this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2025
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Every time somebody sends me a thumb I take it as "whatever you say you fucking dumbass" and it pisses me off.

And ya, I'm aware that that the replies are going to be thumbs, let's see em ya jerks!!!

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[–] Jehuty@lemmy.ml 2 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

It really depends on the age of the sender.

30s and younger: Fairly dismissive response. Not outright insulting but pretty rude.

40s and older: genuinely meant as an earnest acknowledgement of your message.

[–] sunbeam60@lemmy.one 34 points 1 day ago

It’s a pretty simple β€œacknowledged” to me. It’s a β€œI’ve not just seen your message, I’ve read it, and I have no further comments”.

I don’t think I’ve ever interpreted it as rude.

Nah, and to be honest it threw me off to hear some people interpet it that way. It's always meant "acknowledged" or "I agree, no notes" to me.

If I wanted to be rude I'd do this instead: πŸ‘πŸ™„

[–] qaz@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago
[–] nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 1 day ago

no definitely not. but that's probably because i don't associate with people who think im a piece of shit

[–] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 18 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I give a πŸ‘ on a reaction message all the time cause I'm too lazy to respond to it using words

[–] pipes@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 days ago

Why waste word when πŸ‘ do trick?

[–] menemen@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 days ago

Reacting with "I agree" instead of πŸ‘ in the reaction field can completely disrupt a conversation.

[–] yuri@pawb.social 23 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

in response to plans?

chill.

in response to something like a political opinion, highly sarcastic

[–] Arfman@aussie.zone 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

In a professional setting, it's been a normalised acknowledgement, but socially I try to avoid it. Depending on the generation it can be taken the wrong way.

[–] NikkiDimes@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

If it's coming from my older coworkers, I know it's meant well. They approve of whatever was discussed and are too busy to type out more, or its unnecessary.

If it's coming from my gen z boyfriend, I have pissed him off.

[–] astutemural@midwest.social 13 points 2 days ago

The chat built into my hospital's charting software has the 'thumbs up' react so you can quickly and easily show that you've read it. So for me it just means 'heard', 'roger', etc.

[–] Rin@lemm.ee 4 points 1 day ago

I found it rude but not anymore and I have to really think about it. On facebook messenger, the default emoji is πŸ‘ and during my stay on that platform (~2011-2017) it was regarded as a rude, low effort dismissal, at least inside my circles.

Nowadays, i double take and find that people don't indent to be rude to me. After all, i'm not on facebook anymore and these people weren't in my circle.

[–] Irelephant@lemm.ee 7 points 2 days ago

Not really, maybe passive agressive at times, but I always see it as casual agreement.

[–] Nerrad@lemmy.world 21 points 2 days ago (2 children)

GenX here. Shit, I do thumbs up frequently to confer agreement.
And I will indeed give you a middle finger emoji to say, "you fucking dumbass."

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Personally i do. Same as the πŸ˜‰ wink smiley... comes across as a bit of a cunt in my opinion.

Could be because there were shitty people that would use it in condescending ways at me.

[–] JigglySackles@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Depends on context. Most of the time it's just a confirmation. You are reading your insecurities into it.

If I want to make it sarcastic I like πŸ‘πŸ‘οΈπŸ‘„πŸ‘οΈπŸ‘

[–] JOMusic@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Initially I did yeah, but eventually learned that different people use it differently. So good practice to never assume sarcasm through emojis unless you know the person well

[–] Reil@beehaw.org 26 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (4 children)

Depends on who's saying it and to what, and in what manner (message reaction, its own separate text).

"Hey who wants pizza tonight?" in the group text.

Bunch ofπŸ‘reactions mixed in with some πŸ• and πŸ•Ί

That's normal and people agreeing with you.

"Hey could you pick up some toilet paper on the way home?"

πŸ‘ reaction.

That's a neutral kind of acknowledgement.

"Hey man, that was pretty fucked what you said back at the party. I think the others want to talk to you about it."

"πŸ‘"

That's rude and dismissive, and not just an acknowledgement text.

[–] Goretantath@lemm.ee 14 points 2 days ago

Aka context matters, like all forms of english communication.

