Are you a Thanks-ist?

[KidCanada]

I mostly lurk on this site, but since the introduction of the "thanks" function, Ive noticed a peculiar trend in my post-reading selection.

Between frequenting the the Fire on Ice Forum and the Off Topic forum, I have found myself more and more just skimming threads (especially larger ones) looking for posts with usually a minimum of two "thanks" and then just reading those posts.

I generally find these posts to be the most insightful and or humorous (and or stupid and thus must reads).

With the growth of this site there is alot more filler posts IMO (including this useless thread), so in the interest of saving time, I have become a Thanks-ist.

So, are you a Thanks-ist? Are you anti-thanks-ist?

Proceed with token 'cool story bro' comments!

[Phaneuf3]

I like being thanked.

[NSFL]

I find a post with thanks will ensure I read it, but generally I try to read all the posts in the thread I'm interested in.

[moon]

Thanks are a stupid part of the site, especially since the much better option of a no thanks button isn't available, so they certainly don't make me read a post more just because there are thanks there.

Even though i don't like them I wouldn't say they make me avoid posts with numerous thanks.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by KidCanada

I mostly lurk on this site, but since the introduction of the "thanks" function, Ive noticed a peculiar trend in my post-reading selection.

Between frequenting the the Fire on Ice Forum and the Off Topic forum, I have found myself more and more just skimming threads (especially larger ones) looking for posts with usually a minimum of two "thanks" and then just reading those posts.

I generally find these posts to be the most insightful and or humorous (and or stupid and thus must reads).

With the growth of this site there is alot more filler posts IMO (including this useless thread), so in the interest of saving time, I have become a Thanks-ist.

So, are you a Thanks-ist? Are you anti-thanks-ist?

Proceed with token 'cool story bro' comments!

yeah im kind of the same way just kind of skimming through threads. And then when i see something interesting i back track through the discussion

[flip]

If I see a ton of thanks I'll read it but generally I find thanks posts are the most polarizing and filled with crap or are well thought out and intelligent.

When a poster makes some snide comment about a well thought out and supported opinion (even if I think it is dead wrong, ie. trade Iggy posts) and it is thanked a bunch of times it really drives me crazy.

How about instead of just using sarcasm and being a jerk, people actually make a decent post about why they think the other poster is wrong? That would be too hard.

Definitely don't like how so many people seem to be fishing for thanks in lots of threads.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by moon

Thanks are a stupid part of the site, especially since the much better option of a no thanks button isn't available, so they certainly don't make me read a post more just because there are thanks there.

Even though i don't like them I wouldn't say they make me avoid posts with numerous thanks.

Moon just wants a no thanks feature because it'd be something he could lead in.

[KidCanada]

Originally Posted by flip

If I see a ton of thanks I'll read it but generally I find thanks posts are the most polarizing and filled with crap or are well thought out and intelligent.

When a poster makes some snide comment about a well thought out and supported opinion (even if I think it is dead wrong, ie. trade Iggy posts) and it is thanked a bunch of times it really drives me crazy.

How about instead of just using sarcasm and being a jerk, people actually make a decent post about why they think the other poster is wrong? That would be too hard.

Definitely don't like how so many people seem to be fishing for thanks in lots of threads.

Good point. How many people post just in the hopes of obtaining thanks? Does it saturate the board with more useless posts?

The "dislike" function is an interesting idea. I would definately be drawn to reading these posts as well, to see why they were attracting such attention.

[awildermode]

i like posts with pictures, less reading involved.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by KidCanada

Good point. How many people post just in the hopes of obtaining thanks? Does it saturate the board with more useless posts?

The "dislike" function is an interesting idea. I would definately be drawn to reading these posts as well, to see why they were attracting such attention.

Well you would definitly get to see a lot more of Moon's posts.





*Yes, I went for basically the same joke twice in one thread.

[Table 5]

I skim the forum looking for the 10 or so names i recognize from the olden times, read those, and ignore the rest.

[KidCanada]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I skim the forum looking for the 10 or so names i recognize from the olden times, read those, and ignore the rest.

This is another method I employ. "Name-recognition" we shall call it. I definately also skim for names of posters that I know will have useful posts.

[flip]

Originally Posted by KidCanada

Good point. How many people post just in the hopes of obtaining thanks? Does it saturate the board with more useless posts?

