To thank or not to thank when the OP has been answered

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1

Here’s something I’ve always wondered: if I ask a question in a thread, and someone answers me, am I supposed to respond to the thread and thank them? Since I personally am always curious whether my response (or someone else’s) helped the OP, I always try and respond to my own OPs with a “thanks - that’s what I was looking for!” type of reply.

However, I can understand that if I find a GQ I asked a couple days ago and respond with “thanks!” then I’m technically bumping the thread, which is discouraged.

So, which do the mods prefer?

2

It’s all about common sense. I wouldn’t object if you bumped a day old thread to thank someone who’s posted an elaborate and well-researched response, and I’d be annoyed if you thanked every poster for every reply, every 5 minutes.

It’s not carved in stone - don’t worry about it. Just do what you think is best.

3

No, this reply does not contain what you thought it would.

I’m an enigma!

¦ - þ

4

Here’s a thread that discussed this a while ago…

5

Thanks Anthracite, for pulling up the old thread.

I note that many of the “pro” answers are from people who feel that it’s polite to say thank you. And a good many of the “con” answers are from people who don’t want the site slowed down.

I’m not sure if I saw this reason not to answer. This just happened to me: I answered the OP at length. Somebody else came in, didn’t answer the OP, but a different question, which turned out to interest the OP more. The OP came back and thanked the person who didn’t answer the question profusely. And ignored the rest of us.

Ok, so what? Threads aren’t just one person answering another, they are a group of people having a discussion. Thanking some one individual (and suggesting that the thread is finished) is not a “group” activity. I’ve noticed that some people thank everyone for answering, which seems more gracious.

But it seems that thanks should be limited to situations where you really would make a point of thanking someone in real life, and even then it should be sent privately. 100 people don’t need to see someone’s “Thank You X, I think you’re wonderful.”

6

I usually thank people. The only problem is once in a while some self-important jerk complains when the OP doesn’t thank them after ten minutes of waiting. But those people are easily Pitted.