# Thumbs up and laughing reactions **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 27, 2026, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202 "2026-10-27T22:48:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/1 "2026-10-27T22:48:15Z")
I know this board is very opposed to reactions, because we should use our words and not just add reactions to a post. I agree with this! Mostly! I would love a way to quickly show that I laughed at someone’s excellent joke in a post, or to acknowledge they responded to me, without having to make a post that said, “Ha! Good one” or “Got it, thanks”. I think those two responses or worse that useless, but I also hate to see a good bon mot go unacknowledged, or to be seen to ignore when someone responds to something I said or asked about. So, just two possible reactions, both positive, both of which would avoid short, throwaway posts. I’m not asking for reddit-style up and down votes, or other reactions that users would try outcompete each other to get more cred. Just those two simple reactions, 👍 and 😆 Anyone agree? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/2 "2026-10-27T22:55:40Z")
👍 ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/3 "2026-10-27T22:57:18Z")
😐🍍🐮🍦凸 ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/4 "2026-10-27T22:59:14Z")
The last one is just a hollow square on my browser. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/5 "2026-10-27T23:00:41Z")
That’s why the best advice is to simply, always, use your words. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/6 "2026-10-27T23:09:23Z")
👍 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/7 "2026-10-27T23:26:12Z")
We already have an easy option. 👎 💩👎 💩👎 💩👎 💩👎 💩👎 💩👎 💩 Hurr, hurr, look at me, I’m on Reddit! ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/8 "2026-10-27T23:37:49Z")
😆 ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/9 "2026-10-27T23:53:00Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I’m not asking for reddit-style up and down votes, or other reactions that users would try outcompete each other to get more cred. I sympathize with your goal. But the problem is that any reactions become a competition. “He got more laughing reactions than me!” “Why did RitterSport thumbs-up her post but not mine?” “My argument in GD got ten thumbs-up and yours got only seven!” It’s impossible on a board like this to design it such that people don’t get sucked into that quest for a dopamine hit or turn it into a competition. We all say we don’t care how many people react to our posts, but deep down we do. And I think that changes the way people post for the worse. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/10 "2026-10-28T05:18:15Z")
In response to the various posts showing thumbs-up and various other emojis, I think the OP was looking for a way to attach a quick response like an emoji to the original post, rather than adding a whole new post to do so. So, in effect, a flavored “like” mark. I don’t agree with that goal. Good bon mots go unnoticed all the time (I am reminded of an alleged quote “you’re throwing pearls, and not even getting a pork chop in return”), here as elsewhere. The lack of direct response does not make them useless, they add lovely flavor notes to the overall stew. Even if the admin could do such a thing, I would hope that they would not. I don’t want to see posts with strings of those “laughing until I cry” emojis following them. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/11 "2026-10-28T09:43:05Z")
Me neither. I was just asking for two reactions – regular laughing and thumbs up. OK, well, let it be known I read all replies to my posts, but I won’t always reply with an acknowledgement and I apologize in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/12 "2026-10-28T09:50:32Z")
You’re forgiven. It’s good to know my comedy genius wasn’t unappreciated. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/13 "2026-10-28T09:53:25Z")
See? Now, this deserves some kind of acknowledgement that it was understated and funny. Here: 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/14 "2026-10-28T09:54:51Z")
We’ve had “Why can’t we have a Like button?” discussions before. Even if it were a good idea, it’s apparently not something that would work well with the board’s software. From last year: > [@Will SD ever add a "Like" Button?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-sd-ever-add-a-like-button/646133/103): > > We have had other threads about this, but one important thing to note is that Discourse does not have a “like” button. Instead, it has a reputation system, which uses “likes” and other things to determine a user’s “reputation”. Discourse expects message boards to be largely self-moderated, with more “trusted” members doing the moderation. That’s not how we do things here. Instead, we have a staff of moderators. As such, we have turned off a lot of the “reputation” functionality. > > Enabling the “like” button would turn a lot of the reputation system back on, which would grant mod-level powers to users that Discourse thinks are more “trusted”. That’s not how we prefer to moderate the board, so that’s not going to happen. > > Personally, I don’t give two hoots if we have a like button or not. I’m willing to try new things. But as long as the Discourse “like” button is tied into their reputation system, there is nothing to discuss. We will not be turning on “likes” here. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/15 "2026-10-28T10:26:23Z")
OK, thanks. I’m definitely not looking for a reputation system, so consider the issue closed as far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/16 "2026-10-28T11:11:15Z")
I sympathize with your intentions, but in the end I agree with leaving things as is. The Jokes thread is especially problematic for me. People post many jokes I’m tempted to acknowledge with “Good one!” – but that would interrupt the flow of jokes. So, I set the bar really high, and only reply in this way once in a blue moon, and usually with a new joke (of mine) in the same post. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/17 "2026-10-28T13:26:40Z")
Terrible idea. If you have nothing to contribute but a “like” of whatever sort, well, you’ve demonstrated you have nothing to contribute. So don’t create useless underbrush for the rest of us to have to hack through to get to the actual, you know, _content_ of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/18 "2026-10-28T13:42:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > So don’t create useless underbrush for the rest of us to have to hack through to get to the actual, you know, _content_ of the thread. This is what I was trying to avoid. Rather than a bunch of “LMFAO” and “Hahaha” posts, or “Thanks!”, just put a reaction on the post and avoid the underbrush. Sounds like it won’t work for Discourse, but the whole point was to avoid having to hack through a bunch of one liners. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/19 "2026-10-28T14:09:31Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If you have nothing to contribute but a “like” of whatever sort, well, you’ve demonstrated you have nothing to contribute. > > So don’t create useless underbrush for the rest of us to have to hack through to get to the actual, you know, _content_ of the thread. I think you’re being harsh here (even if I agree we shouldn’t change anything). The OP’s idea arose from a desire to inform Dopers that their carefully composed contributions are being read and appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202/20 "2026-10-28T16:26:39Z")
It looks like most users here have never seen a Discourse site with this feature enabled. It’s not useless underbrush. There are thousands of posts on this site which just contain laughing or thumbs-up emojis, or “this”, or similar which clutters up the board more than an emoji added to an already existing post. How is 😆 any more “nothing to contribute” than, say, [“Now that’s funny”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targeted-ad-failures-do-you-get-ads-for-things-that-arent-relevant-to-you-in-the-slightest/1034066/18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thumbs-up-and-laughing-reactions/1034202.md?page=2)