# Why is there no 'Thanks' button? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 6, 2017, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150 "2017-02-06T09:48:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ripply](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f4b2a3/32.png) [@ripply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ripply)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/1 "2017-02-06T09:48:07Z")
Or am I missing it? It feels rude not to say thanks to anyone who replies, but without a button, the only option is to write another post which bumps the thread and isn’t always appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/2 "2017-02-06T11:04:55Z")
I’ve often wondered the same thing. Thanks for bringing it up! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/3 "2017-02-06T12:01:08Z")
There are six “thanks” buttons. One of them is in between the ‘r’ and ‘y’ buttons, then the next one is between the ‘g’ and ‘j’ buttons, and so on. If it’s worth thanking someone for, then it’s worth hitting six (or more, even) buttons instead of just one. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/4 "2017-02-06T12:34:03Z")
A) It’s not a standard feature of the software used for this board, and the powers that be have decided that no additional features are going to be added. B) How dare you suggest that this board have a feature not brought directly from Usenet circa 1993. The culture here has not been sullied by such things and would, in fact, be ruined utterly and forever if this suggestion were to be adopted. If we have thanks buttons, it will be a slippery slope to avatars and god knows what else. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/5 "2017-02-06T13:25:57Z")
I don’t see anything wrong with bumping a thread just to say thanks to those who responded. If you just want to thank one or two people from the thread and don’t want it to be public, you can always send them a PM. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/6 "2017-02-06T14:13:04Z")
Personally, if someone likes what I’ve posted, i’d rather get a bump on the thread and a post explaining what the other poster liked, than a meaningless “thanks” that took one click. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/7 "2017-02-06T14:19:55Z")
I’d pay no mind to Thanks notifications anyway. A short post of thank you on the other hand would be far more noticed and appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/8 "2017-02-06T14:34:25Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Personally, if someone likes what I’ve posted, i’d rather get a bump on the thread and a post explaining what the other poster liked, than a meaningless “thanks” that took one click. This ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/9 "2017-02-06T14:54:27Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There are six “thanks” buttons. One of them is in between the ‘r’ and ‘y’ buttons, then the next one is between the ‘g’ and ‘j’ buttons, and so on. > > If it’s worth thanking someone for, then it’s worth hitting six (or more, even) buttons instead of just one. Which completely misses the point. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/10 "2017-02-06T15:05:29Z")
No, I think that is exactly the point. If you want to thank someone, thank them. Just hitting a “Thanks” key is meaningless and is ignored by anybody who isn’t suffering from extreme esteem issues. Whereas an actual written out “Thank you,” even though it is only 8 letters shows that you cared enough to actually type something. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/11 "2017-02-06T15:23:37Z")
I like to know what I’m being thanked for. Was it for my politics in general, the whole post, a certain point in the post, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/12 "2017-02-06T15:28:23Z")
Or was it just for being you? If so, the “thanks” button should have nice little pink flowers and unicorns as well. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/13 "2017-02-06T15:33:16Z")
Next they’ll be asking for a “you’re welcome” button! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/14 "2017-02-06T15:34:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Next they’ll be asking for a “you’re welcome” button! Not before we get a “No-Thank _you!_” button. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/15 "2017-02-06T15:35:11Z")
And we can reduce everything to push button with no actual communication performed at all! It’s gold, Jerry, Gold! Seriously, we’re about using words to express ideas. Even an ‘I approve’ or ‘thanks’ or whatever should take the form of real communication. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/16 "2017-02-06T15:39:52Z")
I guess that means we’re not getting a “Wrong” or “Hate” button, either? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/17 "2017-02-06T15:45:06Z")
Those ones might actually get more take-up … ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/18 "2017-02-06T15:47:28Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I guess that means we’re not getting a “Wrong” or “Hate” button, either? We have that already. ,!, ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/19 "2017-02-06T15:54:03Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Next they’ll be asking for a “you’re welcome” button! Actually, I think a “no problem” button would be more appropriate nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150/20 "2017-02-07T01:33:47Z")
I participate in a MB that recently added a “thanks” button. So far, our world has not collapsed. An advantage of the “thanks” system, at least the way it is implemented on the board I frequent, is that it allows all the thanking activity to be clustered in a thin line right under the post being thanked. Thus, several people can express thanks without cluttering up the thread. Using the thanks button, you can also non-disruptively express thanks for a post after the conversation has moved on, which for a board that attracts members from a wide range of time zones is definitely an advantage. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-thanks-button/779150.md?page=2)