Why doesn't anyone say thanks to all these answers?
November 5, 2012 12:38 AM   Subscribe

So many questions on Ask Metafilter, so many helpful, considered and articulate replies, so little thanks. What's with this?

I am amazed time and time again by the wealth of compassion and knowledge shown here. And the OP doesn't even respond. Am I missing something?

Seems ironic that there is so much discussion about existential despair and alienation, so much talk about therapy and drugs, yet if people were just a little kinder to each other...
posted by inkypinky to Human Relations (8 answers total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: Sorry but questions related to the site belong in Metatalk. -- taz

 
Well, sometimes the questions about existential despair and alienation and therapy and drugs are anonymous... And then, of course, on top of that, "chatfilter" IS discouraged. ;-)

But to be honest I think the answer is because a) people in existential despair are by that very nature not primed to express gratitude and b) even if they were, they wouldn't know what to say.

My cynical side says that even though so many people responding have the best of intentions, for profound inter- and intra-personal problems the real benefit that can be found from an internet message board is very limited.
posted by lewedswiver at 12:47 AM on November 5, 2012


Sometimes people say thanks, belated or otherwise, over on MetaTalk, which is where this should actually have been posted.
posted by Mizu at 12:48 AM on November 5, 2012 [2 favorites]


I see people thank others frequently. I also thank people for good advice via PM.

But mostly this is what MetaTalk is for.

Such as this one.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 12:52 AM on November 5, 2012


As a rule thanks can be a slippery slope toward chatfilter. For many answerers there's an element of favorite-whoring, but I think many of us are simply pleased with the "thanks" of being tagged as a best answer.
posted by dhartung at 12:52 AM on November 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


I think such intensely positive thoughts towards people who respond to my panicked anon Askmes. I don't always say it, but I hope that someone on the other side of their computer has an exceptionally awesome day because of it.
posted by spunweb at 12:52 AM on November 5, 2012


I've made a point of coming back to almost all my ask-me's to offer follow up and thank yous.
posted by mannequito at 12:52 AM on November 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


Wow it's lasted fifteen minutes. Anyway, I've never felt like I had to be thanked for my answers, especially.
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 12:55 AM on November 5, 2012


I have a feeling this will get deleted (belongs in metaTalk), but anyway I have to say that when I answer questions I don't really need a "thank you". I answer questions because I might happen to know something about them or have what I think is a helpful point of view. I also am not usually returning to the thread to check for thanks. People who answer questions also have their own agendas sometimes (proving their knowledge, etc) and don't necessarily need to be thanked. Also, if everyone puts a "thank you" at the end of every thread, that would be kind of meaningless I think. Our "thank yous" come when we have a question that needs answering, and get great answers in return!
posted by bearette at 12:55 AM on November 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


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