Properly Thanking Members: Etiquette and Tips | Forum Discussion

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Members express uncertainty about the best way to thank others for their contributions in forum discussions, with concerns that a simple reply might signal the end of the conversation. Some suggest using the "like" feature as an alternative, while others feel it lacks the personal touch of a direct thank you. There is a desire for a more meaningful way to acknowledge contributions, as many find the discussions enriching and appreciate the diverse viewpoints shared. The community is divided on the effectiveness of the current methods, indicating a need for clearer etiquette guidelines. Overall, members seek a balance between expressing gratitude and encouraging ongoing dialogue.
tonyxon22
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Hi,
Every time I start a thread I have the same doubt about how to thank the members for their great answers. Usually I just post a reply to my own thread saying thanks to everyone, but I’m afraid that it could sound as if I pretended the thread to be over or that it could stop members to further comments.
On other opportunities I have sent private messages to the members that gave key answers to help me understand the answers to my questions, but I am afraid that could be a little too invasive.
On the other hand, I wonder if there is like any implicit rule where just no one is expecting for the OP to thank for the answers, but again I am afraid of being rude. I mean, after all, not only I gain knowledge by the effort of the members but many times the discussions risen between members caused by different points of view of my question are very interesting, entertaining and enriching . I just don’t feel comfortable with the fact of “abandoning” them without even letting the members know that their posts where appreciated.
I read the forum rules and the “How to” article and didn’t find anything related to this. I know this is a minor issue but I just wanted to hear the opinion of more experienced users of this forum about how to properly show my gratitude since this leaves me thinking every single time I get great answers (which happens very frequently).
“Thanks”(hehehe) and best regards,
 
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You can like the posts you found helpful, there's a button next to quote, at the bottom-right corner of each post.
 
Yes, I have thought about that. I think it is good for good posts as an alternative to sending PMs to their particular members. But in other cases the “like” button is too much of a facebook feature. I mean, sometimes I don’t actually LIKE (as in the literal meaning of the verb) the post but I just want to thank them anyway. Also, what about a general thanks to everybody that participated?
 
tonyxon22 said:
Yes, I have thought about that. I think it is good for good posts as an alternative to sending PMs to their particular members. But in other cases the “like” button is too much of a facebook feature. I mean, sometimes I don’t actually LIKE (as in the literal meaning of the verb) the post but I just want to thank them anyway. Also, what about a general thanks to everybody that participated?
Yeah, we had a contentious conversation about that after the new PF 4.0 was released. I was in the minority who felt (and continue to feel) that the "like" is a meaningless Facebook kind of fluff whereas the old "thanks" WITH a place for a short specific comment was MUCH more meaningful.
 
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phinds said:
Yeah, we had a contentious conversation about that after the new PF 4.0 was released. I was in the minority who felt (and continue to feel) that the "like" is a meaningless Facebook kind of fluff whereas the old "thanks" WITH a place for a short specific comment was MUCH more meaningful.

This comment really deserves a "like"
 
I want to thank those members who interacted with me a couple of years ago in two Optics Forum threads. They were @Drakkith, @hutchphd, @Gleb1964, and @KAHR-Alpha. I had something I wanted the scientific community to know and slipped a new idea in against the rules. Thank you also to @berkeman for suggesting paths to meet with academia. Anyway, I finally got a paper on the same matter as discussed in those forum threads, the fat lens model, got it peer-reviewed, and IJRAP...
This came up in my job today (UXP). Never thought to raise it here on PF till now. Hyperlinks really should be underlined at all times. PF only underlines them when they are rolled over. Colour alone (especially dark blue/purple) makes it difficult to spot a hyperlink in a large block of text (or even a small one). Not everyone can see perfectly. Even if they don't suffer from colour deficiency, not everyone has the visual acuity to distinguish two very close shades of text. Hover actions...
About 20 years ago, in my mid-30s (and with a BA in economics and a master's in business), I started taking night classes in physics hoping to eventually earn the science degree I'd always wanted but never pursued. I found physics forums and used it to ask questions I was unable to get answered from my textbooks or class lectures. Unfortunately, work and life got in the way and I never got further the freshman courses. Well, here it is 20 years later. I'm in my mid-50s now, and in a...

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