I saw that one Rasa - it cracked me up! At least it’s in the Pit, and not GQ…
I haven’t got any motherfucking respect, will you take unclespanking regard?
You are right of course Anthracite, but it’s also the case that some of us come here for the questions. I have made almost no contribution in that regard. Thanking people for questions you’d love to know the answer to but hadn’t thought of is good too.
I was raised to say thank you. Frankly, those were some of my sons first words, too. When working at a fast food restaurant when I was 18, the cook would hand me the order and I’d say ‘thanks’, he thought I was nuts. (well, he thought I was nuts AND for saying thanks)
But on line - while I think it’s intolerably rude for them to not check the thread (so, for example, if some one posts questions, looking for clarification they don’t get the answers), I’m ok with it in the OP, instead of a seperate additional “thanks a lot guys” at the end.
My rationale is that this board is slow enough, we routinely (it seems) refrain from posting ‘me toos’ in the interest of not wasting the time/space, (and frankly, I’d really, really, REALLY like to see an end to the “oops sorry for the double post, coudl some mod please fis” folled by the obligatory “I meant could some mod please fix” - what’s the deal? your email is broken?).
Re: thanking later - when would be appropriate? After the first 3 answers? then the next person who posts something else doesn’t get one??? see? wait a week? well, then it’s reviving a dead thread.
So, I’m ok with an “OP” thanks, feel it’s really rude to not answer questions, but don’t think specific answers are necessary (tho’ I’ve probably posted them myself… 
)
Hey, Ike. Thanks for sharing.
If you were not present, my dear motherfucking Finagle, I should use the most terrible profanity.
–Ukulele “Oh why did I ever leave that dear Cincinnati?” Ike
Anth - Thank you for pointing out the lack of manners some people show.
I would not consider a “thank you” a waste under any circumstance.
Sorry to be vague about this, because I can’t find the thread so I don’t have a I link, but I believe a moderator in GQ at one time specifically told us not to post thank you’s, because of the bandwidth question. So if a GQ moderator could pop in here and give us the official word, I would be eternally grateful.
In any event, it’s not required that people thank me when I answer their questions, but on the other hand, I’m not too proud to accept money.
If a GQ Mod wants to say “don’t do it” or “don’t bother” w.r.t. the thanks, then please post that, and close this thread, when you have the time.
I also think it’s just common manners to say “thanks” (unless, of course the mods/admins tell us not to for whatever reason!), but there have been cases where I have posted a question and then been unable to access the boards for a few days (either I’m too busy, or the server is; usually the latter)… when I do get back on, the thread will have sunk way down, and I can find it only by searching. And then, I am reluctant to say thanks for fear of resurrecting a thread that has all but vanished…
But that’s just me ;).
Thanks all!
There are few, if any, other sites like this on the net where you can get a (normally cogent) response to literally any question. GQ respondents are usually reasonably polite but per Anthracite’s observation it does seem that lately there are quite a few drive by posters that either don’t say thanks or wander off into the ozone after placing their inquiry, and I don’t know exactly why, but based on the questions I get the distinct vibe that a lot of these “thankless” inquiries are from the 13-21 age cohort that treat the GQ thread like some instant messenger smackdown party if someone makes a suggested correction to
the question or if the answer is not exactly to their liking.
Short of banning kids a short reminder header post in GQ re online manners might be useful .
I tried this but it quickly went tangential.
Dewt tried something similar also.
While I probably posted a “thanks” in each of my GQ threads, I, like Astroboy14, fear “resurrecting a thread that has all but vanished”.
Unless a mod/admin comes along to say “Don’t do it,” I agree with you about saying “thanks” and about the bandwith issue. Just one point: I thought the Baby Jesus never cried.
I fully agree with Ukulele Ike and Akatsukami. I appreciate the effort people go to in answering my questions. By the very act of posting, I’m saying that I respect and value the opinions and knowledge of other Dopers. Enough said. Likewise, I don’t read and post to the board in order to boost my ego. Ok, maybe a little. But I assume people appreciate my posts, and if not, fuck 'em. Or, if they care to share with me the specifics of why my post was in error or otherwise unhelpful, great! But I’m not so attention-seeking or self-doubting that I constantly check back on my replies to see if I was thanked for them (not to say that anyone here is).
On the other hand, I do check to see if there are new replies to my and others’ OPs, assuming they might be a counterpoint to my statement, an elaboration of an earlier theory, a follow-up question, etc. If the new poster has followed Anthracite’s advice, I get to wait several minutes(on a slow day) for an inane display of gratitude. Perhaps I should post my own reply, “It was nothing,don’t mention it.” Then they can come back, “No really…” These remarks have a place in the real world. They also have a place in the virtual world of SDMB, but it’s not GQ. And that goes double for the cases Astroboy mentioned.
I have nothing against a bit of thanks here and there as part of a follow-up post, but it shouldn’t be the sole reason for the post. Also, I’ll grant Anthracite’s point that if an answer really goes above and beyond the call of duty, thanks are in order, but unless it’s a very recent post, don’t bump it just for the thanks, send the person an email.
Nothing worse than clicking on a thread you’ve been following, waiting the requisite 25 seconds for it to load, and then seeing that the only update was “thanks.”
Given that, I just want to thank Anthracite for raising the issue.
Well…good. Go with what manny says then, of course. Don’t listen to me anymore. Don’t know how I missed that thread, since I read most all GQ threads (or used to), but there it is.
I’d also point out- most people have an e-mail address listed within their profile. Sending a quick e-mail “thank you” has fewer of the ‘problems’ (increased server activity, bumping a thread, etc.) associated with posting a ‘thank you’.
Here’s what Manny said (if people don’t look at the link):
"To me, it’s kind of a balancing act of to whom to be courteous. On the one hand, obviously thanking someone who has shared their expertise and/or done research for you is a great thing.
But on the other, not only does a “thanks” post push a thread to the top, it induces a bunch of people to re-read the thread only to find that the new post doesn’t add anything.
I’d say that if a poster just provides a link or a “quickie” answer, let the thanks be implied. If a lot of effort clearly went into the answer, than a “thanks” post is fine.
That’s not a forum rule or anything, BTW. Just sort of a general sense of what I think is the best way to approach the dilemma."
I don’t expect thank yous for my posts. It’s nice to hear that insight gained from this board helped somebody in a specific way, and I appreciate those stories being shared. But I research topics and post answers (and write staff reports) because it’s something I enjoy doing - not as a self-less sacrifice for the TM! Anyway, I do appreciate your support, Anthracite.
Jill
Don’t listen to that god damn manhattan. He’s crazy.
The other day me and this other guy brought him a baby and we both said it was ours, and he said to *chop it in half!