Sorry to be a pita on this part of the forum, but I would like some opinions...

I read recently that the "thanks" button could be construed as taking sides in a discussion or as kind of a clique-ish thing to do. I didn't think of it this way in the past, but I like that it was pointed out.

Now I am more conscientious when I use it. Not only for that reason, but also it kind of makes it appear that I am somehow taking credit for someone else's response. Like it's not my place to say thanks.

I wondered what other people thought of it. And am I reading too much into a simple "thanks"?

ETA...Please don't take this as any sort of criticism or anything like that. I enjoy and use the thanks button all of the time. Ditto the hugs button if I have nothing valuable to contribute, but want to validate the other person.

It just sounded as if I didn't like it, upon re-reading it. Sorry.

[barbella]

OK, I can see where it could be taken that way. Sometimes I like to thank people for what they've posted because they offered a new way to look at an issue (or whatever). Maybe it is better to continue to do that because it is more specific? Maybe the 'thanks' button is to generic?

[Chyialee]

Wow, sophie'smom -- really? I hadn't heard/read that take on it.

I personally like the "Thanks" button a lot, and take it pretty literally: To me it simply means what it says, i.e. Thanks (for the support, the thought, w/e. else.)

Hmmmm...

Chyia, thinking

Sorry to everyone if I sounded critical of it. I am not at all.

I just had never thought of it that way before and it made me think...

Originally Posted by sophiesmom

Sorry to everyone if I sounded critical of it. I am not at all.

I just had never thought of it that way before and it made me think...

I have been here a long time now and... I agree with you. I think it is probably used that way frequently. I'm okay with that though.

[-jimi-]

I'm quite hardened about the thanks button through another forum where it is used much much more in bad ways like thanking posts attacking others and so on.

But for me, no, I will not use it. If others want to, fine. The only thing I would like, would be an option for me to block receiving thanxies. That would be awesome. I don't think the software allows for it though.

[TishaBuv]

I like the thanks and the hugs buttons. I press thanks sometimes when I agree with someone's comment. I think that's ok, it shows more support.

The posts here are mostly subjective, and often different members will have different views of different topics. So, yes, I think the "Thanks" button can be viewed as taking sides if people are selective in using the "Thanks" button, and there are different views on the thread. I try to avoid using it this way, but I might have fallen at times.

as Allowed say Thanked Always as People

as Allowed

[Hope 51]

In my opinion it is a good thing.
I use it to show support and to encourage.
I appreciate it when others take time to thank me. It's nice to receive positive feedback.

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by Nickname

The posts here are mostly subjective, and often different members will have different views of different topics. So, yes, I think the "Thanks" button can be viewed as taking sides if people are selective in using the "Thanks" button, and there are different views on the thread. I try to avoid using it this way, but I might have fallen at times.

I agree, esp with the last sentence. My favorite use of it is to express appreciation when somebody makes a joke Or takes the effort to state something in a clever way.

It is kinda weird on the taking sides thing - if someone says they feel hurt by something, and you say thanks, i guess that means you agree you feel hurt by the same thing. But if this is supposed to be a support site, shouldnt your first impulse be to hug the OP, show some sympathy for them? THEN thank them for speaking up about an injustice. So - thinking out loud - maybe its more like that, rather than "taking sides".

I think taking sides results from the following sequence: the original poster posts something, different posters present different and conflicting opinions, then someone or more than one "Thanks" some of the these views. For me personally, I prefer people to quote the person they agree with, and add their own personal reasons. I don't mind different opinions. But using the "Thanks" button is perceived negatively if it is clearly not used uniformly. Usually only the original poster shows his/her appreciation to all replies.

[Gaar]

These forums are primarily for mutual emotional support and information sharing.

Only we control what we think. Only we know the motive for using the thanks button. We may only assume being supportive is the goal.

[Artchic528]

I agree with Gaar on this one. I don't think people necessarily take sides, rather they just thank the poster for posting how they feel at that particular moment in time. Mostly it's supporting that person in numbers. A good feeling, is it not?

[Serzen]

I take it as it simply is: you're being grateful to someone for their help/opinion. And that's nice and polite and makes the world a better place.

Thank you to everyone (including those that prefer not to have a "thanks" via the button!)

Thinking about it since I made the original post, I will use it a little differently than I have.

Originally Posted by unaluna

My favorite use of it is to express appreciation when somebody makes a joke Or takes the effort to state something in a clever way.

Since the majority of my posts on the forum are misguided efforts to make jokes or state things in clever ways, and since I have admittedly poor taste and a weird sense of humor and am likely widely regarded as a troll or worse, a single "Thanks" in response to a post tells me that I might have made someone smile, as I had intended, and means a lot to me. I use the "Thanks" button to acknowledge honesty, courage, or sound advice, such as that regularly dispensed by the likes of Bill3.

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by Lefty the Salesman

Since the majority of my posts on the forum are misguided efforts to make jokes or state things in clever ways, and since I have admittedly poor taste and a weird sense of humor and am likely widely regarded as a troll or worse, a single "Thanks" in response to a post tells me that I might have made someone smile, as I had intended, and means a lot to me. I use the "Thanks" button to acknowledge honesty, courage, or sound advice, such as that regularly dispensed by the likes of Bill3.

Oh heII yes! I'd buy a used car from you any day! I TOTALLY look forward to your posts! They're like finding paper money on the ground - doesnt happen often, but when it does, you cant believe your good luck! !

[lizardlady]

I don't get it. How can using the "Thanks" button end up being cliquish? Could someone explain?

[Perna]

It is an individual perception, what the Thanks button means. If it is my post being thanked or if I am thanking someone or reading a post someone else has thanked, etc.; the different situations can change my perception of what the Thanks button is "saying". Trying to decide what it means to someone else throws in a whole different level of imaginative thinking :-)

I only have myself to worry about. If I am glad someone said something I may thank them. It may mean I don't have to write a post myself :-) or I may be thanking them for saying what I think or feel too (and thinking and feeling are not the same!) You'll never know what I mean when I push that button unless you ask me, personally. It is possible that I have not thought about it, merely felt about it in passing such that if you asked me I would not have a ready answer?

[Raindropvampire]

Originally Posted by lizardlady

I don't get it. How can using the "Thanks" button end up being cliquish? Could someone explain?

From reading everything everyone has written I interpret it as thus:

Person A Posts: My life sucks

Person B: supportive post

Person C: hurtful post

Person D: supportive post

let's say person D says something to person C about their hurtful post and it starts a debate. It can seem "cliquey" if , for instance, I only thank posts that support MY view and MY side of the argument. OR thank EVERYONE but one person so that one person that got left out knows they got slighted.

That is at least my understanding from what I've read in this thread. I hope i explained that so it made sense.

[lizardlady]

Hehe, I "thanked" you Raindrop for explaining. I appreciate you explaining. I never thought of people doing that.

[cakeladie]

I use it if I agree with the person or to let the person who started the thread and the people who responded know that I took the time to read the post. A lot of time people start a topic and no one even responds and that makes me sad and it makes me not want to respond to posts or start a thread

George H Thanked 6,991 Times in 4,133 Posts. I haven't compared that to anyone obviously but 1.7 thanks per post seems like a lot right?
And you know what I think of it? It's pretty much meaningless.

I agree^. They are just numbers and not to be overly compared to others'.