constant number - there's a mefite who has one favorite and if he ever finds another favorite comment he'll unfavorite the first to favorite his now true favorite comment...until it gets replaced as well.
Tell us who it is!! I need to see the Best Comment on Metafilter.
posted by pompomtom at 9:59 PM on May 22, 2011
Tell us who it is!! I need to see the Best Comment on Metafilter.
posted by pompomtom at 9:59 PM on May 22, 2011
I've had my favourite count go down. The members who did that are no longer with us.
posted by deborah at 11:03 PM on May 22, 2011
posted by deborah at 11:03 PM on May 22, 2011
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posted by Blasdelb at 8:48 AM on May 21, 2011 [2 favorites]