Remove the laugh emoji for a more respectful community [MERGED]

[M4th]

I quit using emoticons (!) back in like '06 or so because it felt like living in a cartoon.

User avatar checks out.

I don't think I'll be disabling the "reaction jackson" forum function, but glad the possibility to do so exists for those who have experienced the spammy side of Haha and have had quite enough of them.

Maybe instead of banishment or the firing squad, Haha can be replaced with a different laugh emoji... like the one with tears in their eyes?

😂

 

[fatTribble]

If we see pattem like that, it is considered a violation of the trolling rule. Normally the first offense would result in a warning to stop, followed by suspensions and a ban if the problem persists.

That’s really helpful. How should that be reported? Would you Report your own post and give an explanation?

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Maybe this forum can be redesigned to prohibit all types of emotions, including the enjoyment of reading, or to enjoy looking at looking a photos, people, and so on, or just anything else that engages one's emotions? How about everyone of us in this forum becoming a society where emotions, even reading, aren't tolerated? Something like this:

 

[Weaselboy]

That’s really helpful. How should that be reported? Would you Report your own post and give an explanation?

Yes... that would work to get our attention.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Ahh…if there were only a Star Trek TOS "Charlie X" emoji you could send back to make this happen:

 

[leonremi]

Huh? i use the laugh emoji when i find something funny.
Otherwise there are reactions for disagreeing.
Laughing at people is stupid.

 

[theluggage]

Huh? i use the laugh emoji when i find something funny.

Well, I see how it could be abused to harass someone by spamming them with "laugh" - or any other emoji - I think its down to the people who seriously want it removed to do the research and show how big a problem that is.

If I were going to start axing reactions, I wouldn't start with "laugh".

"like" has a pretty clear meaning and potentially avoids lots near-identical posts.
"laugh" is promarily a reaction to a joke or absurd situation. It could be abused, but has a clear intended meaning.
"wow", "sad" are somewhat ambiguous. Are they a reaction to the post, or the subject at hand? Like "laugh" they make sense in context, but I've seen them used in ways that made it unclear

"angry" really doesn't need to be there. It's completely unclear whether the reactee (?) is angry at the poster, or what they were saying. If I criticise something that Apple have done, is an "angry" reaction aimed atApple or angry at me for criticising Apple? If someone is angry about consumer electronics, they shoud get away from the screen, touch grass, have a cup of tea, punch the wall, whatever, and tnen maybe come back and post a reasoned argument as to what made them angry.

"disagree" - likewise - it signifies nothing to me without an argument to back it up. Either take time to contribute to the debate, or "like" someone else who has already replied.

As I said, if this were really keeping me awake at night I'd go and compile a portfolio of examples to make the case. I'm just not clear why we need any reactions beyond "like" and "laugh" (and I wouldn't miss those if they were thrown out with the bathwater) - they're neither necessary or sufficient for a good conversation. Personally, I just ignore anything that's not a like, laugh or actual response (and I try not to get too carried away with the laughs and likes). If I want a (completely unreliable) poll on a subject, there's a button for that.

 

[Juicy Box]

Keep the thumbs up, bring back the thumbs down, get rid of the others.

 

[uacd]

Cmon ppl it is just a laugher emoji. LOL: you know that abbreviation, right? It’s been around ever since the ice age.
Facebook did just what you are asking here, now what? They have the most nauseating, pathetic laugh emoji on the internet.

Is this what you all want? For real…

I mean, why are you being so insecure? This forum is a moderated space, the things you are describing (misuse, trolling, harassment) are not tolerated and accounts who pursuit it do not live long here.

I dunno, I rarely use laugh emoji to disagree, mostly as a way to express that this or that comment is funny.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Cmon ppl it is just a laugher emoji. LOL: you know that abbreviation, right? It’s been around ever since the ice age.
Facebook did just what you are asking here, now what? They have the most nauseating, pathetic laugh emoji on the internet.

Is this what you all want? For real…
View attachment 2523331

I mean, why are you being so insecure? This forum is a moderated space, the things you are describing (misuse, trolling, harassment) are not tolerated and accounts who pursuit it do not live long here.

I dunno, I rarely use laugh emoji to disagree, mostly as a way to express that this or that comment is funny.

Your comments above make a lot os sense. So, a "thumbs up" from me 👍

 

[M4th]

If there was a secret vote from these emojis...

😀 😃 😄 😁 😆 😂 😅 🤣

I'd probably go with number 3.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Cmon ppl it is just a laugher emoji. LOL: you know that abbreviation, right? It’s been around ever since the ice age.
Facebook did just what you are asking here, now what? They have the most nauseating, pathetic laugh emoji on the internet.

Is this what you all want? For real…
View attachment 2523331

I mean, why are you being so insecure? This forum is a moderated space, the things you are describing (misuse, trolling, harassment) are not tolerated and accounts who pursuit it do not live long here.

