Liking A Depressing Status
By lloydbelleza
@lloydbelleza (1227)
Philippines
February 18, 2013 10:34pm CST
Before I really wonder why people liked facebook status that conveys depressing thoughts. There was a status of a friend about a loss in the family, and how extremely sad she was. Then there were a couple of people who liked that kind of emotional status. How would you like something like that? Did it mean that they liked how sad my friend was?
So I asked some of my friends about this. They said, liking a status or photo, etc, doesn't always mean that you like the content but simply means that you recognized and read the post. Some, they said, are just too lazy to bother to post any comment but wants the one who posted the status to know that they actually read it.
Although, I still am having a hard time accepting that reason. I guess I just have to deal with it but I hope people would really consider using the like button the way it should be used. A like is a like. We should not make it more complicated and let the user figure out what your "like" means.
4 responses
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
19 Feb 13
I have the same thought as you when it comes to this. I mean there is nothing wrong with liking a status when you do not like to comment hut... when it comes to sad statuses and when the status are not positive. I would most definitely not want it to be liked but rather i would appreciate people to comment and share their thoughts. It feels like an insult if it will be liked as if they are happy about the sadness i am feeling.
People should be sensitive and should consider someones feeling. Given that they do not have time... they probably should just leave it at that and dont even bother to like it...
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
20 Feb 13
That's right. People should really be considerate about this. Especially of people expects that someone would listen to them at least and obviously people who posts such topics need people to talk to. So let us not show them that we know they are suffering and just disregard them as if their feelings does not matter.
@lloydbelleza (1227)
• Philippines
20 Feb 13
Exactly my thoughts, Chiyosan. Are you Japanese? 
Anyway, back to the topic. It's okay to like the status and not comment at all if the status is worth liking, or if the purpose of the status is to get likes from friends. But there really is a time like what I have stated when liking is not the best thing to do. It doesn't really help the situation but probably make the person feel worse. Depressing status should not be liked instead you drop a comment of encouragement or comfort. If they have no intention of doing that, it's far more better to leave it as is.
Anyway, back to the topic. It's okay to like the status and not comment at all if the status is worth liking, or if the purpose of the status is to get likes from friends. But there really is a time like what I have stated when liking is not the best thing to do. It doesn't really help the situation but probably make the person feel worse. Depressing status should not be liked instead you drop a comment of encouragement or comfort. If they have no intention of doing that, it's far more better to leave it as is.
@aqirock (855)
• Malaysia
19 Feb 13
Most of my friends like a status to show that they are read even not comments it, but for me it's not good to like a depressing status it's kinda to show that you like the status, sometimes I post about this kind of status but then my friend like I ask why they like and they said it's showing that us read it ughhh I don't know what to say but same as you I just can't accept the reason cause for me liking on depressing status are kind of disrespectful 
@lloydbelleza (1227)
• Philippines
20 Feb 13
Sometimes, I also think that it is a kind of disrespectful to like depressing status. But we really don't know the intention of the like so we can't really say that their intention was to disrespect the person. I just hope they leave a comment or at least leave it as is if they don't intend to give some sensible comment. Because for me it will just make it worse. 
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
19 Feb 13
The only reason I would like a status of somebody passing away is when the person is no longer suffering, so their pain has ended. Several of my friends passed from cancer and the way their life ended was so painful to watch. One young women passed weighing 80 pounds and when she was healthy she had been 135 pounds and really was so happy to see her joyful face. I really miss her and know she has stopped suffering.
@lloydbelleza (1227)
• Philippines
19 Feb 13
I am glad you understand the use of the like button. And I am sorry to hear her loss. I have also recently lost a friend from cancer. But as you said, it is good to know that she is now in a better place and has stopped suffering.
@MoonGypsy (4606)
• United States
19 Feb 13
i don't think you will get people to change the way they use the like button anytime soon. people are use to using the button to let the poster know that they have read the post. i also think you are right about being to lazy to respond, but after all it is facebook.
@lloydbelleza (1227)
• Philippines
19 Feb 13
Yes, true that. I could never let people change their way of using the like button. But I hope they would realize that they are using it the wrong way.
