# This - What does it mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 24, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376 "2009-09-24T15:35:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/1 "2009-09-24T15:35:22Z")
I’ve seen a lot of posts where the author has merely quoted a previous message, then added the word “This.” Perchance, could someone enlighten a clueless newbie as to what this means? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/2 "2009-09-24T15:45:08Z")
It means “[I agree with what the person said in] this [post].” Some people find it annoying. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/3 "2009-09-24T15:46:45Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > It means “[I agree with what the person said in] this [post].” > > Some people find it annoying. > > Just sayin’. This. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/4 "2009-09-24T16:12:28Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > It means “[I agree with what the person said in] this [post].” > > Some people find it annoying. I’d modify that to “[I agree with what the person said in] this [post but am too lazy to type another couple of words to make the sentence fragment into a complete thought.]” It’s fractionally better than “+1,” but I find it really annoying, too. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/5 "2009-09-24T16:51:22Z")
It is really damn lazy; it seems to serve no purpose other than to pad post counts. You can also include “QFT”. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/6 "2009-09-24T17:07:24Z")
> [@stuthehistoryguy](#): > > This - What does it mean? It’s a pronoun used to indicate a person, thing, idea, state, event, time, remark, etc., as present, near, just mentioned or pointed out, supposed to be understood, or by way of emphasis. However, if you were referring to “What does it mean?” then that is an interrogative designed to request a subjective interpretation. But that’s not important right now. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/7 "2009-09-24T17:15:30Z")
It not only means, “I agree” but “I agree and the other poster stated so well and so in tune with my own thoughts that I couldn’t possibly improve on it.” It’s not _lazy_, it’s just efficient. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/8 "2009-09-24T17:18:56Z")
I think of it as short for: “This is what I came to say.” I really don’t see what is annoying about it. It registers agreement without wasting my time; I’m all for elegant communication. It’s like the shorthand that develops between close friends. ---
**Author:** ![the\_first\_supraliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@the\_first\_supraliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_first_supraliminal)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/9 "2009-09-24T17:22:46Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > It not only means, “I agree” but “I agree and the other poster stated so well and so in tune with my own thoughts that I couldn’t possibly improve on it.” > > It’s not _lazy_, it’s just efficient. I don’t get it. If it’s already been said, who cares that you would say it the same way. Adds nothing. Ask yourself what would happen if everyone who viewed a thread did it- all our threads would be mostly the word Amen. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/10 "2009-09-24T17:31:36Z")
Well, it’s usually used in cases where an OP needs to know what “most” people think; or when a consensus is sought. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/11 "2009-09-24T17:37:28Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Well, it’s usually used in cases where an OP needs to know what “most” people think; or when a consensus is sought. This. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/12 "2009-09-24T17:38:46Z")
> [@the\_first\_supraliminal](#): > > I don’t get it. If it’s already been said, who cares that you would say it the same way. Adds nothing. Ask yourself what would happen if everyone who viewed a thread did it- all our threads would be mostly the word Amen. I personally find the idea that you shouldn’t express an idea that has already been said to be idiotic. I hate to break it to you, but there are no original ideas. And my way of explaining it may make more sense than yours. Of course, that doesn’t apply with the “this” thing, but that’s already been covered. It should only be used when you actually think there is value in knowing you agree. Like in IMHO. Or even the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/13 "2009-09-24T17:41:55Z")
So, is “Word” dying out as a one-word sign of approval? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/14 "2009-09-24T17:47:06Z")
This. I’m afraid it doesn’t mean what you think it does. Just sayin’. And BTW, How \*you \*doin’? +1, for 20 minutes, back in the 1960s, when Opal brought us pie. I write all that because the cute phrases kind of bug me. I put them out there in the hopes they will be smote by the Og of this Board. Begone, evil words, begone! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/15 "2009-09-24T17:51:08Z")
**hums, loudly, “Rio” by Duran Duran** ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/16 "2009-09-24T18:16:10Z")
Cruisin’ on the floor now, babe, you’re a bird of paradise… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/17 "2009-09-24T19:22:03Z")
It’s a non-religious version of Amen. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/18 "2009-09-24T19:32:16Z")
_ **Word.** _ ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/19 "2009-09-24T19:33:00Z")
The parliamentary version is “Hear, hear!” ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376/20 "2009-09-24T19:46:50Z")
I would rather someone type “This” or “+1” rather than “I agree completely with this and could not phrase it better myself,” or worse, pointlessly rephrase something that has already been written out of some perceived need to avoid being lazy or unimaginative - kind of like I just did. As to the question of why post at all, apart from instances where the OP specifically asks for opinions, there are cases where silence may be interpreted as assent or apathy. Finally, I think it’s _way_ off-base to compare a shorthand method of expressing a relevant opinion to truly content-free, tired gags like “hi, Opal,” “when come back…,” “once, for 20 minutes,” “band name!” etc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-what-does-it-mean/511376.md?page=2)