Thank You on the Forum - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2024, 03:09:32 pm
content: To Admin,I enjoy your forums. As a retired FAE and IC product definer, it scratches the same itch that the favorite part of my old job did. I try to contribute postiively to unanswered or under-answered posts on the beginner and technical chats daily. I look for things with 0 responses to see if I can help or start a conversation. I don't pile on to popular posts and don't add to the BS chatter usually. I try to think about the issue, imagine myself as some frustrated newbie hobbyist in some remote location and answer directly. Sometimes I'll add color or alternatives to a discussion. I'm surprised at how few times people give a thanks or any acknowledgement. Its kind of demotivating. I come back and look at my post responses just to see that the posts end with my mine and there is nothing more. Your forums are an amazing place but users who get well reasoned answers should make a point to hit the thanks button- its getting less fun for a gray beard like me.Rant mode off.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2024, 04:47:35 pm
content: I personally have all thanks functionality adblocked. That social network desire for approval and likes from random people on the internet rotted people's brains. Who cares?Also, what do you want admins to do here? Force people to like your stuff?

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2024, 05:32:02 pm
content: No offense, but you're a bigger man than I am Ataradov. I don't think its nothing really. Its courtesy and this is lacking in our world these days.As far as what the admins can do, I think in the instructions for the board, thank you's should be encouraged. You have access to this amazing group of technical people that will listen to your questions, think about them and answer. The least someone can do is to give a click.hI am a very experienced old guy, I almost never ask questions here, I answer them for fun and some diversion. My sole motivation is helping and I'm disappointed that more don't use the thanks button.If you're entering a building and hold the door open for someone a few feet behind you- wouldn't you reasonably expect a thanks or acknowledging nod? If I got no response, I would see that person as somewhat selfish.Acknowledgement and thanks is the biggest motivator in the world- bigger than money in my experience.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2024, 09:39:40 pm
content: Quote from: jwet on December 20, 2024, 05:32:02 pmI agree, and most would, feel free to ignore what he has said.The whole point of the thanks button is to clean up thread noise, while still acknowledging someones effort or help. Nothing to do with social media.But don't expect appreciation from beginners in general, maybe half will, the other half are just lazy or looking for someone to do their work. You have to accept that going in.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 01:11:45 am
content: I don't care so much for the "Thanks", but the posters who never come back to respond or provide any update at all are the ones that annoy me.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 10:24:44 am
content: Quote from: jwet on December 20, 2024, 05:32:02 pmI completely understand your starting point and motivation.The "thanks" mechanism has been abused. Currently about 30% of my posts have been "thanked", which is a ridiculously high proportion. One member (multiple names t*z, f*n, o*t, now banned) had the habit of thanking every post in his many threads, even the posts that were politely telling him he was an idiot. Similar abuses of "downvoting" are a serious issue on other forums (think cliques), but fortunately they won't be introduced here.The biggest motivator? For me it is anyone that asks questions, thinks about the response, follows up pointers, and asks a thoughtful followup question.I do use the "thanks" button sparingly, mainly to avoid making a "me too" post. demotivator: someone that wants me to spend my time poorly regurgitating good material that is available elsewhere. Too many of those, and I give them short shrift.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 04:27:37 pm
content: Quote from: jwet on December 20, 2024, 03:09:32 pm- That doesn't mean your post was not appreciated, feeling disappointed is nothing but wrong expectations.- The lack of feedback doesn't mean you did wrong.- The lack of thank you doesn't necessarily mean the OP is ungrateful.This forum is more like a hang around/chat place, not a Q&A platform, so don't expect any score for answers.Different people are using the thank you button differently. For example, I usually mark with a thank you only those posts where from I've found out something new, something I didn't know before. Sometimes I press thank you to encourage an OP that built something.Then, if an OP were to be morally obliged to press the thank you button, then the OP should thank to each and every answer, which would make the button meaningless. And if one post is left without a thank you, that poster will feel that as a thumb down vote, and will be discouraged to post in the future.In a similar manner, explicitly posting only a thank you reply, or I agree, or alike but with no other content than to thank, will just add bloatware and in the same time will close the discussion. Others won't post different solutions if a topic is marked as solved, which might be a loss.Often, the most interesting findings (for other readers than the OP) are coming from the discussion that sprouts on the theme of an OP's question, and not from the answer itself.As for the value and quality of your answers, you are one of the best on this forum, thank you for posting on EEVblog.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 05:10:17 pm
content: Of course, some appreciation is nice. But in today's world it's more like not receiving a complaint is the usual passive appreciation. Don't expect too much and enjoy each "thank you".

