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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think 👍 is rude

194 replies

SowhoamI505 · 03/09/2023 20:33

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.

OP posts:
ReginaRegina · 03/09/2023 21:59

I use it all the time.

gillygeey · 03/09/2023 21:59

Are we still on for dinner tonight?’ 👍🏻 would be a bit rude too - this person can’t be bothered to just text ‘yes! Looking forward to it!’ for example.

But not if you've already mentioned you're excited, looking forward to it, etc why would you have to state that again?

AutumnalPumpkin · 03/09/2023 22:04

Depends on context completely
Both 👍🏼 and 🙂 can be used in a rude way

WonderingWanda · 03/09/2023 22:05

Justmuddlingalong · 03/09/2023 20:36

🖕Rude
👍Not rude

🤣

Agree with this!!

It's not rude, it's just a speedy way to reply. If you want formal communication then write a letter!

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 03/09/2023 22:06

I think a thumbs up is less rude that just typing 'yes' in response to a question. Sometimes (most times) I don't want to get drawn into a full on conversation, or I'm working, or it's just a very simple question. I use it all the time!

givemeasunnyday · 03/09/2023 22:06

LindorDoubleChoc · 03/09/2023 20:38

Yabu. If you think that's rude you are impossibly over-sensitive and need to get a grip.

I agree. MN posts are getting more and more ridiculous.

I was texting a friend this morning - both in our sixties - about organising coffee. That was her last response to my text about the date and venue. Perfectly normal.

Colourfulponderings · 03/09/2023 22:06

I don’t think it’s rude unless it’s used where a thank you would have been.

e.g I phoned the restaurant and booked us in for 8pm.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 03/09/2023 22:07

My parents love the thumbs up emoji.

givemeasunnyday · 03/09/2023 22:08

Colourfulponderings · 03/09/2023 22:06

I don’t think it’s rude unless it’s used where a thank you would have been.

e.g I phoned the restaurant and booked us in for 8pm.

It would be perfectly acceptable to me in that circumstance also. I don't require a thank you every time I do something ordinary.

Some of you must spend a lot of time being offended - life's too short!

NowWhattt · 03/09/2023 22:08

Pisses me off too.

Jellykat · 03/09/2023 22:09

Not rude, its a 'great' or 'yep', when nothing else needs to be said.

VisionsOfSplendour · 03/09/2023 22:11

Snowflakes and the professionally offended will find it rude, the rest of us who are made of sterner stuff can cope with a shorthand OK

Anyone sending one to me intending to be rude will have totally wasted their message but then it's very unlikely as I don't converse with anyone patheric

TallerThanAverage · 03/09/2023 22:13

K

melj1213 · 03/09/2023 22:14

'Are we still on for dinner tonight?’ 👍🏻 would be a bit rude too - this person can’t be bothered to just text ‘yes! Looking forward to it!’ for example.

But if you're messaging me during my work day then I might not have time to send a message whereas a 👍 takes seconds. Also I hate sending "Yes, looking forward to it!" type messages when I don't have the time to continue a conversation as there's always a risk that the person will then message back wanting to have a conversation when I can't but also don't want to be rude by telling them I'm too busy, so the easiest thing to do is send a response that says "Yes, I've seen your message, I agree with it/have no problem with what you have said but can't chat now" which is exactly what 👍 does.

HelpMeGetThrough · 03/09/2023 22:16

I use it in response to texts to family.

I think they pretty much know it means "understood, no more texts required". I'm not a texter and 9/10 can't be arsed replying.

youhavenoshameonyourface · 03/09/2023 22:16

OP you are clearly easily offended, slightly insecure and also have too much time on your hands.

TheDogMama · 03/09/2023 22:16

I use it to be dismissive of someone, so yes, when I want to be rude. Some people don’t see it that way.

gillygeey · 03/09/2023 22:18

Anyone sending one to me intending to be rude will have totally wasted their message but then it's very unlikely as I don't converse with anyone patheric

Yep, I don't really text people I don't like but if I was going to be rude I wouldn't be using a 👍🏼 emoji!

Moveoverdarlin · 03/09/2023 22:19

How can a thumbs up emoji be rude??? In real life if someone let you out of a junction or your child was performing well at a sport, you’d give them a thumbs up to say cheers / thanks / well done / great stuff.

WeWereInParis · 03/09/2023 22:22

Bogeyes · 03/09/2023 20:34

Yes. It's like being fobbed off

Surely that depends on what it's in response to.

"Can you get milk?"

👍

That's clearly not fobbing off, it's acknowledging and saying that you've got the message and will do it. The opposite of fobbing off.

Wisterical · 03/09/2023 22:23

It is rude. It means I cannot be arsed to respond, go away now.

cardibach · 03/09/2023 22:23

Wisterical · 03/09/2023 22:23

It is rude. It means I cannot be arsed to respond, go away now.

It’s quite literally a response. How can it mean ‘I can’t be arsed to respond’?

Ariela · 03/09/2023 22:25

Depends . I use it a lot as I have a friend who doesn't work, tends to text me at work, and I know if I don't acknowledge I get pinged about 5 more texts.

VisionsOfSplendour · 03/09/2023 22:26

Wisterical · 03/09/2023 22:23

It is rude. It means I cannot be arsed to respond, go away now.

It means what the person who sent it means, clearly you would be being rude but why assume that everyone else is?

I can say categorically that if I sent you a thumbs up it would have no rude intent

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