Implement ShareThis

[janinedog]

Title:
Implement ShareThis

Area:
entries

Summary:
DW should allow ShareThis to be put into entries, and an option should be made where a person can give their ShareThis JS and DW will automatically add it to the user's entries.

Description:
If you don't know what ShareThis is, see here: http://sharethis.com/

It's that thing that's on many blogs/websites that allows you to click it and you can select a place to re-post the content you're reading (it's usually just a link back to the content with an excerpt, but I'm not sure exactly how it'd look off-hand). I think this would be cool to allow users to add to the bottom of their own public journal entries (in their own journals). I don't think it should put it in non-public entries, since sharing non-public content off-site doesn't make much sense.

From what I can gather, it uses JavaScript based on the user who signed up for it. So I'm suggesting we implement it like how we did Google Analytics: a user can optionally enter their ShareThis JavaScript into their journal options, and then they can select if every public entry will automatically get the ShareThis button on it or not. Then there'd be a per-entry option on update.bml where it has "Journal Default", "Include ShareThis Button", "Don't Include ShareThis Button" in the drop-down as options. So a person can then choose to automatically include the button and then not include it on specific entries, or choose to not automatically include the button and then include it on specific entries.

I think this would help get DW content out there from people who write entries that they want lots of people to read. It's much easier to click a button to post something to (for example) Facebook or Twitter than to manually copy the link and go over to the site and paste it in. And since it's completely opt-in, there's not much to lose! :)

Poll #1069 Implement ShareThis

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 44

View Respondents

This suggestion:

View Answers

Should be implemented as-is.
15 (34.1%)

Should be implemented with changes. (please comment)
2 (4.5%)

Shouldn't be implemented.
19 (43.2%)

(I have no opinion)
8 (18.2%)

(Other: please comment)
0 (0.0%)

Comments

[pseudomonas]

So long as it doesn't appear in reading pages or journal pages, just when clicked through to the individual entry. One per page is OK, but twenty in a page of twenty entries looks like someone's trying too hard.

[melannen]

Ugh, yes. As long as it only shows up on individual entry pages, I might be okay with it.

I viscerally hate the things, though I see why people use them.

Could you either give logged-in users an option to not see them, or maybe make it style-linked so I can use a style that ignores them?

[janinedog]

I could easily see it being contained in a div that can be hidden with CSS.

[janinedog]

The thing about that is you wouldn't ever know if the entry even has a ShareThis button until you clicked through (since it can be set per-entry). I think it wouldn't be used nearly as much if it's not obvious that it's available.

[pseudomonas]

I'd live with that. The buttons make any page with more than one of them look really tacky, and I don't think it gives a good impression of the site.

[nostariel]

I hate both ShareThis and all its JavaScript-laden kin, but I suppose this would be an acceptable compromise. Maybe.

[instantramen]

I tend to AdBlock ShareThis when I find it on websites I visit regularly. :\

[(Anonymous)]

I voted no, but if it is implemented, I would really appreciate a way to not ever have to see it (I assume that would only work if logged-in though *sigh* Sucks to be reading from work comp). I find that sort of thing to be intrusive visual clutter, and since I'd never use it I wouldn't want to see it.

[triadruid]

On a per-entry basis, not the Friends page, and wrapped in a Div that is hidable (or simply opt-outable), I could vaguely support this. I don't think DW or LJ need more cross-posting features, frankly.

[cesy]

Your description of implementation for the person posting sounds good, and as you say, is completely opt-in.

For the person reading, I'd suggest an option to choose either "Show everywhere", "Show only on entries, not on reading page" or "Show nowhere". There could also be a CSS class so it can be hidden that way if people want.

I'd then suggest that it's announced well in advance in News, and that this reading option is pushed live a week before the actual feature, so people can turn it off in advance if they want.

I do think it's a good point about getting content out there - DW is fairly well-known on LJ, and many users also use Facebook and Twitter, but DW is not well-known in the wider blogging, Facebook and Twitter communities, so this would help attract more users.