'Thanks button' - seemed a good idea at the time?

darkman2 · 21-08-2008 12:39AM #1

I know the introduction of the whole 'thanks button' thing seemed a good idea to me aswell but I have noted on a couple of occassions, not alot, that sometimes if a poster in a hidden sort of way insults or even openly attacks another poster instead of his/her post you get 'thank you's' sometimes underneath these posts. The logical conclusion being that its a sly and tbh nasty way of joining in in what can only be descibed as bullying without having to actually write anything. It may not seem like much but it is happening - posts discreetly insulting other posters getting thank you's. This way they dont have to write anything.

The vast majority of posters use it sensibly in the vast majority of forums. After hours and Thunderdrome are the exceptions but ive only noticed it once or twice admittedly and only in those two forums. However its something I can see catching on. I dont check many threads but im sure its happening far more then ive noticed. Seems kinda logical that it would.

On the whole the 'thank you' button is good IMO but maybe more awareness about that might be good on certain forums. It has it flaws.

Dudess · 21-08-2008 12:55AM

Yeah, it's a sign of a really sad, pathetic person if they thank someone for posting snide comments or flat-out personal abuse, but that's their problem.

Steve · 21-08-2008 01:02AM

I think the thanks system wins a whole lot more than it fails - it's a feel good thing.
I see your point though, in any system, there will be assholes that abuse it.

Afaik, there's no thanks in TTD and never has been.

darkman2 · 21-08-2008 01:06AM

SteveC wrote: »

Afaik, there's no thanks in TTD and never has been.

Thought it was the Thunderdrome. Must be another forum im thinking of.

Adam · 21-08-2008 01:06AM

I'm confused...so you've noticed one or two occurrences of abuse of the system, but for the most part it's good. So are you saying get rid of it?

darkman2 · 21-08-2008 01:08AM

OMG ROFLcakes! wrote: »

I'm confused...so you've noticed one or two occurrences of abuse of the system, but for the most part it's good. So are you saying get rid of it?

No I like it but maybe on certain forums like AH. It was not on AH at the start IIRC.

Adam · 21-08-2008 01:11AM

darkman2 wrote: »

No I like it but maybe on certain forums like AH. It was not on AH at the start IIRC.

Correct, it was not because it was being abused and was disabled. But then a '10 thanks per day' limit was implemented and it was reinstated in AH.

It does get used in the manner you've described to a degree, I'd be guilty of it in a sense, if someone gets in a cheeky dig that makes me laugh I'll thank it the odd time, but not if it's literally personal abuse.

But for the most part, it's used for the better, and with the 10 per day limit it can't get out of hand really anyway.

Dudess · 21-08-2008 01:12AM

I thought it would be really bad on AH but I was dead, dead wrong. The thanking of snide, nasty remarks seems to occur most regularly on this very forum.

Steve · 21-08-2008 01:17AM

OMG ROFLcakes! wrote: »

But for the most part, it's used for the better, and with the 10 per day limit it can't get out of hand really anyway.

Apart from when mantime discovered it....

I agree though, it seems to work well at and with rationing, you actully have to be selective about how you use it....

...which leads to another dilemma - should the 'remove thanks' feature be time limited, I've been tempted to use it on occasion when I'm out of thanks and see a post that deserves it more - never actually done it though as I'd feel like i was insulting the guy I thanked in the first place...

Adam · 21-08-2008 01:36AM

SteveC wrote: »

Apart from when mantime discovered it....

I agree though, it seems to work well at and with rationing, you actully have to be selective about how you use it....

...which leads to another dilemma - should the 'remove thanks' feature be time limited, I've been tempted to use it on occasion when I'm out of thanks and see a post that deserves it more - never actually done it though as I'd feel like i was insulting the guy I thanked in the first place...

Tbh I think you're worrying too much, it's just a handy feature, I don't think anyone's going to cry over it

Steve · 21-08-2008 01:39AM

OMG ROFLcakes! wrote: »

I don't think anyone's going to cry over it

heheh not me anyway...

I'm watching this space for a feedback thread on it though - it's bound to happen..:D

422nd · 21-08-2008 02:37AM

darkman2.... *sighs*

Why am I not surprised to find myself having yet another issue with you?
You know what I spent all my 'thanks' on tonight?

Supporting insults, or bullying as you put it.

How about you use your thanks as you see fit and everyone else will do likewise. There are no rules on how the thanks button is to be used, and no one is gonna start getting banned over thanking some one for insulting some one else, so zip it!

EDIT: *Awaits some thanks*

darkman2 · 21-08-2008 02:49AM

422nd wrote: »

Supporting insults, or bullying as you put it.

Not the brightest thing to admit in feedback id have thought.:pac:

Adam · 21-08-2008 02:52AM

darkman2 wrote: »

Not the brightest thing to admit in feedback id have thought.:pac:

I expected some thanks for being helpful, I don't know what else you're waiting to use your thanks on :P

422nd · 21-08-2008 02:57AM

darkman2 wrote: »

Not the brightest thing to admit in feedback id have thought.:pac:

randylonghorn · 21-08-2008 04:35AM

"Thanks" has caused surprisingly few problems imo, considering that some prophets predicted the end of Boards as we know it when it was introduced.

Personally, I have come to like it, and I think it has slightly reduced the number of "+1" posts, even if that might not have been intended as its primary purpose.