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 06:00:18 pm
content: Quote from: Kean on December 21, 2024, 01:11:45 amIt helps to be able to distinguish such people before I waste too much of my time.While they are not definitive, for me negative indicators are only one or two posts, all posts are first posts, ill-thought out question, question sounds like they want us to do their work for them, question looks like it was an idle thought and they posted before thinking about it.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 07:32:06 pm
content: Jwet,You are not alone in your disappointment !I specialise in thermal imaging equipment and it’s repair. I receive a lot of requests for help and have previously commented on the lack of response from the person asking for help, once I have supplied the information that they desired. I was brought up in a World where we appreciated the efforts of others to help us and we said so. That was pre-social media and I asked on the forum if “please” and “Thankyou” are words of the past. The replies surprised me. Amongst them were statements that “please” and “Thankyou” are considered a sign of weakness and subservience by some societiesI was also told to not expect thanks for help as it was my choice to help someone. People told me that, on forums, a simple “Thankyou”, or confirmation that the advice helped is considered “noise” and unwelcome. Sad times indeed. I was born in the 1960’s and these revelations were a bit of a shock for my old fashioned social etiquette. I recall talking to my father about this matter some time ago. His response shocked me… to quote him…. “Fraser, why are you surprised at the lack of thanks or response to the help that you provide these days ? To many asking you for help, you are nothing more than a human version of Google and no one thanks Google !” It is also evident that some people feel entitled to knowledge that was hard learnt by me over several decades. I have even been told that it is my duty to share my specialist knowledge willingly, and at no cost. A sort of “Open Source” human data repository ! I like to help others but few people like to be taken for granted, including me. In response to my disappointment with some people on this forum, I decided to pull back from social media and spend my time repairing the equipment that I love working on. I now only provide help to those who appear to be deserving of the time it takes to provide such. If a question is easily answered via Google or search of this forum, I will not provide comment.On a happier note, I was very ill in 2010 and ended up with chronic fatigue syndrome (M.E) that I fight on a daily basis. Why is this a happier note ? … well I started a Go Fund Me to help me to get back on my feet as I have been unable to work full time since 2015 and finances are challenging. I have received an amazing response and some very generous donations from members of this forum. The comments that people have left via that Go Fund Me and on this forum have more than made up for the lack of any response or thanks from those who consider such as unnecessary “noise”. I am so grateful to those who acknowledge the help that I provide as it often involves a fair bit of my time and researching my data archives. This forum is a wonderful meeting place where I have made some great friends. It is a broad cross section of age groups, nationalities and social backgrounds which is great, but also means social incompatibilities are unavoidable.Life is short, live it, and only provide help to others if it makes you happy and do not expect thanks in all cases, as you may be disappointedThat does not mean that your help is wasted though. Your comments on the forum will be read by many and may help people in the future. Be proud that you have the knowledge that can help others…. You are an Oracle through a life of experiences and, in some cases, training. That is my view of the situation anywayFraser

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 07:36:00 pm
content: It is not that i do not care about Thanks, it is more than I post to share, Not to earn Thanks. Sorry but to me deciding if to continue to contributre based on Thanks is a woke mindset.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 08:27:57 pm
content: A quote from Peter Drucker worthy of inclusion in this thread ……..“Manners are the lubricating oil of an organization. It is a law of nature that two moving bodies in contact with each other create friction. This is as true for human beings as it is for inanimate objects. Manners- simple things like saying 'please' and 'thank you' and knowing a person’s name or asking after her family enable two people to work together whether they like each other or not. Bright people, especially bright young people, often do not understand this. If analysis shows that someone’s brilliant work fails again and again as soon as cooperation from others is required, it probably indicates a lack of courtesy – that is, a lack of manners.Peter Drucker”Who is Peter Drucker ? …..https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Drucker

