When do you give likes/ ❤️ on Tapas?

[helldancer]

I know that views and likes are quite "unbalanced". In my opinion that's just natural, cause to decide wether you like a story/ comic or not, you have to take a look at at least some episodes.

But what makes you click the like button when you hit it?
And are there reasons to not click "like" even though you enjoy reading?

I'm curious, cause I think it's very different for everyone.
For example: If I enjoy the story/ comic, even if I see some flaws, I will always "like" to show my appreciation. Mostly I will also subscribe if I liked at least the first episodes.
If I wasn't sure in the beginning, but catch myself reading further, I will even go back and "like" the episodes I read.

I click "like" when I like the story/ idea over all, when I find myself reading on (especially when I shouldn't, because I had something else to do), when I like the characters, the art style (comics),...
There are so many reasons and for me it's easy to click the ️, especially when it feels like the author/ artist put a lot of thought/ heart into their work.

Now I would love to hear how easy/ difficult it is for you to hit the button, and, if you like, why.

[ThunderChicken]

I will generally like each episode as I read it. If I binge a creator might get anywhere from 5-20 notifications in a short time. But I also use likes as bookmarks. If I find a new series and follow it I will read several episodes and like each one. Often I will then forget about that series until the creator updates it, at which point I will go back to the last episode that I read (I’ll know this by whether I liked it or not) and binge another bunch. This will repeat until I’m caught up.

[helldancer]

Now that you mention it, I do the "like = bookmark"-thing, too.
Especially when a lot is on my reading list or there's a longer time between the updates of episodes, I also like to be reminded through my subscription/ likes.

Do you prefer to binge a story/ comic or to read the episodes in longer intervals?
(Btw, I don't think anyone minds being flooded by likes. (At least if they can tell that it's not for some of these sub-for-sub/ like-for-like endeavors. ))

Thank you for the insight! ️

[riddp]

If I like it, I will click the like button.

[helldancer]

Sounds good. ️
Thank you for commenting!

[AmysGames]

I'm fairly picky with my likes, and tend not to click the like button unless it's something I particularly enjoyed. I'm worried that liking every single page will come across as insincere.

...Though I also appreciate my readers who do like every page, and realize that it helps the algorithm when I do, so maybe I should be less picky about it.

[delladz]

I usually only give likes if I'm subbed to a work and am reading it because im a binge reader and can never remember where I left off lol so the likes help me track what I've read

If I'm subbed to you but haven't liked any episodes in a while its because I SWEAR IM GONNA CATCH UP ITS NOT BECAUSE IM DISINTERESTED

I'm also a huge fan of leaving comments when im in the headspace to do so cause I know how comments are SO much more encouraging than getting a bunch of likes! I wish I had more free time to read more and especially COMMENT more!

[Leyelle]

Even if I feel like the story needs improvement in some areas, I like the story if I like the plot itself, and something really central stand outs to me. I think I've liked chapters of stories that were lacking in illustration or dialog for that reason, but i don't even like all the chapters of my own story, though I know some people do, only the one's that stand out to me as particularly well done XD

[kyupol]

When I genuinely like or as a bookmark

[helldancer]

I never know if someone accidentally clicked my story or an episode of it if there are only new "views", so in my head I only count the likes as those really interested.
But I get your concern. Still, if you like the story/ comic, why not show it? The artist will be happy for sure (and they are the only one who sees that you hit the "️" ).
So, considering could be worth it, but there's also no need to make yourself feel uncomfortable. ️
(Only my two cents, please feel free to ignore me. )

Thanks a lot for the insight!

[helldancer]

I get that. ️ For me it's the other way round most of the time, at least in the beginning: If I liked some episodes, I often will subscribe.
Ahaha, the bookmark-thing is quite important it seems. Yeah, same for me, sometimes I just drown in stuff for reading. Never know when I will be back. But I want to come back!

Oooh, comments are wonderful! You're so right, they are very encouraging. 🤩
Hope you'll find the time to boost your favorite stories/ comics with comments! ️

So, thank you for your comment here!

[helldancer]

That's important for me too, that I like the plot over all, or at least there's something special about it.
I think it's nice of you to support the author/ artist that way, even if you see some flaws in the chapter/ page. ️

Thank you for your thoughts! ️

[helldancer]

Sounds good!
Hehe, the use of the likes as bookmarks is really a thing, it seems.

Thank you for your comment!

[Lorian]

I give likes when I am really engaged in a story, if I truly feel it moving me
I give likes the same way I am giving subs :>

[helldancer]

Sounds fair.
Hope you find quite some stories/ comics that are moving you!

And thanks for your thoughts.

[RandomKelsey]

If I read a chapter.

I will only not Like if I absolutely can't stand something, but at that point I will usually just stop engaging with the content. Even if the chapter wasn't mind-blowing or if it had some flaws, I will always Like. Likes are absolutely crucial to creators in ways that the average reader might not get. Views are nice, but they're the lowest on the totem pole of useful statistics. Direct engagement in Likes or comments are the lifeblood for a series.

Honestly, I think calling the Likes, well, Likes isn't the best, especially with the way most algorithms work. My thought is that it puts too much weight on the Like being personal to the reader ("I want to remember what I read", "I guess this chapter wasn't so interesting", etc.) when it, again--algorithmically--works more like a tip, a basic acknowledgment of the effort of creation. Subs and likes will determine rankings, the ability to get noticed, front page selection, and more, which is why I always throw creators I read that piece of support. This is why my Liked playlist on YouTube is a hot mess of everything I've ever watched and didn't vehemently disagree with while I have my created playlists to track what I really like or want to save
It'd be nice if Tapas had a system more akin to that.

[MK_Wizard]

I like what I am reading so... pretty much every comic I'm reading and are subbed to. To me, subbing and liking every entry walks hand in hand because hey, I DO like it so why not have the clicks match? Moreover, it's an easy way to help boost the comic.

[helldancer]

I think quite similar. Pure views do only little for creators. So it's nice of you to encourage them by giving the likes!

Ah, that's a good point! I also would prefer to give it another name/ symbol.
Hehe, well, you made a system out of it that works for you.

Thanks a lot for your insight! ️

[helldancer]

That's right, imho!
There are some cases when I don't know if I like it, like when there's only one picture of a comic per episode. Then I prefer to look at some more, to make a decision.
But if I decide I like it, I give the Likes, also to those episodes I already read.

Thank you for your comment! ️