Xavi6 · 21-08-2008 04:38AM

randylonghorn wrote: »

Personally, I have come to like it, and I think it has slightly reduced the number of "+1" posts, even if that might not have been intended as its primary purpose.

+1

randylonghorn · 21-08-2008 05:39AM

Xavi6 wrote: »

+1

You only wish you had +1

arybvtcw0eolkf · 21-08-2008 07:15AM

darkman2 wrote: »

I know the introduction of the whole 'thanks button' thing seemed a good idea to me aswell but I have noted on a couple of occassions, not alot, that sometimes if a poster in a hidden sort of way insults or even openly attacks another poster instead of his/her post you get 'thank you's' sometimes underneath these posts. The logical conclusion being that its a sly and tbh nasty way of joining in in what can only be descibed as bullying without having to actually write anything. It may not seem like much but it is happening - posts discreetly insulting other posters getting thank you's. This way they dont have to write anything.

The vast majority of posters use it sensibly in the vast majority of forums. After hours and Thunderdrome are the exceptions but ive only noticed it once or twice admittedly and only in those two forums. However its something I can see catching on. I dont check many threads but im sure its happening far more then ive noticed. Seems kinda logical that it would.

On the whole the 'thank you' button is good IMO but maybe more awareness about that might be good on certain forums. It has it flaws.

Maybe your looking at 'thanks' given for funny things said during an argument.

One that comes to mind is the recent Dudess ~V~ Degsy death match, it was hilarious and I thanked both for their entertainment value.

But that was AH, and you'd be a very silly person to take anything posted there too serious.

Off AH I think it encourages people to be more helpful and courteous.

Overall I think its a good thing, it has its flaws but what doesn't?.

Black_Knight · 21-08-2008 08:42AM

randylonghorn wrote: »

You only wish you had +1

Perhaps a +1 button is in order! I need one of these in the real world too:o

Dudess · 21-08-2008 09:47AM

422nd wrote: »

darkman2.... *sighs*

Why am I not surprised to find myself having yet another issue with you?
You know what I spent all my 'thanks' on tonight?

Supporting insults, or bullying as you put it.

How about you use your thanks as you see fit and everyone else will do likewise. There are no rules on how the thanks button is to be used, and no one is gonna start getting banned over thanking some one for insulting some one else, so zip it!

EDIT: *Awaits some thanks*

Oh if the poster getting the digs well and truly asks for it, it's a different matter, but I've seen threads with very mean-spirited, undeserved, personal crap (often based on gripes between posters) where it occurs. It actually looks terrible seeing a thank you at the bottom of a nasty comment.

Epic Tissue · 21-08-2008 10:01AM

Black_Knight wrote: »

Perhaps a +1 button is in order! I need one of these in the real world too:o

Yeah they should replace "thanks" with "+1":cool:

Dinter · 21-08-2008 10:16AM

I post mostly from work so if I see a post that breaks the monotony of being in this horrible, souless office for 5 seconds I'll thank it whether it's amusing, informative or a bit mean etc.

I kind of see it playing the same role as laughing during a conversation.

Black_Knight · 21-08-2008 10:21AM

Dinter wrote: »

I post mostly from work so if I see a post that breaks the monotony of being in this horrible, souless office for 5 seconds I'll thank it whether it's amusing, informative or a bit mean etc.

I kind of see it playing the same role as laughing during a conversation.

Wheres my +1 button now!
This is so true. Anything to take me from the drab of office work! I too use as a sign of appreciation to a humourous post, if a post amuses me, I thank that person for brightening my day.

Dinter · 21-08-2008 10:29AM

Now that thanks are limited to 10 a day I don't see the problem with using them wherever you like. It speeds up the flow of a thread and with only 10 each it can hardly be abused.

Not having access to thanks just means people will thank in thread.

Dragan · 21-08-2008 10:31AM

Dudess wrote: »

Yeah, it's a sign of a really sad, pathetic person if they thank someone for posting snide comments or flat-out personal abuse, but that's their problem.

Bingo, if you want to call some a **** then have the nuts to do so i say.

Hiding behind the thanks button is basically acting like the little morons who would try and stay on the big bullies good side in primary school.

Although, i don't see too much of it going on to be honest.

21-08-2008 12:23PM

OP ,

It really isn't that big a deal. Ok I've noticed it happen but really who cares. How about you use your thanks for the posts you want and everyone else can do the same.

Life sucks, get a ****ing helmet! Why are people so sensitive!? I blame the fecking Greeks

Dragan · 21-08-2008 12:28PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I blame the fecking Greeks

All about the tragedy!!

Boston · 21-08-2008 12:28PM

It seemed like a retarded idea to me when it first came in, and I said as much. However its been managed successfully by the powers that be, and my concerned have been shown to be unwarranted. I now find myself using thanks when I really agree with a post.

Adam · 21-08-2008 12:33PM

Boston wrote: »

It seemed like a retarded idea to me when it first came in, and I said as much. However its been managed successfully by the powers that be, and my concerned have been shown to be unwarranted. I now find myself using thanks when I really agree with a post.

2+2=4

21-08-2008 12:34PM

OMG ROFLcakes! wrote: »

2+2=4

****ing liar! Ban ? :pac:

'Thanks button' - seemed a good idea at the time?

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