Pet Peeve...

[Funwithfood]

I've noticed it of late...posters requesting recipes for 'this or that'. When posters take the time and energy to respond with recipes, the original "requestor" (in many cases), does not acknowledge/reply/thank those who took the time and energy to assist said "Requestor". Maybe it's just a result of being in this now larger community...

[Robert Lauriston]

The best way to say thanks for Chowhound advice is to report back on your experience.

[MMRuth]

Absolutely ... though there's nothing wrong with an intermediate "thanks for all the feedback, will post back after trying restaurants/recipes/wine" etc. Guilty of not doing so myself on occasion.

[toodie jane]

Some posters on the old site chimed in to say 'thank yous' were a waste of bandwidth. I believe TY's are part of the process, and just good manners, but would be more valuable to all if they included information about attempts, changes, possible variations, etc.

[chowser]

As a newbie, I feel like I should respond when someone replies to me, but maybe that's not called for here? It's all part of learning the unwritten rules of different message boards. Should I refrain from further discussion if it doesn't add anything (like thank you's, apologies, ITA messages, etc.)? I thought I was being polite when I thanked people? Not directing this at you, toodie_jane, in particular but to this message of wasting bandwidth.

[Funwithfood]

If it is your custom/personality/style to thank, then do. I can't imagine not thanking someone who put a lot of effort into a reply to my request. Bandwidth is a very low level of concern IMO--at least as compared to treating people well.

[Robert Lauriston]

It was different on the old site, where you had to load a separate page for every post.

[chowser]

That would be really frustrating--it would make a huge difference.

[chowser]

Thanks--I will. I feel bad not responding to people but sometimes it feels like I'm dominating the thread when I've asked a question. Part of it for me is that I'm a community leader at a different message board where my responsibiity is to be chatty and keep conversation going. There are ins and outs of different boards so I didn't want to step on toes.

[Tatum]

This is something we hope to address with a new notification feature. I think often some of our question posters are first-timers, and they may forget to come back and check each time a new post is made to their thread.

[Dave Feldman]

If I want to thank someone for a post, I always look at their MyChow page to see if they've included his or her email address there. With the old software, I used to email thanks if the user included it; to me, this is the best of both worlds -- not cluttering the board with thank yous, but letting the poster know the effort was appreciated.

[JoanN]

Long thread a couple of months ago on this topic:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

I believe there was also once a comment from the then Chow Moderators that they preferred that posted thank yous continue the chow discussion, i.e., not just "Thanks for the post" but "Thanks, I made it, this is how it came out, this is what I might change," etc.

Edited to add: totally agree on WTF.

[Funwithfood]

I don't like to read "thank you" posts per se, but when a lot of time is obviously put into a reply ie: a recipe or other involved reply, then I think an acknowledgement of the effort would be courteous. Even a post at the end of many replies saying "Thanks for all your input..." is appreciated. This type of courtesy might result in better (more time-involved) replies, at least it would from me.

P.S. Glad I've yet to run across the expression "WTF" (ugh).
P.S.S. Katie Nell, the Baked Oatmeal from the Amish B&B is an adored breakfast at our abode--don't mind that you didn't "love" it. It is afterall just oatmeal...baked (the heavy cream & fruit compote are necessary for full yumminess. :)

[JoanN]

I don't disagree with you, Funwithfood. I'm just pointing out that in the past posters have been discouraged from offering thanks if it did not further the discussion.

[Katie Nell]

Yeah, pet peeve of mine too... although I'm often guilty of never getting around to trying certain recipes. (On a side note, I ordered some of those Minor Soup Bases and they are on their way, soon to be made into your Phantom Lobster Bisque! I'll need other recs to use the soup bases in too!) Anyway, I sometimes wonder if people don't *love* the recipes they try out and don't want to hurt feelings?? For instance, I made that Baked Oatmeal that everyone loved, but I didn't really *love* it, so I didn't want to report that! I always appreciate people taking the time to post recipes and I try to thank people as much as possible even if I don't end up using a particular recipe... sometimes I lay awake at night feeling guilty for not trying someone's recipe, but that's a whole 'nother story of obsessive thoughts by Katie Nell!! ;-)
Now it sounds like I'm on the defense, but I'm just trying to throw some ideas out there on why people may not report back! Putting all that aside, it really, really, really makes my day when someone tries a recipe that I posted and reports back! Call me a loser, but I love it!

Edited to add: Can I add a pet peeve of mine?! I was going to start a whole post on this, but I knew I would get lots of answers I didn't want! I absolutely abhor the phrase "WTF?!"! It sounds so rude and condescending and mean-spirited and offensive and a whole bunch of other negative words! We can retire that phrase anytime and I won't be sad!