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 09:20:11 pm
content: This is interesting and has garnered way more attention that I dreamed. The group seems split- a fraction thinking this "wokeism", some saying just give and don't worry about it and some seeing my point- that's healthy. A thanks and a social media like are not the same. I like the words of Peter Drucker.I'm recently retired and trying to find my way in this new world. I think I'll pay less attention to EEVblog and look at better outlets for my talents.Thanks to all, I'll still be here just a little less often and prominently probably.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 09:48:13 pm
content: Quote from: Fraser on December 21, 2024, 08:27:57 pmGenerally, I agree with most of what you wrote, but just on this point, I'm not so sure. Some of it is due to changing culture, perhaps, and, possibly, even how engineering is taught. You need social, collaborative events at college/uni for (say) introverts to get to know how to deal with others, and team events, even quizzes, sports, where there will be failures, but also empathy, etc., so people learn how to literally shake hands afterward and conduct post-mortems without embarrassment.It's deeper than just 'thanks'. Getting things wrong and knowing how to deal with it is important. For instance, it's OK not to know something. But on forums (and sadly perhaps even in some firms), it can often be either ridiculed, or you're "minus-one'd", or people will misread and perceive they are being ridiculed because the culture in engineering and sciences or some vocations or some firms might be to expect to be the subject of such derision if you "mess up".Self-inferiority, traumatic events, or stresses can lead one to think more inwardly and less considerate about others too. All manner of subtle things in life could cause it and perhaps get worse as people are supposed to mature.Even if youngsters have not been brought up right, or if it doesn't come naturally to some, it can still be learned. There's a good book by the well-known Debrett's. Some of it is anachronistic, but it doesn't hurt to learn a bit of that at the same time. It also gives one a little confidence in many social circumstances throughout life, including work-related ones. I quite like the classic "I'm OK, You're OK" too. Sure that too is ancient, but there's still something to learn there. I'm sure some would even ridicule wanting to self-improve through reading these sorts of books. But better to leave a good impression than a bad one if you can in any interaction (not always possible; if you recognize someone is deliberately being argumentative and looking for a forum-fight (easy to spot sometimes; for instance, those who will call anything "woke" to see who will respond to that, or YouTube videos that start with a false premise and a question-mark), it may well be better to terminate the discussion; the more emotionally intelligent you are, the easier to do this; in some cases, it may wind up the other person more, but better that than escalate further and leave distaste for everyone to read through).

author: Dundarave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 10:18:54 pm
content: Seeking direct gratification for “good deeds”, on forums like this or in real life, requires that you accept that thanklessness comes with the territory. The dopamine hit of satisfaction for a helpful boost for someone or some group has to come from within, with the faith that the universe is now incrementally better than it was before your contribution.That thought, and nothing else, is all that is guaranteed to you when you help out.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 10:27:00 pm
content: Quote from: jwet on December 21, 2024, 09:20:11 pmInteresting train of thought.Can I suggest that the recently retiredbenefitmost from doingnew thingsin a new world. IMHO sinking into a familiar rut is not a good wayforward.If you do find a better outlet for your talents, please let us know what it is and tell us why you feel it is better. I'm interested, and I suspect others might be as well. In the meantime, please realise that people do feel you help and are useful, even if they don't explicitly say so."Thanks" is a word that is too easily uttered, and hence can become a worthless gesture (or button click). Another example in the US: "Have a nice day" makes mw cringe. Meaningful "thanks" requires some form ofdemonstration.As I said, for me a decent interesting conversation is all the thanks I need. That's a sufficient demonstration.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2024, 11:37:08 pm
content: I see thethanksgetting used more often as a way to sayI agree with this. I give a thanks when a someone has clearly taken time to craft a genuinely helpful post. And added real value for the forum reader. I never thank someone for sharing their opinion, they'd always be quite willing to do that.Too many low valuethanksdemeans thethanksgiven to the genuinely helpful. It is a bit like 5-star reviews, only the truly exceptional uber ride should get a 5-star review. Anything just merely ordinary like showing up on time and getting you to your destination safely in a clean car should be just 2-3 stars. Nearer 3 perhaps. But if you see a 5 star review now what does it mean? Not a lot and you have to compare it to the 1 star reviews and take an average. If you give a 2.5 star review for average service then you fear blowback.So save the thanks for the truly worthy.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 12:20:34 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on December 21, 2024, 11:37:08 pmThat example doesn't work, it's not a similar thing by any stretch. I suspect the Uber driver would prefer you to do them a favor and not leave a rating at all in that case. The expectation is to leave a 5-star rating unless there's a problem.I'm not sure it's fair to deliberately provide a lower value rating solely on criteria you unilaterally decided upon for providing you with a satisfying - yet not exceptionally extraordinary - Uber ride.