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[–] mx_smith@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It says we are all a bunch Fonzies here, and what is Fonzie?

[–] tobiah@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Reference to an old American television show where the "cool" character used to make the thumbs up gesture.

[–] zerofk@lemm.ee 4 points 2 days ago

Don’t touch the leather.

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[–] razen@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago

No πŸ‘

[–] Glide@lemmy.ca 194 points 3 days ago (6 children)

This is literally my "message received" emote.

If people thought it was rude, I'd be fired by now.

[–] jared@mander.xyz 81 points 3 days ago
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[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 74 points 3 days ago

No. Your reading of it is unusual, in most contexts. It almost always means "agreement, and I have nothing of substance to add".

It can be rude if the thing you've said should warrant a substantial response. Like if you wrote "my brother just died in a car wreck", a thumbs up (or probably any emoji) would be an inappropriate response. Heavier stuff warrants whole words.

But if it's like "Can you get cat food at the store? The kind we always get" then a thumbs up is an acceptable shorthand for "yes, I understand and commit to this request "

[–] Zak@lemmy.world 155 points 3 days ago (17 children)

It depends on what it's in response to.

Dinner at 6 at Greasy Spoon?
πŸ‘ 

Entirely reasonable.

Should we do the project in COBOL?
πŸ‘ 

Entirely unreasonable, but not rude.

My cat just died.
πŸ‘ 

Rude.

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[–] cl4p_tp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 day ago

Oh wow. I thought only I had an issue with this.

[–] Silv3rShi3ld@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago

Whether a thumbs-up emoji is a good response really depends on the situation.

If it's a quick 'yes' or 'okay' to a simple question, it's fine. But if someone's asking for your opinion or needs more details, it can seem like you're not putting in much effort.

Also, how well you know the person matters a lot. You might use it with a close friend. In contrast someone you don't know well, it can be considered rude.

[–] BreathlessPuppy@lemm.ee 5 points 2 days ago
[–] troglodytis@lemmy.world 44 points 3 days ago (5 children)
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[–] Darleys_Brew@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Depends on context for me.

[–] Bruhh@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago

Whatever you say you fucking dumbass πŸ‘

Really just depends on the context but generally it isn't what you think it means and it's simply your personal interpretation. You have to assume people are well intentioned or you start having trust issues. Most people don't see themselves as the asshole and I guarantee you do shit that pisses other people off even if you mean well.

[–] Tungsten5@lemm.ee 4 points 2 days ago

I used to but then at work everyone always uses the thumbs up on slack. So I got used to it. Nowadays it depends on the context of the convo

[–] Crotaro@beehaw.org 1 points 1 day ago

It depend on the context/group.

At work, no biggie, it just tells me that you acknowledge my message and currently have nothing useful to add.

With my friends, who usually heavily rely on emojis and "oldtimey smileys" (like xD or y.y)? Ya, unless you completely eminate happiness and friendship, I'm concerned about your mood / standing with me.

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 42 points 3 days ago (2 children)

No. This is a rude reply:πŸ–•

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[–] Goretantath@lemm.ee 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

πŸ‘πŸ»(deragatory) /s

[–] crypto@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago

πŸ–•πŸ» (respectfully) /s

[–] quantum_faun@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

No big deal at all

[–] LanguageIsCool@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago
[–] PillowTalk420@lemmy.world 46 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Yeah that sounds like a you problem. Most people use it to just mean "ok." But I mean, if you said "mom just died 😭" and you get "πŸ‘" as a reply, that one's probably rude.

[–] scytale@lemm.ee 49 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

Nope, because I use it myself. But I don't use it as a conversational tool though. I just use it as confirmation that I received and read what you sent but it isn't necessary to continue the conversation. For example, I'm already in a conversation with someone and the assumption is I need them to send me a file. When they finally send it over, I just react with a thumbs up to confirm I got it. Context is important. The emoji is only as meaningful as the context of the conversation it is in.

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[–] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 21 points 3 days ago (6 children)

Depending on the context, it is can be used sarcastically, which may be rude. But I've used this even in semi-formal settings.

I have to ask, are people these days that easily offended?

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[–] drzoidberg@lemmy.world 48 points 3 days ago (5 children)
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