Help is cheap

[Aquagility]

Help is cheap, but thanks don't cost much either.
Do any of you regulars sometimes wonder if the question asker has even taken the trouble to see if the question has been answered?
Some may say that 'Thanks in advance' (or worse,'TIA') is sufficient. I find these words meaningless, as they seem to take help for granted.
Discuss!

[gleno1]

i agree with you entirely Aguagility its nice to get a thankyou back and as you say nobody should be taken for granted

[paulineward]

Same old story I'm afraid Aquagility. This has been raised as an issue a few times in the past. Don't think it will change things, but I agree with the apparent lack of good manners sometimes.
There are still plenty of good ones about though A...so don't despair too much!
Pauline..x take care!!

[kayakamina]

Morning AQ.

I agree with you. I used to send a sarcastic message to the questioner ' I hope you received my answer and that it was helpful to you ? '
Now I boycott them if I remember, but there is always another helpful ABer who steps in.

[JoolsTwo]

Agree Aquagility, but this has been raised over and over again. And it still happens, like K I try to avoid those people who don't bother. But there are so many that don't it is impossible to remember. I suppose we could make a list, but then again it would be a blooming long one.

[keh]

I agree that you should say thanks and I always do. I have just had an answer to one of my questions and have indeed said thank you.

[Aquagility]

Good morning, Friends.
I don't despair, Pauline, because I enjoy trying to answer peoples questions - as I think we all do. But much of that enjoyment lies in the feeling that one's help has been appreciated.
And I cannot see that TIA can mean thank you for the trouble which you have taken. Who are you thanking, for heaven's sake?

[paulineward]

I know....and I agree with you Aqagility. Isn't this just so typical of some people generally now? Good manners seem to be a thing of the past!
I also agree with Kayakamina, in that somebody will always answer those you choose to boycott. I think all you can do is recognise regular offenders for yourself, and just ignore them. No perfect answer I'm afraid.

[Murielmci]

Don't waste your time even considering boycotting or whatever just lead by example. Remember that most answers are read by more than just the poster so many benefit and are appreciative even if the poster did not acknowledge your help.

Do you think there is a theme as to where thanks are posted and where not? I do the Times, Scotsman, Guardian, Mephisto, Azed, Genius & Club Special and am not aware of thanks not being posted. For all of these you need some level of education/literacy - could it be that those not saying thank you just didn't get manners drummed in as part and parcel of growing up?

[Dee Sa]

The offenders are probably people who have never taught their children to say please & thank you either !

[Aquagility]

Hmmm. Where does that leave us Teleaddicts, Murielmci?

[blueberry2]

I agree with everything said here. I think it is just a reflection of the manners of, hopefully, a minority of the population. You only have to walk down a busy high street these days to witness the general tone of behaviour. So often people would rather walk into you than step aside as they used to do! It is very much a ME,ME,ME society.It appals and depresses me. I wonder what our forbears would make of it!

I think Murielmci is so right in saying we should set an example, and maybe there will be a turnaround in the future, but probably not in my lifetime!

[esmerelda3]

Morning all No snow here yet so I will be out whilst the going is good. Just "tuned in" to see whether any of the answers I needed had been asked for already. Then saw this link which indeed was here a few days ago. In defence of some of the missing Thank-you I think it could be people new to the site who when posting a question do not see the bit about being able to continue and reply again themselves. I think for my first question I did not post a thanks. So sorry every-one. Hope to get help later so hopefully I am not blacklisted. Cheers E

[twiglet3]

Well I for one always try and say thanks for the help I receive on this site. Especially with the cryptics, they are the bain of my life!!!!

Thankyou once again. xx

[Lipsiot]

I'm always very appreciative of the normally very swift answers I get on here.

I also try to answer in my own right - but most of you are so fast, I'd merely be duplicating an already correct and quicker answer.

If you think this forum lacks manners, you should all try the Yahoo Answers forum. Not only is there a lack of the basics (manners, grammar, spelling, etc) but the ignorance of many of the correspondents beggars belief.

[evsajo]

I totally agree with everthing said about manners but I am going to open up another can of worms. I am more than happy to help anyone if I can but am usually too slow but some people just don't seem to try to find an answer.There is a classic example on AB today , someone has asked LOTS of questions which would only need a quick google and they would have the answer. I really am not an old grouch but I fail to understand why they are doing quizzes as to me the fun is searching and finding an answer. I am enjoying mothers day honestly !!!!

[Celtigra3]

I agree with all of the above. I am so thankful that someone else knows the answer to the ones I can't get that I am only too happy to press the stars and add thank you! Maybe it is a generation thing........not saying thank you. It is such a selfish society nowadays with everyone out for themselves. I have used other sections of the AB and always found them helpful, except for a question I posed on the Sports section when people were really rude - except for BeerBelly - he was polite. Courtesy costs nothing at all and if you are doing someone a favour by finding an answer for them "it is a random act of kindness" and can only get you brownie points upstairs!

[garner]

As I have said before PLEASE do not tar us all with the same brush,a please and thankyou never hurt anybody but for some its just plain ignorance besides what is wrong with using the star rating.I for one am always glad of the help I get on here especially with the cryptic which I have great problems with, but Im getting there slow but sure and with the help I get on this site.

[Aquagility]

Celtigra3 I looked up your post on Sports. I take it you will not be posting many more questions there!

[Nell]

Everything has been said already but I entirely agree that the standard of common courtesy seems to be lacking now and again. I benefit from lots of answers meant for others and always try to say 'thank you' unless it has been said several times already. Inaccurate spelling and bad grammar make me a wee bit crabby - but each to their own. Regards to all - Nell

[Babz]

Can I just ad my ha'porth to the debate please. I frequently ask questions having checked that the answer isn't already available and always add thanks in advance because I think anyone who is willing to give my question the time of day and possibly provide the answer deserves thanks whether or not they do come up with the goods. If I do receive an answer, and 99 times out of 100 this is the case, then I reply with more thanks. This is my way in life I believe that thanks are due not only for services rendered but for the provision of the services even if I then do not then benefit from that service. I just think that possibly newcomers might think they will get into trouble for filling up space with a further post of thanks when it has already been said once.
I also agree that please and thank you seem to be a thing of the past these days, many a time in shops when the assistant slams my change into my hand (notes and receipt first then change on top so it's really awkward to deal with) and then turns to the next customer without a word to me I say loudly "Don't mention it!" I usually just get a blank stare though as if to say "Mention what????"