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 12:25:10 am
content: tgggzz- very good point on doing new things...finding meaning in retirement is a challenge.I come to this board like I go into electronic surplus equipment stores. Its comforting and enertaininig to be around a bunch of familiar stuff and familiar questions.Perhaps I'll take up the Piano- thanks "truly" for your thoughts

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 03:21:11 am
content: How many thanks did you expect to milk starting a thread on getting thanks? Just wondering if viable strategy.You have a 1:2 ratio so I think you are fine lol. Makes me think this thread was a total troll as if you're helping no reply posts your batting average is way above most users here.

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 05:43:43 am
content: Its a great idea but wasn't what I was after. It turns out to be pretty philosophical point about what we're all doing here, etc. I've gotten some amazingly deep and intimate PM's from people about the existential pleasures of this forum. It's fascinating as an observer. I'm just lamenting the death of courtesy in the modern world and trying to understand.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 06:37:59 am
content: I once was on a forum where the mod *required* members to start Every post with Hello or Good Day or similar. He banned people who did not. It was fucking boring, I left soon.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 06:52:46 am
content: Your unnecessary expletives are boring too! Maybe grow up, and learn to express yourself without them.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 09:32:37 am
content: Quote from: jwet on December 22, 2024, 05:43:43 amI'm not sure courtesy hasdiedin the modern world, but it certainly haschanged. That'salwaysbeen happening, as illustrated by the changes in various "Guides to Good Etiquette" that have been published over the centuries. Occasionally you see newspaper/magazine articles highlighting some of the changes. Some of the changes are welcome, some less so. People tend to concentrate attention on the less welcome changes and take the welcome changes for granted.That's entirely reasonable in the light of the changes in the last 40 years.There are a couple of key differences between the time we were growing up and the time our children were growing up...then: Information was difficult to obtain and it often took a long time to obtain it. Books were expensive, so we used lending libraries. If the local library didn't have a book in stock, either you waited weeks for it to be returned or it took weeks to be transferred from another library. Consequently you devoured any information source carefully, to glean all the information it contained.now: Information is thrust at you, and the key life skill is to quickly decide whatnotto look at. That's the complete opposite! (And makes 99.9% of videos a big waste of time)then: you interacted with the few people around you, or occasionally with a someone over the telephone. Consequently you needed to take care not to "switch off" such interactions by unintentionally causing offencenow: you can interact with tens of thousands of people, e.g. his forum nominally has 68000 members! Who cares if you irritate someone; there are plenty of other people and interactions. Dare you spend time/energy explicitly thanking someone, because that means you won't have time for other good interactionsLong ago in a foreign land I once made a gesture which means "good" here, but is very rude there. I realised what I had done, and the other party said something like "don't worry, I looked at your eyes and knew what you meant". While it is somewhat difficult to look at someone's eyes on the internet, it is possible to use other techniques to understand intent. I think it helps to use "other techniques" to understand what "thanking" means now.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 09:49:59 am
content: Quote from: shabaz on December 22, 2024, 12:20:34 amThank You, for reminding me why it is bad to argue by analogy. The argument stands or falls on the strength of the analogy. In reality the analogy of Uber was immaterial to the point and I should not have used it.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 11:35:35 am
content: Quote from: jwet on December 22, 2024, 05:43:43 amI think, in general, people are more courteous in person than via the internet. The internet is relatively new, and we therefore see a reduction in courtesy.

