I’ve only been here a few weeks, but I often read posts that are really amazing in terms of the depth of knowledge conveyed, value of the information, humor, etc. Sometimes I go out of my way to point that out but most of the time I don’t since it seems inappropriate to post to a thread in which I otherwise might have no other involvement.
Adding a ‘thank you’ button to each post that would then display your user id in a box underneath under an appropriate heading I think would be a good way to let people know you appreciate what they’ve taken the time to write.
If you don’t want to post to a thread, just send the author a private message. I think a personal message would mean much more to the poster then a “Thank You” click.
I see your point, but I wouldn’t do that. I think there is such a thing as going overboard as well and sending a pm would be, to my mind at least, a notch above simply adding an extraneous post.
Well, I was thinking about that, and there are some other problems with that approach. First, you never know how someone will respond to a pm - even one that is congratulatory. Second, if you don’t really know the person, you easily end up putting your foot in your mouth when you had the precisely opposite intention. And third, not everyone has PM’s enabled in their profile.
If people think it is a hideous idea, that’s fine. If mods come on and no, dipshit, it’s NOT possible or ‘in our estimation, it’s more trouble than it would be worth’, that’s fine too (although I would register my objection of course). But if the only argument against is that I should find another way, then I think the question remains open and valid.
I belong to other sites where there is such a function - i’m not sharp enough to have come up with it on my own. It is used pretty extensively. To go further, it’s never over used since the id of the thank-er is displayed and it would be obvious if it were. There’s also no downside because you can’t say anything negative (at least not via the thanks button) - you either say thanks or you don’t. And although I can’t prove it, I feel pretty comfortable hypothesizing to say that in the vast majority of cases where a thanks is given, were the option not available, nothing at all would be said. And this to my mind is unfortunate because people with valuable information and insight should be encouraged. It enriches everyone. And while those same people might post anyway, it’s also possible that they might not - especially if they come to think that no one, or very few is/are listening.