We’ve made a few changes here recently, things we’ve had to do. We’ve run into some plugin compatibility issues, and we’ve had to find other solutions.
You may or may not know this, but WordPress, like many software applications, allows functions to be added, modified, or extended though plugins. That’s little software packages that can be added to the existing software.
WordPress will release updates and fixes to their software from time-to-time, and we made a small update recently. And, there’s another update coming, but not just yet.
Ahead of the update, we went through and checked our plugins, and found that some were not compatible with the upcoming update. The people that develop these plugins sometimes don’t update them when that’s needed. When that happens, we have three choices:
- Remove the plugin entirely, abandoning that functionality.
- Replace the plugin with another plugin that does the same thing, though it may act a little different.
- Leave the plugin in place and hope for the best.
Sometimes, we need to simply remove a plugin. If it doesn’t bring any value, it’s just taking up resources. We did that on a couple, mostly behind the scenes.
Sometimes, we leave the plugin in place and hope for the best. I’m not fan of this approach, but if we really want the functionality, we do this until we can find a replacement plugin.
Sometimes we replace the plugin with another.
Our ratings plugins, the Stars and Likes buttons, were not compatible with the upcoming version, so we needed to do something. We tried a few things, such as the WordPress “Like” button. However, some users reported it didn’t work correctly, either doing nothing, or requiring a login. Well, that’s totally unacceptable, so we decided to not rely on that. It’s now gone.
We wanted to be able to have comment ratings, which the “Likes” plugin did. But it placed the “Likes” on both comments and posts, meaning we had two post ratings systems. We kept that for a while, but some of you used one, and others used the other. And some of you used both.
We finally decided to go with the “Likes” alone, but we still needed to find a replacement.
Well, we finally found one. It’s very similar, but since it’s a different plugin from a different developer, the old ratings don’t transfer over. And I really don’t like that. I cannot express how much I do not like that.
The good news is the developer is the same company that makes WordPress, so we won’t have compatibility issues going forward.
We have a new ratings system in place. It seems to work, and it seems to work well. So, I’d like you to give it a shot. No, I’m not asking for likes on this post. This is just a notice about things, not something you come here to enjoy. Oppo or Frank J. or someone will be along shortly with that. This is a request that you take a minute from time to time and think about the new “Likes” functionality, and ratings for posts and comments in general.
If you want to go back and rate some of your favorites, that would be great. If you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions about the ratings for posts and comments, let us know.
UPDATE: We’re dropping back to the old “Likes” plug-in for now but that’s gonna go away in a future update. We won’t have a choice in the matter. The plug-in isn’t being updated, and won’t work with newer versions. We’re going to conduct additional testing to find a replacement that works, or a configuration setting of the new standard one to find a wat to make it work.
Well I can give bacon at least. I hope this all gets ironed out in the end. I would like to mention a weird thing. It happens when I post from work but oddly not when I am at home. I post things for a bit but then get an error message about a header being too long to and I can’t get back into the site for awhile. Eventually I can but then it happens again. If it continues today I will copy the message. It might be more related to Google, which I use at work. I use Brave at home. An additional oddity the wordpress pop up will not work on Brave even if I turn off all the protections.
And it happened again. here is what I get.
Like I said, this may just be my browser problem. The IT dept here has tons of things to help prevent system fires so that may be it but I present you this FYI.
I had to give this post a thumbs down, just to ensure the entire system is working to specifications.
Or maybe because I’m a jackass.
Nah, it’s gotta be the working to specifications thing.
I gave your comment a thumbs down, and it was indeed because I am a Jackass (and had not seen it work here yet…so a jackass with OCD)
The phone version of brave appears to treat the new rating system as an ad.
Wonderful. I hope I can still comment from home. My Google at work is now not letting my submit a comment before it kicks me out. I have to use an old version of Explorer to post this and it is slooooooow and won’t remember my member info.
Now the site is mucking with all the browsers I have available at work Mozilla, Explorer, Chrome. I may only be able to post intermittently during the day.
It appears that Brave does block the “Like” function. I can bring it up but only by turning off the Brave safeguards.
Huh. Check your email, walruskkkch.
Hey, everyone. I just wanted to let you know that I have tested the plugins on multiple OS and multiple browsers. It works with Brave, Chrome, Safari, Edge, on Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android… And, yes, this was done while not logged in, not only not as me, but not at all (I borrowed devices to test this).
Mind you, I don’t dispute that you’re running into issues, not in the least. But darned if I can figure out why you’re getting errors or a lack of functionality, and I am, on multiple browsers and multiple OS.
Yes, the other plugin worked, too. but it is no longer supported, and is not compatible with the next upgrade. So, right now, I’m not sure what might be going on.
Do something for me, if you would. Clear all cookies and local storage for both imao.us, wordpress.com, and wp.com — I’m not sure that would make a difference, but right now, I’m grasping at straws.
I want to offer a good working “Likes” plugin that will accomplish what everyone wants, and that will work on the Website after the next update. So, I’m trying everything I can.
I truly am sorry for the issue, and want to find a good workable solution that will work now, and in the future.
Just put in a request to your IT department to export the data into the new system.
Well that may not be a good idea. If you know what I mean and I think you do.
I read this whole post and I’m still trying to find the humor. Is it some dry British thing?
I will say I like how the new ‘thumbs down’ button thanks you.
Also, I like how you can downvote people without them knowing it was you.
One last thing, who’s this Basil guy? He’s a lot less funny than we usually see here.
I miss Basil and Harvey.
Yeah, he’s a right boor.
Cleared cookies but when I try to log into wordpress it shows my icon for here but then says that there is no account. I look just below the comment area and it does say I am commenting using my wordpress account.
Brave does give me this
https://www.imao.us/wp-content/plugins/google-analyticator/external-tracking.min.js?ver=6.5.4
On cross-site trackers blocked.
That’s actually unrelated to the “Likes” plug-in. That a different plug-in. That one allows the Website to work with Google Analytics. In addition to traffic analytics, it helps find incompatible or improper page content. We want the Website to work with screen readers and other WCAG standards, as well as all standard browsers apart from that. Google Analytics a good way to help us maintain that standard.
Definitely when I deactivate the Brave Shields the approval buttons immediately show up and when I turn them back on they immediately disappear.
We’re dropping back to the old “Likes” plug-in for now but that’s gonna go away in a future update. We won’t have a choice in the matter. The plug-in isn’t being updated, and won’t work with newer versions. We’re going to conduct additional testing to find a replacement that works, or a configuration setting of the new standard one to find a wat to make it work.
You do good work. So far today I haven’t had the header problem posting here but I’ll let you know how the day goes.