I say like when I agree in whole or in part with what was said.

As a very long time forum participant, I don't think there IS an established etiquette :-)) All of the 'thank you's' and 'likes' are new features with the acquisition of the Garden Web forums by Houzz. If you start a thread, the option is there for you to thank anyone who responds......or not, as you wish. It is just a courtesy option.

As to 'likes', that is very much a personal choice to use or not to use. I tend to 'like' responses that answer the question directly and succinctly and hit all the high points presented. I may not agree 100% with the response either but that does not necessarily mean I don't appreciate the time and thought or personal experience that went into that response. If I disagree strongly, it is always my option to post another response that refutes the info provided or provide another, differing point of view.

IMO, it is more of a breech of etiquette to call anyone out on their 'thank you's' or 'likes' - it has nothing to do with them anyway but just a personal expression of approval or acknowledgement. No one should be "beating anyone up" about their choice to thank or like ANY forum response. This is an unmoderated platform for discussions and all opinions are allowed and none of these commentors who take offense at a polite and courteous thank you or a personal 'like' have been elected as forum monitors!! That is just assuming an authority or responsibility they simply don't have!!

I try to thank anyone who responds to a thread I start, even if I completely disagree I am still thanking them for taking the time to respond.

I use like for two things, either I agree with all or part of the comment or I feel it is a compelling statement, even if I disagree.

Regardless, people shouldn't be judging or trying to be forum nannies.

I usually use Like as an indication of agreement with what is said by someone, without having to lengthen a thread by writing my own response (if I have nothing to add). I don't care what the poster police think! I usually thank everyone who reponds to my posts, because it seems polite.

I "like" that a topic is being opened for discussion. I also "like/fav" peoples photos on FLICKR to encourage them to try again, to post more. I "like" a theme or an idea or how someone responded to an idea. I want the poster to know that someone is listening. Sometimes I just "like" the person who's posting and I'm happy to see their post.

I use like and thank you for everyone that replies to a post I
created. I feel that is proper etiquette. I may not personally agree with every
response but I appreciate someone took the time to respond and express
themselves.

Just now, when I read Texas Gem's or "I feel it is a compelling statement, even if I disagree", I liked her comment, because of that alone, not because she too said what I said.

That is, I LIKED her addition. I wished I'd thought of it.

Not too long ago, one poster had a long diatribe about how clicking likes amounted to people bullying her. She monitors all the likes on an entire thread.

I have a strange approach on the "like" and "thank you" buttons. Maybe because I hate trackers and cookies and all those other creepy ways of storing preferences. I try not to use those things because I see web trends as a result. It makes me feel I'm being watched....and I have heard of folks being terminated from their jobs because of social media posts. So I try to be cautious.

Here, I don't post much (rarely starting a thread) and generally respond to the trivia question. There's a rare "like" from me. I've probably hit it about 20 times.

On FB, I try not to "like" too many things because it causes trends and recommendations. I don't post much on FB. I read and generally use the messaging feature to communicate with friends.

I understand the "Thank you" side of it. What I don't get is the use of "like" for a post pertaining to some catastrophic event. Seems like we need a "Glad you brought that to my attention" button. If only they would make a button for every single word in the english language, we could click out whole sentences! lol ((I really feel the need to clarify I'm only joking!))

Dees, hitting like on Facebook is annoying as it shows everyone & does cause trends. But I've never experienced an issue here. I delete my history & cookies daily. Maybe that helps.

I don't use it. It conveys nothing -- witness the various 'meanings' stated in this thread. I don't post to be thanked, but to ask a question or make an observation. I see the KT threads as 'conversations'. You post if you have something to say about a topic. It's not about 'approval'.

I don't do Facebook so this new feature on Houzz is my first encounter with the thank you and like. I think gardengal48 expressed my thoughts on the subject. Sometimes I completely forgot that they are there. I do try to thank the people who responded on a thread I started, I appreciate their participation. I really don't concern myself with it much I have so much on my plate right now I have trouble remembering what day it is.

Ouch! Now I am afraid I might be misunderstood for clicking like when I think a post is good, or funny, or that I agree with......someone please like me......

Timely post and Thank you . I have very mixed feelings about the subject. I do love that so many participate in our threads and I rarely start one. I dislike all those emails I receive from Houzz, telling me that someone says thank you. Way, way too much trash in my bin and kinda like that snail-mail that I have to sort before tossing. Mixed feelings???? I appreciate thanks....but do I really need it? On a thread I post, I frequently add my thanks "in the thread", either adding to the info, or recognizing that an interesting observation or something relevant was revealed....or not. Is that not acceptable? Yes, it is quite easy to just click liked.....but that doesn't really express how or if the thread was really appreciated. POSTING is what makes this table an interesting place to check-in with people you know and have learned enough about them to consider their views and maybe adjust your own.....or at least hear them. Does that cover my "like" and "Thank you" expressions?

Don't worry peke, I like you and "liked" you!

I liked you back, Texas_Gem!

Scratching my head here, why would anyone presume it's their job to criticize others for "likes" or "thank you's"? That is completely inappropriate.