author: thephil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 11:42:34 am
content: Personally, I am very happy with the overall manors on this forum – I have seen much worse.I have thanked some people for helping me with questions and I have received a few thanks when trying to help. I agree that it is impolite to ask a question and then disappear without notice but then I remind myself that "the internet" does not owe me anything and I don't owe anything, either. So, for the most part, things a fine with me.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 02:08:05 pm
content: This is a post for Jwet, but it may be of interest to others.Jwet,I was working in a very responsible role in the defence of my country. The role involved significant team working and very high standards of performance. I am a perfectionist and pessimist by nature so fitted the role well. Sadly at the age of only 48 I had to effectively ‘retire’ due to ill health. I was having to deal with both a serious illness and the loss of a job that I loved. As a member of this most excellent forum I focussed my energies on helping others as a substitute for my previous activities. Yes, I believe that I was searching for a purpose in life. The question “what is my purpose in life” is a very dangerous one to ask yourself as life can appear pointlessIt was my decision to commit myself to this forum to assist others. No one forced me to answer technical questions. In my job, I did not expect thanks or praise as I considered it a vocation. I therefore do not seek ‘praise’ in life but I am ‘old school’ when it comes to manners. My skill set does not transfer easily to life outside my previous employment so I chose some hobbies to pursue. Thermal imaging is one such hobby of mine and I spent much time learning about the technology, how it worked and how to repair the equipment. This was a topic I could help others with on the forum as it was in its infancy in the civilian world. I had a ‘purpose’ again and it distracted me from my illness. Over the years of helping others I have learnt that a technical forum is a VERY different environment to that of a tight knit technical team working towards an objective. In my work life there was cameraderie and a lot of mutual support and respect. No such close team environment exists in cyberspace forums as it lacks the human to human direct contact. We are pretty much faceless entities in this forum. I still miss the cameraderie but I do retain a purpose in life.My mistake when interacting with people on this forum was to expect them to act as my team mates did when being given help. That was unrealistic and forum etiquette appears very different to real world etiquette and manners. It is often “all about the information” on forums and less about the people behind the interaction. That is, of course, a generalisation and exceptions exist where people form friendships via a forum. I certainly have been very fortunate in this respect.I also made the mistake of making the EEVBlog forum a primary interest in my life and I spent far too much time focussed on helping others with their challenges and left little time for my family life and doing my own projects/repairs. This was not a healthy situation ! My wife became an internet widow ! Do not repeat my mistake. Thankfully I have a very understanding wife so our marriage is intact.I was always on the forum as I needed to validate my existence and be useful to people. In truth I had no need to feel this way but it was a bi-product of my career in a specialist team and unusual employment. The human mind is complex and sometimes illogical.It took a very unpleasant event to break the forums hold over me (my doing, not the forums). A very unpleasant and unstable forum member (now banned) once sent me hate mail for no good reason. In amongst the vile diatribe he commented that I am a very sad person for spending so much time on this forum. He highlighted my post count. This did make me consider how long I spent helping others via the EEVBlog and I realised that he was right. I have since reduced my engagement on this forum to a more healthy level. My wife is very pleased about this change for the better. Again, do not make the same mistake as me and focus your time and knowledge on strangers. Family and friends come first ! I still help people with thermal imaging questions and repairs, but I am more selective as there are others here who can offer assistance. My engagement on the forum is now far healthier and I no longer seek any form of validation or praise. I have nothing to prove anymore.Thankfully I am now able to do some part time occasional work for my old employer so that helps to satisfy my desire to serve my country with my skill set. It is worth investigating whether a previous employer has any desire to use the knowledge gained during your career. Sometimes new recruits need training or mentoring and this can be a very satisfying role for a retired person. I remember when I had to leave my employer, I thought about all the knowledge and skills that I had which were then going to waste and unused for anyones benefit. That was a depressing thought. Having worked closely with technical contractors in the US I found that a lot of them had really interesting hobbies that were not directly associated with their jobs. I had the same hobby (electronics) as my job and now consider that unhealthy. These American techs had hobbies like Flying aircraft, flying RC aircraft, rock climbing, scuba diving, all manner of dangerous sports and Ham Radio. They were really interesting people who will likely have no problem filling their time with healthy activities during their retirement. I envy them. It is my belief that it can be unhealthy to retire from a technical role and focus purely on interaction with other techs via technical forums. It is a closed world and there are so many other options where a person can meet and interact with other humans in person. Ham Radio clubs, ‘Men in Sheds’ and other group activities are healthy options for a retired tech. Forums such as the EEVBlog remain very interesting places to visit and participate, but they are not ideal for quality social interaction IMHO.So Jwet you now have my experiences after forced retirement. The World is your Oyster now and you can choose where you invest your time, knowledge and personality in society. I am sure that there is much that you can still offer society and you can have enjoyable interactions with like minded people. You do not need participation on a forum to be a valid contributor to society…. you have proven your worth throughout your career and should now enjoy life to the full. I hope that you have the finances in place to ‘spread your wings’.Fraser

