AIBU to think 👍 is rude

[SowhoamI505]

When texting, my pet peeve is use of 👍, is this just me who finds it rude? To explain why I find use of it rude, it’s been used in response to questions and some other situations like sharing a photo.

Depends on the context.

This.

As an answer to "See you at 7.30" -not rude.
As an answer to "Sorry I can't be there, my Mum has just been taken into hospital and we're all very upset" -rude

I don't find it rude at all.

I wouldn't use it in reply to a heartfelt, sensitive message but for most stuff it's fine. Gets used a lot in the messenger system at work to indicate 'read and understood'.

I believe the under 21s currently use most emojis ironically, so rude if you're receiving it from a young person.

If its from someone over 35 your probably tp take it as agreement/ that's great.

If you're trying to read between the lines with messages maybe it's time to have a conversation?

the younger generations don’t really use emojis as much. It’s more a millennial and older thing to overuse emoji and tbh, it’s more older men that I see using that specific emoji in a passive aggressive manner.

ultimately English has evolved and although using full stops are a default in formal writing, in informal writing they can seem unnecessary:

“I can’t believe you did that” vs “I can’t believe you did that.”

one seems more open and the other doesn’t. Again it depends on who uses it, if it’s someone who never uses full stops and then suddenly does so when they’re annoyed then it could seem passive aggressive. It’s not that hard to understand

👎

It's not rude. It's either an affirmative or a like.

It's also an acknowledgement to a message that you got it. You could equally not respond at all in some situations that you use thumbs up.

It’s my pet hate but I can see why people use it!

Of course it's not rude. It just means yes

It's not rude.

I've had a look through my WhatsApps and loads of us use it.

Is ok rude?
Is "alright" rude?
Is "what a fab idea I'll see you there" rude?

I use 👍🏽 for all of the above.

I use it for ‘ok, message received’.
Does ‘ok’ bother you?
I only use it with very close family and friends.

I think it's bizarre that it's seen as rude, unless it's being used in some odd context. As an acknowledgement that a message has been seen and accepted/agreed with, I think it's perfectly fine. I think finding it rude is just looking to take offence.

Life is busy.

I'm not typing 'Yes, that's fine' or 'Fine by me' or 'I agree' etc when I can just pop on a thumbs up.

It's not rude in the slightest. It's just quick.

Yes 👍

I think it’s rude too. It’s like the person can’t be arsed even writing a few letters in response.

To me it means OK, right you are, will do, affirmative, understood, received....

If you asked what time are we meeting, it would seem a bit off to no answer however if you had said "OK, I'll see you at 7:30" seems perfectly reasonable. If I'd said 'What are you wearing tonight' and you sent a pic of an outfit I think a thumbs up is fine.
Was it definitely an actual question you asked or could it be taken as rhetoric eg "Yes, and we all know where that leads don't we"

Or is busy, but wants to at least agree/acknowledge

It gets sent a lot on the work WhatsApp. I just take it to mean got your message, that sounds fine and I have nothing to add.

I find it ruder that my tablet/mumsnet doesn't have the thumbs-up or shrug emojis. I want to use both *grumps away

Which could almost be polite! Much better than saying "why are you telling me this?", "I'm really not interested" "You're boring" "The dress/hair do is hideous"

Context is definitely key. I think it comes across as dismissive or a sign of ‘conversation over’ and definitely cba at times. At other times it’s just a quick acknowledgement as comment read and understood.

Yes, seems an over reaction. Sounds a bit like the type of people who want written thank you cards and a running commentary for every gift they've ever given or party they've hosted.

Yeah I find it rude on its own without any words, it completely ends the conversation for me if someone sends me that on its own

Of course it isn't rude. It's simply an acknowledgement.

I tend to use it at the end of a conversation to acknowledge the last written message. Because the alternative is either not to acknowledge the last message at all (rude), or to carry on endlessly playing messaging ping-pong which would be just bizarre.