Thanking posters.

lovinituk

lostinrates wrote: »

Yes, I actually think its a bit of a hazard. The thanks I have gleaned are not really for useful posts IMO. Someone reading some advise I give could assume I am a reasoned and experienced person when I am talking poppycock, and someone with fewer chatty posts but more experience in the topic is less listened to because of the thanks thing.

For that very reason I don't take any notice of the number of thanks or posts a user has. Someone may have just joined to answer a question and be more experienced in the subject than every other poster put together!

lostinrates wrote: »

Though it is a feature I use a lot

I do use it, usually when I particularly agree with a post but that's more a courtesy rather than believing the thank count has any value. I think there are plenty of people on forums all over the net who see post and thanks counts as badges of honour!! Like it really matters!!

Ben84

lovinituk wrote: »

I do use it, usually when I particularly agree with a post but that's more a courtesy rather than believing the thank count has any value. I think there are plenty of people on forums all over the net who see post and thanks counts as badges of honour!! Like it really matters!!

It can be interesting to the person posting if/how many thanks they get. If I notice I have lots of thanks for a certain post I re-read it to see what I said that lots of people found interesting.

As for when I use it, generally for anyone who replies to a thread I started or says something interesting in another thread I'm reading. I do notice the thanks numbers for posts, because posts with lots of thanks often contain something interesting or distinct in the thread.

BitterAndTwisted

lostinrates wrote: »

on long threads I sometimes use thanking to mark were I have read up to, as well as the reasons listed above....for useful advice, kindness, a chuckle or simply acknowldgment.

lostinrates: I am so very deflated now! I always imagined if you thanked one of my posts you had found it either helpful or amusing or that you agreed with my very considered and erudite comments. I had no idea you might just using me as a bookmark..... *quietly sobs in corner*

I am a profligate thanker. I always reason that someone who has patently taken the time and trouble to type out their thoughts might care whether anyone else in the world had either read it in the first place, agreed with it or found it useful. I sometimes I wish could thank very witty posts several times over.

Note to self: must get life.

lovinituk

Ben84 wrote: »

I do notice the thanks numbers for posts, because posts with lots of thanks often contain something interesting or distinct in the thread.

Thats a good point you make. The thanks count for a specific post is often more useful than the thanks total of a specific user.

Although saying that if you look at some of the arguments between the property owners and the sell-to-rent'ers in the Debate House Prices board, the two 'camps' thank their respective allies like there's no tomorrow for just slagging the other side off!!

And the allowed use of multiple posting accounts on this forum means there are users out there thanking their alter egos all day long!

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I always reason that someone who has patently taken the time and trouble to type out their thoughts might care whether anyone else in the world had either read it in the first place, agreed with it or found it useful.

If everyone thanked for that reason it would make the figures much more meaningful!

PixieDust

I do thank, but I've always thought it was a rather pointless button....I think "hugs" would be more useful tbh.

I wonder what the original intention of it was when the board was incepted?

lovinituk

PixieDust wrote: »

I think "hugs" would be more useful tbh.

LOL - I like it (and thanked you for it)

PixieDust wrote: »

I wonder what the original intention of it was when the board was incepted?

Most forums have some sort of widget like it. I think its just an added extra to appeal to the people who like that sort of thing. I'm certain there are people on some forums who post just to increase their thanks! Its almost like a game to them - take the widgets away and they probably wouldn't post as much.

lostinrates

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

lostinrates: I am so very deflated now! I always imagined if you thanked one of my posts you had found it either helpful or amusing or that you agreed with my very considered and erudite comments. I had no idea you might just using me as a bookmark..... *quietly sobs in corner*

I am a profligate thanker. I always reason that someone who has patently taken the time and trouble to type out their thoughts might care whether anyone else in the world had either read it in the first place, agreed with it or found it useful. I sometimes I wish could thank very witty posts several times over.

Note to self: must get life.

Ah, but of course there are always people who deserve thanks for being erudite and insightful. You are certainly one of those. Besides, you like greyhounds. I might also thank people who like greyhounds.

lostinrates

PixieDust wrote: »

I do thank, but I've always thought it was a rather pointless button....I think "hugs" would be more useful tbh.

I wonder what the original intention of it was when the board was incepted?

I think hugs would be not useful, and indeed, hazardous. I might thank someone I disagree with if they make a point that makes me think, whether my thoughts end agreeing or disagreeing with them.

Hugs could give us a victim mentality individuality and could certainly enhance cliqueiness.....as the thanks button does to an extent.

vgstar44

how funny!!! I wondered this too and was too shy to ask :-)

Defo getting a thanks from me for asking the question

Fruball

I always use the thanks button when people reply to threads i have started, and when people have responded to me personally.

I also try to thank everybody in the threads that I spend most time on although I don't always have the time. When I see people have thanked me on those threads, I don't automatically assume its because its been useful but more that they have taken the time to read and acknowledge my post and thats why I generally try to thank everyone on my regular threads.

I do get a bit miffed when you take the time to respond to a new thread to answer a question, and the thanks button is not used by the OP!

I think its good manners to use the thanks button and would be disappointed if it was taken off.