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 05:01:34 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on December 21, 2024, 10:27:00 pmI retired in the year 2000 at the age of 47 (extremely comfortably), and often take the opportunity to do other things, but I keep coming back to electronics design. That was my career, and something that I have greatly enjoyed since I was ten years old. I now design, build, and sell RF-related gear for ham radio and scientific research. That's an area of electronics I haven't worked in for a long time, so I don't at all feel that I am sinking into a rut.I participate in the EEVB Forum because I enjoy the conversation, the help, and the friendly disagreements. I answer questions when I can help, and I generally don't even notice my "thanks" count. What I do notice is the interaction. If someone disappears as soon as they get their answer that's just the way of the world and I don't take it personally.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2024, 05:39:57 pm
content: Quote from: jwet on December 21, 2024, 09:20:11 pmSorry to be late. I sort of lost track of this thread until now.I retired in 2006. Had been flying model airplanes since the 3rd grade. I have always been a fanatic about airplanes and now was able to fly 3 times a week. After 3 months, I was disgusted. In Cleveland, OH, like most big cities, there are small colleges. Community colleges (County based) weren't interested, but a small, liberals art college was.* I volunteered to teach chemistry and asked for no salary. It had to pay me something for insurance, which I mostly donated back (salary was not deductible from local taxes). Technically, I worked 1/2 day a week, but spent much more time working on my presentations, grading and so forth. Did that for 2 years until I was over the hump of retirement. Coincidentally , I bought a "hobby farm" about 40 miles away, so the commute to the small college became harder. I enjoy the farm, but it is hobby in name only. I haven't had the time to fly my models since. In the Winter, I have various electronic projects.Other family members retired with nothing to do except care for pets. They are not happy. Bottom line, find something to do that contributes or helps, regardless of how trivial.*Edit: Don't try the front door approach. I contacted the Chair of Chemistry and suggested we have lunch together.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 23, 2024, 05:03:10 pm
content: It is kind of ironic that my post where I statedI don't care so much for the "Thanks"has received the most thanks of any post so far in this thread.So thank you very much for that

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2024, 11:01:20 pm
content: Quote from: shabaz on December 22, 2024, 06:52:46 amYou should apply for a snowflake Co-Mod position on that forum.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2024, 04:26:03 am
content: Even this, one of the best forums I have encountered demonstrates that communication over the internet is not nearly as rich or nuanced as face to face interactions. I have been less diligent than I probably should in thanking those who have helped me, with an actual sentence or two in a post. And I share with many others a wish that many folks would follow up with a report on how the suggestions provided worked out for the original poster.The thank you button is hardly sufficient for expressing actual gratitude. My most common use of it occurs in threads where there have been many unclear, partial or even wrong answers to a question and someone beats me (either by being faster or smarter) to generating an answer that is complete, tailored to the OPs apparent understanding level and correct. I mean the thank you to emphasize that it is worth paying more attention to this answer than some of the others. For some reason this seems more appropriate than quoting the post and adding some line of text such as "Here here" or "great answer."Retirement for many is a great stressor for the ego. Going from a position of significant attainment, positional status, often with teams working for you, or at least with you, recognition in the industry, etc. It can take a while to either find other sources for this validation or adapt to not getting it. But as previous posters have said if you keep busy you will eventually find yourself happy with your new position, often happier than you were. One thing that almost all find. Through engagement in many new tasks (and sometimes combined with reduced efficiency since it is no longer demanded) you find yourself with less free time than ever. More projects piling up in the to be accomplished pile.