I'd like to think that, like, some who like to like are going to like and like likes too. It's what they, like, like to do.

Petra_gw -- I thought so too, but I saw some people pointing out how someone else had "liked" something and that had a reflection on their character somehow...It's been thrown up for a while. I guess we should either not have the button, or else not infer anything negative in particular from the usage of it, but sadly, some do.

Nanny you can change the settings in your houzz settings so you don't get any of that stuff in your email it would drive me nuts. I have all of the options turned off on mine. Click on your houzz in the top right corner, edit profile, advanced, there you will find them just uncheck the ones you don't want and check any you do then be sure to save the settings at the bottom. I do have allowed to contact me.

I "like" a comment when I agree with it. I use kind of as "Ditto".

I never use the "like" button in threads where people are putting up photos of their pets or kids or whatever because you have to either hit "like" on all of them or none. Otherwise, I feel like its hurtful to those with no or few "likes" while others get a lot. I refrain from those "popularity" type "votes".

And I really, really dislike it when people use the "like" button to agree with a comment that is personally nasty toward another person (as opposed to criticizing their argument or comment). I think doing that is not only cowardly but it is a form of cyberbullying and ganging up on someone.

I guess the bottom line for me is, the "like" button is used as a being agreement of an expressed thought so long as it cannot hurt another's feelings.

I don't, like, use the like button, although I do, like, appreciated those who like me.

I, like, thank everyone who, like, responds to my thread, even if I don't, like, agree with what he/she, like, says. Like, you know? ;)

Loonlake, I agree. The like button seems to be yet another popularity contest enabler, for lack of a better description, and it would probably be better if it did not exist. Kind of reminds me of facebook, which I gave up years ago. :)

Oh, no! Valley Girl isn't *over* yet? tee-hee.

Wow--I guess it's just as well that I don't open very many threads these days (Lyme-related eye problems) because I've never seen any controversy about "liking" a post or thanking the poster.

I click Like if I run across something I particularly agree with. I usually thank everyone who responds to a thread I started, especially if they answer a question I posed, but there have been exceptions.

I only do like if the poster has stated an opinion succinctly and I agree with the whole thing and have nothing to add to the conversation. It's usually when an opinion has been asked about a life situation as opposed to a decorating question. I also use it, although sparingly, in Hot Topics.

Elmer and Mama- you both made my head hurt but I also chuckled. Like, thanks for the laughs!

On Facebook it's basically a bookmark or shows I have read it. If I am in strong agreement I will comment.

Here it means I agree for the most part with the post. I can like a post even if I generally don't have much in common with a poster's belief system. In other word it's about the words, not the person.

Hi, my name is Pam and I'm a 'like-aholic'! I click on everything that I like whether it's the person, the message they were conveying, what ever. It's not a huge deal to me, I click when I feel like it and otherwise I don't.

Ha ha, as a purposefully non-facebook user, I don't even notice those 'buttons.' I've never hit one and don't intend to start. I find the whole idea rather silly.

I thought more about it. It's like when we were kids. Mom forced us to write thank you cards after every birthday & Christmas for our presents. Now, we might not have really liked the present or the person who gave us the present, but a card was sent to everyone because they did take a few minutes of their time. I'm old fashioned I guess.

As far as I know, no one has ever said a thing about me liking or thanking someone. I didn't think anyone even noticed. I'm not "poopular" enough. HAHA!

^^ You would be, if you got enough "likes". :o)

I thought of something really nuanced I do. I will like something someone says, even in an argument (tibbrix you got my mind thinking!), not to take sides, but if they said what I was trying said, but better. That happens some. I do not always get my point across as well I as I could have, and they will say it right.

For a while there, it was lucille who often said things much better than I said. Not disagreeing stuff, other things.

There are self-serving reasons that sites offer this 'further interaction'.

I thought you meant self serving to the poster, but you mean, for instance, reasons that Facebook has like(s)? Is that right?

I guess I'm old-fashioned too. I try to thank most people for responding regardless of their viewpoint. If the response is mean, I skip the "thank you" and just let it be.

Judging or attacking anyone for their "thank you"s or "likes" is another level of bullying that's juvenile. Frankly, it's obsessive.

rob -- Yes, websites exist to gain 'face time' with us. Anything that keeps you engaged is a plus for them. It's like a newspaper telling advertisers they sell X number of papers every day -- an advertiser can gain exposure to all those readers!

I almost "liked" your comment. Meaning, makes sense. Would've been easier than typing.

Ah ha. I understand.

I wanted to see who "liked" me but clicked the wrong one and "liked" myself, now I look like I'm conceited.....

I've mistakenly 'liked' me too. I think if you click again, you can remove your like. I think.

If not, hey, you wrote it, why not like it?

Seem to remember when this forum had what I called (for lack of anything better) a step down format. You could make a comment on a specific thing right where it was happening. Sometimes you can do that but often you have to go WAY to the end of the post and then maybe not clear WHO you're commenting on?

Not too long ago, one poster had a long diatribe about how clicking likes amounted to people bullying her. She monitors all the likes on an entire thread.

Over on HT?