I dunno, I rarely use laugh emoji to disagree, mostly as a way to express that this or that comment is funny.

Personally, I would prefer to see all emojis removed.

The laugh emoji may denote "laughter", but, in its current incarnation, it does not distinguish between "laughing at" and "laughing with" someone.

While the latter may be used to signal that something is funny (or, the poster in questions finds it so), the former signals - and is quite clearly meant to signal - derisive and corrosive contempt - and has been used as a form of harassment on this forum when it has been used to spam specific posters with sequences of 'laugh' emojis, invariably in the absence of anything else, such as words by way of clarification.

Besides, humour is both extraordinarily subjective and quite often, culturally specific, and doesn't tend to translate well, above all, online.

 

[Solenoid289]

1. Install AdGuard browser extension.
2. Open AdGuard settings then select "Filters"> "User Rules".
3. Add this

forums.macrumors.com##[class*="reactionsBar"]

4. Save and quit.

Voila! No more annoying reaction emojis on MacRumors Forums.

 

[I7guy]

Personally, I would prefer to see all emojis removed.

The laugh emoji may denote "laughter", but, in its current incarnation, it does not distinguish between "laughing at" and "laughing with" someone.

While the latter may be used to signal that something is funny (or, the poster in questions finds it so), the former signals - and is quite clearly meant to signal - derisive and corrosive contempt - and has been used as a form of harassment on this forum when it has been used to spam specific posters with sequences of 'laugh' emojis, invariably in the absence of anything else, such as words by way of clarification.

Besides, humour is both extraordinarily subjective and quite often, culturally specific, and doesn't tend to translate well, above all, online.

Something like the above would change the character of the laugh emoji.

 

[theluggage]

Something like the above would change the character of the laugh emoji.

Allegedly "Gen Z" find the thumbs-up symbol aggressive and rude:

The thumbs up emoji isn’t passive-aggressive – Gen Z need to get over it

The younger generation interprets the popular emoji as a sign of aggression in the workplace. How on earth did this totally benign shorthand for ‘OK’ become so divisive, asks Helen Coffey?

www.independent.co.uk

Not sure how seriously to take that, but - basically - there is no bottom to this rabbit hole.

Can we just go back to typing colon-hyphen-close-parenthesis? <-- Edit: no, apparently not, LOL.

 

[I7guy]

Allegedly "Gen Z" find the thumbs-up symbol aggressive and rude:

The thumbs up emoji isn’t passive-aggressive – Gen Z need to get over it

The younger generation interprets the popular emoji as a sign of aggression in the workplace. How on earth did this totally benign shorthand for ‘OK’ become so divisive, asks Helen Coffey?

www.independent.co.uk

Not sure how seriously to take that, but - basically - there is no bottom to this rabbit hole.

Can we just go back to typing colon-hyphen-close-parenthesis? <-- Edit: no, apparently not, LOL.

We have a conundrum here. There is no answer that is a tweak that will be pleasing to everybody. But I think the reaction system the way it is is generally okay. Even with its faults.

 

[fatTribble]

We have a conundrum here. There is no answer that is a tweak that will be pleasing to everybody. But I think the reaction system the way it is is generally okay. Even with its faults.

If anything the last 6 months have taught me is that I can’t change the world. It’s on me to change my reaction to it. People are going to be displeased with my posts. I need to be okay with that or quit posting.

And @theluggage, my laughing is a genuinely funny laugh not a sarcastic one 🤓

 

[dwrufus53]

Emojis are no big deal to me. Perhaps people need to grow a bit tougher skin. One must realize that there are thousands of differing opinions on almost every discussion topic, and it's reasonable to expect that not everyone will agree with your opinion on anything. Getting "hurt" or gettng your panties in a bunch because someone disagrees seems like an immaturity issue.

Feel free to disagree.

 

[theluggage]

And @theluggage, my laughing is a genuinely funny laugh not a sarcastic one 🤓

That would always be my default assumption.

 

[maflynn]

there is no bottom to this rabbit hole.

Exactly, we start cancelling ways to communicate due to hurt feelings, it will not end with the laughing emoticon.

 

[G5isAlive]

So I confess to reading this thread with some trace of amusement, the laughing emoji is very useful because some people intend to be funny, to lighten the situation, and I like to 'reward that.' Some people just have too thin of a skin if it bothers them. But the amusing part to me is some of (did I say one?) the people most vocal about how it apparently hurts their feelings, are the ones that I first noticed were doing it to me over my support of the AVP. That's where I learned (from them) that using the laugh emoji as a means of negative comment was even a thing. Now THAT is funny. But I do partially get it, when people post the same negative comments with no other apparent motivation than to complain, after a while it does become laughable. My apologies for saying so.

