The "Thanks" button is gone.

[BHB ScubaTroll]

The staff has reviewed the

feature and has decided to remove it. We felt that it has contributed to an unhealthy polarization of the community and was susceptible to abuse by a few.

As always, your input and comments were invaluable in reaching this decision. Now it's back to your regularly scheduled thankless program!

As I read threw this and think about the whole issue I think losing the Thanks button is really a loss. I have found it a nice way to easily let someone know their comments or suggestions were appreciated, without needing to post a reply. It was also somewhat satisfying to see a thanks on one of my own posts, because it meant someone had read it and found it of value.

If a few members wish to play around with the Thanks button, to amuse themselves, why should that cause a problem for others? Often the offended are simply looking for someone or something to be offended by, and any issue will do.

It seems to me that those who would take such light hearted amusement by someone else so seriously, become offended, and then complain enough to force an alteration in everyone else's behaviors, have serious emotional issues. It feels like a form of censorship of the larger group, by a few malcontents, and troublemakers who wish to control the behaviors of others.

Maybe we should start a movement of our own, to replace the Thanks button, and remove the would be thought control police?

I'm not sure that anyone complained about the button. The way I read NetDoc's original post, it seemed to me like something that was on their regular agenda for meetings... But, I won't pretend to answer for SB staff. It's only the way I read the post.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I could quote and use my new smilie I suppose...

+1 (did I use that correctly?)

 

[wrybosome]

It was also pretty cool when someone I'd normally be battling over a topic would give a "Thanks" ... at times, that was like breaking bread or some other gesture that united rather than polarized.

I also think that when lurkers or new members joined in the discussion by posting a valuable perspective, the thanks received could make them feel valued and accepted by the community.

I think the only thing the "Thanks" button really divided was what made SB a little bit more fun than other boards.

Thank you for this useful post.

 

[DCBC]

Thanks

 

[DivingPrincessE]

I'm not sure that anyone complained about the button. The way I read NetDoc's original post, it seemed to me like something that was on their regular agenda for meetings... But, I won't pretend to answer for SB staff. It's only the way I read the post.

Really Jim? You don't think anyone complained...

I read this as you sort of jokingly taking credit for the removal of the thanks button

Uh, when did they install the "Thanks" buttons?

It's been installed all this time... just a certain admin, who is no longer here, disabled it for this and other forums.

Pete restored it right after he left, saying the whole board should be "fun".

that's funny .... is the thanks button gone now ?

There! Fixed that crap for the entire board I'll have you know!
Or maybe it was staff
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/site-support/339822-thanks-button-gone.html#post5310692

 

[wrybosome]

The more I think about this the more annoyed I get. The thanks feature supplied something that was like the eye contact that's missing from internet conversations. I really think the user feel will be diminished without it. It was an excellent way to let someone know you heard them without adding fluff to a thread.

I hate to make a fuss about something that seems so trivial, but this seems like a mistaken decision to me. I would really appreciate a fuller explanation of it's necessity.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

Really Jim? You don't think anyone complained...

I read this as you sort of jokingly taking credit for the removal of the thanks button

Adding a bit of drama to something that was an ironic joke of timing?

OR, do you truly believe I have some sort of pull on this board that I am not aware of. No, I had nothing to say or do with the removal of the "Thanks" button... I did not report it and honestly didn't care about it one way or the other. But, I did have the opportunity for ironic humor and lunged at it

 

[BDSC]

Another Stupid move by the Honchos that run SB Next time maybe you should ask the 100,000 plus members what they think and let the members decide.

What? The board is there to make decisions such as this even if folks don't like the outcome. Most of us won't ever know all the discussions/facts that went in to making the decision. Can you imagine what a cluster f@#* it would be to ask the members? Are they suppose to wait for 100,000 responses or 50,000 or even 25,000?

Even if decisions are made that I/we don't like, I'm glad they are in place to make them.

 

[Sas]

To Pete:
We've basically all come to the same conclusion. Those "abusing" the thanks button did it out of a mixture of humor and possible boredom. We meant no harm and did not realize it was causing an "unhealthy polarization of the community".

Actually it's probably not the thanks, it's probably more the fact that the threads where there is a lot of thanking go on often include people complaining about other posters behind their backs (like me ) or just in general whinging about various threads or mods or sockpuppers or various other things going on.

I mean, whatever, it doesn't bother me and I find those threads amusing, but you would have to be naive not to realise why people find you guys offensive.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

To Pete:
We've basically all come to the same conclusion. Those "abusing" the thanks button did it out of a mixture of humor and possible boredom. We meant no harm and did not realize it was causing an "unhealthy polarization of the community". If you had simply come to us and said, "hey guys, this is causing a lot of tension [for whatever reason] on the board and we're going to have to remove the thanks button", we would have stopped.

... I thought it was funny, actually ... in a "Three Stooges" sort of way ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)