Change "Favorite" to "Like"

[sooskriszta]

On activity posts we have a "Favorite" link/action. (see attachment)

I would argue for a nomenclature change here. Instead of "favorite", it should be called "Like".

I understand the reluctance to adopt Facebook terminology. So call it "upvote" if you want.

But "Favorite" is just not appropriate and is not what the function is.

Favorite implies that the post would be added to a pool of favorite items and can be recalled at will - much like Browser Favorites or Amazon Wishlist.

Also, Favorite has connotations that make a user think twice before clicking on it. Consequently many fewer people will "favorite" than will "Like" or "Upvote"

[karmatosed]

Personally, I am against it becoming like or up vote, I'm not convinced from my user testing of any negative impact, Aside from that like 'smells like Facebook' and upvote isn't really what it does (people would expect it to move up / have weight added). Do you have any data to show this?

Ultimately though with language files and templates you can change it to whatever you will.

[henrywright]

Thankfully the language file allows you to change the text. Favorite is spelt Favourite when using British English so the ability to change it comes in handy.

[sooskriszta]

@karmatosed Favorite (verb) is just not what the function does. There is no way to access my "favorites" (noun) list if I want to. Unlike browsers. Unlike Hulu. Unlike Netflix. Unlike Youtube. Unlike MSN. Unlike Grooveshark. Unlike Spotify. Unlike Sky TV. Unlike pretty much anything that uses "favorites".

If you don't like "like" and "upvote", I am happy to hear other suggestions. But favorite just doesn't cut it.

[boonebgorges]

There is no way to access my "favorites" (noun) list if I want to

Your profile > Activity > Favorites

"Like" etc assumes that we keep track of like counts, and display them publicly. Favorites are private, and are primarily for the use of the individual. Both ideas have valid use cases, but they are not the same thing. Simply swapping out 'Favorite' for 'Like' throughout BP, but keeping the functionality the same, is likely to cause confusion and frustration (eg, if you want to know how many users have Liked your post).

I'd be delighted to see an up-to-date Like plugin for BP. DJPaul's BP Labs ​http://wordpress.org/plugins/bp-labs/ has a pretty good one. However, changing our Favorites to Likes is not really possible, as it will surely cause problems for existing users.

[sooskriszta]

Replying to boonebgorges:

Your profile > Activity > Favorites

Given that, I agree.

[boonebgorges]

Thanks, sooskriszta. It's good to be prodded on these sorts of issues.