To think WhatsApp group members should acknowledge message

[Salahdor]

I’m a member of several WhatsApp groups, eg family members group, work team group, street group. The biggest group has 20 members, the smallest has 5. Am I wrong to expect WhatsApp group members to acknowledge posts?

At times I post something and no one replies/acknowledges despite me knowing they’ve seen. Sometimes the messages I post are a “does anyone want this for free” offer. Am I being unreasonable in thinking other group members should acknowledge/reply to these. Even when I’m busy I’ll acknowledge even if by posting an emoji where appropriate . For the bigger group of neighbours I don’t always reply but if someone was offering to give something for example that’s relevant to me (eg unwanted dog food when we have a dog) id acknowledge their offer even to say no but thanks.

Am I unreasonable to expect a reply (and to find not replying rude?)

A bit. No one owes you a conversation.

A colleague posted on my work WhatsApp earlier asking if anyone can work tomorrow. I’ve not responded.

I consider a lack of response the response.

Yabu and quite high maintenance frankly. You can see who has seen the message on WhatsApp, if they don't want the thing they won't reply and then you can then get rid of it.

I don't know about it being 'unreasonable' but why not just manage your own expectations the avoid disappointment.

Some people do find it more energy draining than others to reply. So I don't think you should assume that because you find it easy to reply that they do and this means they are rude. I think it just means they are busy and don't have the energy to engage.

I wouldnt take it so personally.

Depends on the conversation, it's nice to acknowledge and be acknowledged but I wouldn't necessarily expect it. You come to know who of your friends will respond and which chats are just tumbleweed!

you don't have any right to expect anyone to have to go to all the hassle of trying to think of a reply and posting it. And if they all did, would you think everyone should reply to the reply? Do you want everyone to spend their whole life replying to replies forever?

Don't be so needy and unreasonable

God no. I'd say the opposite. We have a street WhatsApp which dates back to the first lockdown. It drives me mad because someone will say "Does anyone have a parcel for Jones?" And then give or six people will reply to say they don't. Surely with this kind of thing it's only necessary to respond if you actually do have it??? Necessary and relevant responses only I'd say. Do you really want 10 or more people saying thanks but no thanks?

That's your choice to reply. If Interested people will reply back

What would you prefer, a list of responses saying “I don’t want it”?

You can see who’s read it. If they don’t have anything to add, that’s fine.

Sometimes I wait to respond if my response is a 'no' in case anyone replies to take up the offer. No one needs 20 no replies on WhatsApp - think of all the notifications just saying the same thing in different ways.

It's really pointless to expect your contacts to react to every message you send. Imagine posting something for free and having heaps of notifications to sift through which all say "no thanks"? Would you then respond to each person who says no thanks to say "Oh that's ok"?
YABU.

I find relying to group threads stressful. I can't really leave my family and work one. I chip in occasionally, that's it.

In all the groups I'm on, people would only reply to that kind of post if they did want the thing/ had seen Sophie's cardigan/ did have the package for James etc. WhatsApp would be all the more tiresome if it was full of all the no thanks messages as well. It would be much harder to find the relevant useful info as well.

Seems a bit needy to have acknowledgement on a group WhatsApp.

I think it depends on the post
The one you describe about offering something, I would prefer only people who want it to respond. If nobody does, fair enough. If, however, you posted something in a family group like "I want to invite you all over, which is better, this Sunday or next?" then yes, I would expect responses.

YABU
You are too needy

I'd take the hint if I were you OP.

A non reply counts as a reply for "not interested".
Don't take it so personally.
If I'm desperate for a reply from someone I'll speak to them in person.

YABU - who wants to read 20 replies saying “no thanks!”? The lack of reply is the response in those cases! If I wrote something like “my granny has just died” then yes, I’d be a bit hurt if no-one acknowledged it, but for “does anyone want this spare bag of dog food?” type stuff I think it’s actually quite entitled to expect everyone to stop what they’re doing and reply to something so trivial if it simply doesn’t concern them.

It’s unreasonable to expect a reply. I wouldn’t reply. It would be extremely annoying to receive WhatsApp messages saying “no, but thanks”. WhatsApp is not a conversation like talking to someone in person - where you would behave differently and reply.

Glad I'm not in your group
Sounds like hard work

If someone posting "Does anyone want this for free?" resulted in me getting 19 notifications of "No" or an emoji then I'd leave the group.

I can see your point with the group of 20, but at the other end of the scale does the same apply- in a WhatsApp work team of 5?

Completely unreasonable!

It's my pet peeve people responding when they dont actually have anything to say sp that the messages that people need to read get lost. I find this particularly bad on school groups where everyone has to outdo each other to respond quickest / most.

Like 'has anyone seen Freddie's jumper' and 20 'no's'. Its irrelevant. I assume that the one person that does see it will say 'yes'. Or 'does anyone know what homework has been set this week' and 10 'I haven't looked yet' or 'no sorry'. That doesn't help anyone! People responding for the sake of it isnt polite in my opinion it's annoying

It's different if you have asked someone specific a question though then its rude not to respond

Yabvu