# Etiquette Question on Responding to Answers Here **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 25, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-question-on-responding-to-answers-here/327885 "2005-10-25T21:08:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-question-on-responding-to-answers-here/327885/1 "2005-10-25T21:08:10Z")
This is just an innocent question which I haven’t found in doing a search. Perhaps I used the wrong keywords, as I feel that this must have been addressed before, so please forgive me if this has already been asked and answered. After months of lurking here, I pretty much have a feel for how the board operates. But one thing I don’t yet have a feel for is what is the accepted way to respond when one’s question has been answered? Specifically: 1. Is it considered rude to not respond with even a simple “Thanks?” 2. If you thank previous posters for trying to answer your question, then another half dozen members answer, or provide more info, is it overdoing it to thank the later posters for their contribution? I don’t want to take up bandwidth unnecessarily, but I wouldn’t want anyone who has spent their valuable time in replying to feel slighted either. I think the answer to #1 is probably yes, but have seen many threads in which the OP didn’t ever reply after the initial post. I am unsure about the accepted manner to handle #2, though. Thanks for your help! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-question-on-responding-to-answers-here/327885/2 "2005-10-25T21:39:08Z")
I haven’t heard of any official policy, but it seems to me that multiple posts that say nothing but “thanks” is a waste of resources and time. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-question-on-responding-to-answers-here/327885/3 "2005-10-25T21:50:40Z")
#1 - yes, but we understand #2 - yes, but if someone goes beyond the call in answering your question, a comment stating such is always appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-question-on-responding-to-answers-here/327885/4 "2005-10-25T22:15:14Z")
Thank you both(so far); your input is much appreciated, and it truly does help. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-question-on-responding-to-answers-here/327885/5 "2005-10-26T02:24:59Z")
There’s no “official policy,” but it seems to me that a “thanks” is never out of order. Waste of bandwidth? Waste of resource? Waste of time? … to say “Thank you,” to acknowledge that someone answered your question and that you saw the answer and that you appreciate it? Sheeeeeeesh. I think we got too many grinches here. Good manners is never a waste of time or resource, seems to me. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-question-on-responding-to-answers-here/327885/6 "2005-10-26T02:37:41Z")
Although a bit of a cheat, thanking people in advance (if done sincerely) may be a reasonable approach. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-question-on-responding-to-answers-here/327885/7 "2005-10-26T02:46:21Z")
Well then, OK, and I do thank you, C K Dexter Haven and KarlGauss. Your valued input is also much appreciated by this newbie. And, taking the sought-after advice, I will also thank all who may post subsequent to this as well, in advance. I promise you I will read all posts, and will only reply when appropriate. Thank you all so much; you’re good’uns ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-question-on-responding-to-answers-here/327885/8 "2005-10-26T03:02:12Z")
Some questions might be considered still ‘open for input’ if the OP doesn’t respond to an (appropriate) answer. This doesn’t hold true all the time, but if the answer is open to interpretation, and certainly if the poster is asking for advice, a simple, timely response indicating that the OP is satisfied with an answer might well be in order. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-question-on-responding-to-answers-here/327885/9 "2005-10-26T05:54:22Z")
I think it depends on the forum. In GQ, if your basic question has been answered, you might answer with a ‘thanks, what about blah blah blah?’ If you’re in CS, you might say 'thanks, but I just remembered this other book that I liked too. In the Pit you might say ‘thanks, asshole’ I don’t think a thanks is every out of line, but you might consider adding something that might further the discussion if you think that the question might not necessarily have been completely covered and you’re interested in continuing the thread. Unfortunately (or fortunately), at the SDMB threads may pass off the front page very quickly and a quick ‘thank you’ might be considered a bump if it doesn’t contribute to further discussion. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-question-on-responding-to-answers-here/327885/10 "2005-10-26T12:05:58Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > Unfortunately (or fortunately), at the SDMB threads may pass off the front page very quickly and a quick ‘thank you’ might be considered a bump if it doesn’t contribute to further discussion. … Only by a complete curmudgeon, IMHO, he said with a grin. [sub]Well, assuming that the “thank you” doesn’t come three or four weeks after the last post, of course.[/sub]