giving hugs

Im ok with the hug button but I think it makes it too easy. Like crazycanbegood says, wont it lose its meaning eventually. I use the thanks button when people respond to my posts or reference/refer to me in their posts and also when I get a good laugh from a post. I guess I can use a hug now when I get a good laugh. I really dont see the point of a counter.

Oo, I think you're on to something. I may unhug people to get rid of that pesky dumb looking hug badge!

YES! I am officially a non-hugger. No more dumb hug badge icon.

You rebel! :P

i appreciate your sarcasm

Well, I think they should announce winners each week. Who gave the most hugs and then they can do a running count and announce a yearly winner . My only suggestion is that there be more than one kind of hug. Smooshy hug, VERY sincere hug, touchy feely hug, distracted hug, etc. etc. idk - maybe the different kind of hugs could be weighted in their sincerity factor. Oh, but wait, first of all let's form a committee. The committee could take suggestions for a period of time of the variety of hugs that are deemed worthy of inclusion. Then the PC community could vote, not only which kind of hugs they would like available on the forums but which ones were more valuable than the others. I'm just so enthralled with the possibilities that my brain is about to explode. Someone, please, run with this idea so I can sit down and enjoy the hugs I get.

In all seriousness, though - I like that members can offer their virtual hugs. I think that is meaningful. What is absolutely idiotic in my mind is the count posted by our names. Doc John - really???? Your explanation just does not hold water. You have not offered any plausible reason to show the numbers. Please please explain more fully your thinking behind this. Positive reinforcement??? Come on..

Is anyone else wondering why there isn't a kisses button to go with the hugs button?

I think it's great that members can offer virtual hugs but we were already doing that without the "instant hug" button. The "instant hug" button reminds me of mindlessly saying "Have a nice day!" It's so overused you reach a point where you don't really believe anyone is being sincere when you hear it so often. It really does become too easy to push a button and convince yourself that you've done something meaningful without really giving it any thought at all.
But I think the thing that bothers me even more is the belief that we somehow need to be reinforced in a way that really does remind me of rats in a research lab. It's almost insulting... like we're simple little critters that will push a button indiscriminately just for the reward.

I have to say I'm still struggling to get what all the big fuss is about. It's simple really, either use the hug button or don't. I won't be using it and couldn't care less if someone here percieves me as heartless for not doing so. They're the one with the problem not me. I'd rather give advice or give an opinion on something, not press some silly hug button which is meaningless.

It's not like you're getting a real physical hug so what's the point? The thanks button has more worthwhile use. But of all the things to worry about in life, this shouldn't be one of them.

So this counter, I'm realizing, only counts the hug a user has given? Not what the user has received? Is this correct?

I don't really like that too much... I thought it counted received hugs. Which to me, would kind of be nice. Log off with 2 hugs, log back on to see you got several. To me that's nice, again, thought it'd be a way to for you to kinda virtually have the hugs always there. I'm not fond of it counting how many times *I've* hugged. What's that reinforcing?

Yes the hug counter only counts hugs you give.

so80- my problem isn't with the hugs, it is with the 'hug counter' badge. I like the hug button, but having a report of every time I hug makes me feel worthless, like somehow I need to try and be as good as everyone else and give as many hugs as everyone else. It makes it seem like only the hugs I give are worthwhile and I'm being judged by the number I give.

Thanks Googley.

To be honest - I now kind of think I don't really particularly like the counter, but it also doesn't greatly offend me. Of course, that may be because the things I see as worthwhile are most of all the responses I get from people Sure, the hug is nice. I also like the "Thanks!" button, because that reinforces to me that maybe it was helpful to someone. I kinda like the hug BUTTON but not the COUNTER.

Anybody who judges someones character based on how many cyber hugs they give on a forum is, too put it bluntly, an idiot. You shouldn't worry about it. Just give somebody a hug if you think they need it and want to give it to them. I think most people would prefer some constructive criticism or some support with words over someone pressing a hug button. To me it's a lazy response. At least the thank button has some meaning.

Saying this probably sounds cold, but I'm going to say it anyway I've always enjoyed the "thanks!" feature, especially if someone posts an informative message or one that I can really relate to. I like to thank those. But it's almost as if the new "hug" feature is too...mushy, perhaps?

Is it bad that I went back and "un-hugged" a couple posts just so that the counter didn't show up on my profile?

I think it is to make it quicker and easier to give hugs. But cheap hugs are ... cheap.

Nope. I wish I had thought of that. Probably too late to find them now.

OMG people. do you think cyberspace is free? if all you're gonna do is offer a hug, why do you need the costs associated with a text box? I thought this was the ecological generation! and we count things because we count things - it is better to know than to be in denial or pretend we don't know. what we do with the info is up to us - and our T's. This is all verrrry interesting - and I can say so because it doesn't affect me, can't see 'em! ha ha!

Well then, why not set it so we hug everyone automatically?

That doesn't even make sense. That's called a view. (Why do I feel like i'm fighting with my little brother?! Too cute! )

Of course everyone can vote with their feet. People forget, without "customers" the product is pretty useless.

I think we now need a 'LOL' button...

I am thinking about few other buttons that we could use.

Ugh. the weird hugs thing is freaking. me. out. Not because I'm averse to hugs, but because it's got a bit crazy! I am opting out, and will carry on like before

Will sneak some uncounted hugs into this post to symbolize this resolution:


Update: I was limited to eleven hugs as I'd already squandered one of my 'image' allowance on a smiley face! So they were counted in the end anyway!!

Hey! Counting and limiting our hugs isn't "positive reinforcement"!