Google__ The Missing Manual - Kevin Purdy [29]
In computer programming, +1 is a common way of making a program run over and over again (such as, “If x does not equal 10, x=x+1 and run again until x=10”).
And on web forums and in website comments, writing “+1” is the simple way of saying “Good show.” So Google uses +1 for all those reasons—and the fact that Facebook had already laid claim to the Like button.
Bonus question and answer: Where does the + in Google+ come from? Google considers Google+ an “upgrade” of Google’s other services, since it adds a social aspect to them.
Commenting
When you want to respond to a post with something more specific than a +1, click the Comment link next to the +1 button. (You can, of course, both comment on a post and give it a +1.) When you do, a text box appears so you can type your feedback.
You can do most of the same things in a comment that you can do in your own posts, like mention people or link to websites or videos—although you don’t get the same icons or images as when you’re writing your own post. You can’t attach image or files from your computer to a comment, so if you want to write a really robust response to a post, your best bet is to start a brand-new post that includes a link to the original post (Editing, Deleting, and Controlling Your Posts explains how), and then mentioning the original post’s writer (Mentioning People in Posts) in your post.
When you’re ready to add your comment, click the “Post comment” button (hitting Enter (Return on a Mac) instead doesn’t post your comment, it just adds a line break to what you’ve written).
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If you really want to keep your hands on the keyboard, you can hit the Tab key to select the “Post comment” button and then tap Enter (Return on a Mac) to add your comment.
If you post a comment and then decide that what you wrote wasn’t quite right, click the Edit link below the comment. Doing so gives you full editing powers on your comment.
If things went really wrong and you’d like to back out entirely, click “Delete comment.” If you change your mind again and want to leave your comment as is, click Cancel. After you make changes and click “Save changes,” Google+ updates your comment, changes the timestamp next to it to reflect when you made your changes, and adds “(edited)” next to the timestamp so folks know that you changed the wording.
Posts aren’t the only things you can give a +1 to. Sometimes the best thing about a post isn’t the post itself, but another person’s take on it. When you’re looking at a post and point your cursor at a particular comment, you’ll see a +1 button appear. To let everyone know how much you like that comment, click that button.
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If a post has received several comments, you can see them all by clicking anywhere in the line that contains the double-arrow symbol, on the right side of the post’s comments section (it looks like this » except it points down.)
Sharing Others’ Posts
If someone writes a post that’s good enough that you want to share with your friends, click the Share link below the post to send the text, link, or whatever else is in the post out to your circles. (Don’t worry—the original author will get credit.) The pop-up that appears includes some of the same controls you see when you write a post from scratch, plus a text box at the top where you can type in an explanation of why you’re re-posting this item.
NOTE
When you click the Share link, you may see a message box that says “This post was originally shared with a limited audience – remember to be thoughtful about who you share it with.” See Controlling Sharing for details about this warning.
Unless it’s entirely self-explanatory, it’s a good idea to add a little note about why you’re sharing a post. Without a note from you, people in your circles might be surprised to see a post from someone they don’t know. It’s kind of like bringing someone new to a gathering of friends—you should probably introduce him and explain how you know him.
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