: )

 

[dwrufus53]

So I confess to reading this thread with some trace of amusement, the laughing emoji is very useful because some people intend to be funny, to lighten the situation, and I like to 'reward that.' Some people just have too thin of a skin if it bothers them. But the amusing part to me is some of (did I say one?) the people most vocal about how it apparently hurts their feelings, are the ones that I first noticed were doing it to me over my support of the AVP. That's where I learned (from them) that using the laugh emoji as a means of negative comment was even a thing. Now THAT is funny. But I do partially get it, when people post the same negative comments with no other apparent motivation than to complain, after a while it does become laughable. My apologies for saying so.

: )

I see nothing for which you should/must apologize.

 

[fatTribble]

So I confess to reading this thread with some trace of amusement, the laughing emoji is very useful because some people intend to be funny, to lighten the situation, and I like to 'reward that.' Some people just have too thin of a skin if it bothers them. But the amusing part to me is some of (did I say one?) the people most vocal about how it apparently hurts their feelings, are the ones that I first noticed were doing it to me over my support of the AVP. That's where I learned (from them) that using the laugh emoji as a means of negative comment was even a thing. Now THAT is funny. But I do partially get it, when people post the same negative comments with no other apparent motivation than to complain, after a while it does become laughable. My apologies for saying so.

: )

Wow, I could not agree more! The wet blanket posts and laughing emojis for AVP were borderline harassment in my opinion in that there was no comment from a happy AVP owner that didn’t get targeted. It bothered me at first, not because they didn’t like the product, but because it just got in the way of owners trying to exchange thoughts and tips. Well, it was also bothersome that the negative comments were so uncreative and obvious. It often was at the level of junior high kids trying to impress their friends.

 

[G5isAlive]

Wow, I could not agree more! The wet blanket posts and laughing emojis for AVP were borderline harassment in my opinion in that there was no comment from a happy AVP owner that didn’t get targeted. It bothered me at first, not because they didn’t like the product, but because it just got in the way of owners trying to exchange thoughts and tips. Well, it was also bothersome that the negative comments were so uncreative and obvious. It often was at the level of junior high kids trying to impress their friends.

yep.. I get the AVP is not a product for everyone, or even many, it definitely has a paywall... but still dont get the pure vitriol it inspires and the need for some to insist they could afford it, just think its the world's stupidest most insulting thing and their need to attack anyone who thought otherwise. You would think the AVP slept with their desktop or something!

and yes, I think I commented at the time how it was difficult to find some helpful comments through the hate. shrugs. It is getting better.

And junior high, you are not kidding. When the topic of how it appears when wearing came up, I suggested it was no worse than wearing ski goggles when skiing... Well this one person went on about what a nerd I must be and how no young female starlet would ever look at me if I was wearing one (as if they ever would lol)... even posted pics of them... I was blown away at how sexist and stupid the comment was... I should have reported him but eh, thats just not how I rolled.

so yeah, what are you going to do but laugh sometimes?

 

[fatTribble]

yep.. I get the AVP is not a product for everyone, or even many, it definitely has a paywall... but still dont get the pure vitriol it inspires and the need for some to insist they could afford it, just think its the world's stupidest most insulting thing and their need to attack anyone who thought otherwise. You would think the AVP slept with their desktop or something!

and yes, I think I commented at the time how it was difficult to find some helpful comments through the hate. shrugs. It is getting better.

And junior high, you are not kidding. When the topic of how it appears when wearing came up, I suggested it was no worse than wearing ski goggles when skiing... Well this one person went on about what a nerd I must be and how no young female starlet would ever look at me if I was wearing one (as if they ever would lol)... even posted pics of them... I was blown away at how sexist and stupid the comment was... I should have reported him but eh, thats just not how I rolled.

so yeah, what are you going to do but laugh sometimes?

Absolutely! You made me lol a few times! (the good way, not the mean way)

The price is not cheap, but my 2018 MacBook Pro with 4TB was nearly $6,000. It’s not like Apple is a budget PC maker. They have pricey products.

The comments back then about how concerned we should all be walking around in public wearing an AVP really cracked me up. Mine has never left the house. But on a plane, train or elsewhere who cares. What shrinking violets some must be to worry what everyone else thinks.

I could write a long list of all of the Apple products I will likely never buy or have no interest in. But that would be boring and not useful to anyone. Why on earth would I intently lurk in a product forum for a product I don’t have and don’t want just so I can splash my mean smiley around in hopes of irritating people. 👏

I agree things have gotten better. Even considering that experience I am still glad we have the laughing emoji. Like many things it can be used for good or not so good. The problem is some users, not the emoji.

And I do appreciate when I attempt humor and someone takes the time to leave a laughing emoji. It just makes the forum fun.