The "dislike" post is an interesting idea. I would definately be drawn to reading these posts as well, to see why they were attracting such attention.

I would prefer it was abolished entirely. I don't think it increases the quality of posts because it doesn't act as a deterrent against crap posts. In fact I think it encourages them.

Now I should qualify that a bit by saying that Thanks may encourage guys like HD who make the GDT because by getting thanked a lot it shows that his contributions are appreciated.

However, as I pointed out you'll get some guy saying he thinks we need to trade Iggy/Jbo or fire D. or B. Sutter and have well informed and thought out opinions, but the only response will be some smart ass ###### comment like "sure let's trade a franchise player who leads the league in goals in the last 10 years" and then lists all the trophies/accomplishments taht Iggy has won.

The guy with the unpopular opinion will get called a moron and a bandwagon fan and the ahole who made the snide, sarcastic comment will get thanked like 20 times. All it does is encourage people to be as scathing as possible and always try to be funny.

Now I'm not defending people who seem to say a s*** ton of negative and stupid stuff about the Flames and often get called out and people thank the guy who calls him out (I find it is usually Jiri that can call people out without being a total dick).

It drives me nuts that people thank posts that have no value and just make the poster look like they know nothing about hockey because all they can do is list stuff that Iggy has done but can't offer any informed hockey knowledge as to why we can't/shouldn't trade him.

I like the thanks system but I wish it only applied to threads, not posts. We already have that in the 5 star rating system.


I'll use a non-hockey example of exactly what I'm talking about and I'll even use myself as the example. In the US Health Care thread a poster said he didn't like the new law. Without asking him why, what he had a problem with or why I liked it, I totally made a snide, sarcastic post at his expense.

I got thanked like 20 times. Sure, some of my points were somewhat true but I could have said the exact same thing without being a dick. Yet I got thanked a lot and it encourages me to post in the same fashion in the future. Didn't encourage me one iota to make better posts. I even felt kind of bad for the guy I quoted because I think he was pro-universal health care but I made him look kind of like an ass for no real reason. I just assumed he was some Fox News watching right wing fundamentalist and made him look like one when he probably didn't deserve it.

Here is the post:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...16&postcount=5

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by flip

If I see a ton of thanks I'll read it but generally I find thanks posts are the most polarizing and filled with crap or are well thought out and intelligent.

When a poster makes some snide comment about a well thought out and supported opinion (even if I think it is dead wrong, ie. trade Iggy posts) and it is thanked a bunch of times it really drives me crazy.

How about instead of just using sarcasm and being a jerk, people actually make a decent post about why they think the other poster is wrong? That would be too hard.

Definitely don't like how so many people seem to be fishing for thanks in lots of threads.

You're an idiot. Like this?

[Wookie]

I do what Table said. Scroll for names I know. Too often though I don't recognize any in a long thread, get distracted and go look @ something else. Ohhh... that dog's got a puffy tail, c'mere pooch tee hee

[jayswin]

Jesus flip, how can you have such a strong opinion on something so trivial and minor? Two 'wall of text' posts in a thread about the thanks feature.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

You're an idiot. Like this?

I couldn't resist thanking it.

[3 Justin 3]

I have noticed when ever Jiri posts, he'll say the most obvious thing like "Jarome Iginla doesn't suck". Then everyone on the forum "Thanks" him.

I'll say the greatest joke ever told, and people will give me like 2 "thanks" and then someone will say "that's offensive", then 17 people "thank" him.

Damn the internet!

[flip]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Jesus flip, how can you have such a strong opinion on something so trivial and minor? Two 'wall of text' posts in a thread about the thanks feature.

Hehe. It's funny because I rarely post in FOI with regards to my actual opinions on the Flames. Yet I can type like 500 words on a "trivial and minor" topic.

I guess I just like seeing good hockey related contributions on the board and anything that, IMO, causes an increase of crappy opinions or hurts the likelihood of quality posts is worth chiming in on.

I also made some pretty significant posts in the Canuck Fans thread in the Help section of the forum. As someone who doesn't contribute often unless it is in the OT forum, I just feel as though I should try and do anything I can to encourage good hockey related posts.

No one is forcing you to read my 'wall of text' posts, but feel free to thank them.

[ResAlien]

A Thank-ist? No way. I'm a Thanks whore. I want them. I need them. I fiend for them like Pookie fiends for crack.