Thank you Chris and Sophie for this opportunity.
Like SummerRose, I think the idea of a "Thank you" (or how about "thanks mate"?) button is really lovely.
I find the thumbs-up very much like a "like" button and is probably used as such by many.
I do think it's nice to be able to acknowledge support and the time taken out of another person's day, even if we're not up for posting a reply.
I feel a bit apprehensive about expressing my thoughts, but here goes.
Although I am one who voiced concerns about exclusion, I don't believe that the button is always used in this way, and I don't think it automatically is pressed for CC and VC contributions. I do feel like sometimes on some threads it is used like a popularity vote.
Amanda, you mentioned one of the ways you use the button is to support those who need some encouragement to post. That comes from a very warm and kind place in your generous heart.
But i feel that it's also very subjective: it means us deciding that one particular person needs a boost and another person does not need a boost.
How do we make that call?
We do not know how each person is doing. What if the person we decide does not need a boost actually really, really does, and the fact they don't get acknowledged makes them feel invalidated and less-than?
I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I see that as ppssibly using it a little bit like a cheer squad, and that can feel hurtful to others who don't get the same amount of cheering.
Some particular threads have a "following" and some of those regular followers "like" each other's posts a lot more than they "like" those who don't post as regularly. Sometimes even if all they post is one line or an emoji, they might get 6 thumbs up and a visiting poster might write a really thoughtful and valid post of support and get one or none.
These are just my observations and feelings.
Since discussing this on the other threads I feel a bit better about it and now i try not to even look at how many likes a post receives.
Really I guess the "likes" should be irrelevant, it should be about the words and care taken, not the thumbs up.
May everyone feel liked and/ir thanked today 😊
🌻birdy