I'm disappointed that, after closing the last thread, people started the discussion yet again on another thread, even after I made my position clear that the new hug feature was staying for the time being.

Again, I appreciate the feedback, but this issue is not open for additional discussion at this time. I don't know how else I can put it.

Statistics about numbers of thanks (and now hugs) have been readily available one click away from any thread by viewing a member's profile page. Nothing has changed except that one number is now a little more transparent than it might otherwise be.

Last, I would be very clear about what I said and did not say. I did not say this, for instance:

yet it's being attributed to me. I did say that if a person has a badge on their profile that says they've given a lot of hugs, that may suggest a person is more generous and open. I did not say, nor did I mean to imply, that people with few hugs given (such as myself right now) or who do not use the feature are not generous and open. If I wanted to say, "People who don't give hugs are mean and closed," I would have said that (I'm not one for subtlety).

Thanks again for the words both pro and con on this feature.

DocJohn

PS - Also, for future information -- when a moderator or administrator closes a thread on a topic, that's an indication that the topic should not be restarted or re-opened on another thread.