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.

It's rude in the sense that it's an impersonal brush off.

People will probably put up with it from their parents, because there's been a generational shift, and they'll be thinking that the fogeys don't know better (like those who clung to LOL = Lots Of Love even after the rest of the world moved on.

I'd say it's one to be cautious with now, but if the sender is an older person they might not want to be intentionally dismissive.

@melj1213 not that deep hun. Not interested in reading your very serious essay because I misunderstood your fave emoji 👍

You don't need to explain emojis to me, I'm not simple

I have this theory that there are people who "read" it visually in terms of picturing someone giving you a silent thumbs up (which is rude), and people who "read" it verbally by its label ie great/good (and they imagine that being said aloud, which is nice and affirming). No idea if the theory is true lol but I belong in the former category

Why do these young pups think it's offered as a default reply option on social media if it's so fucking rude?

My husband thinks it's rude and seems to think it's someone being sarcastic and dismissive, I think he's overthinking it, I use it when I want to acknowledge something but there isn't any need to say anything else e.g DH 'I'll meet you by the front doors' me 👍

I think it's efficient. Saves having to send mundane, "Ok, yes, thanks have understood" messages. It is used in messenger loads at work and is a really simple and effective way of saying "Yep, got it". Saves loads of time.

I wouldn't use it in a non-work setting in which someone had directly sent me a really nice, well thought out message. But in any other situation, it's fine.

Stopping at Sainsbury's for milk on the way home. Do we need anything else?

Pasta.

👍

...is the kind of text conversation I'd end with a thumbs up. Is that rude? How is it rude? Sarcastic and dismissive? I don't think so.

👎🏻

Being available as a default option, and being nice/polite/universally appropriate are not the same things at all.

Depends. If you’re making an arrangement and are confirming time
see you at 7pm
👍is fine

if you’re sharing some nice news, eg
‘my sister had her baby’ - it’s dismissive and smacks of not giving a shit!

Tell you what I think is rude.

People who start a conversation and then don't bother responding to any replies...

👍 from a boomer = they agree with me

👍 from a millennial = they think I'm annoying

👍 from gen z = they think I'm ridiculous

I don't tilt my head 45 degrees and cry with laughter in real life, but I do use a thumbs up when I can't talk out loud (eg. I'm on the phone and someone mouths "do you want a cup of tea?"

I do clap sarcastically, so it seems that emoji has far more scope for causing offence.

And is 👍 used without context? As plenty of us have said it's a response to something, so there's your context.

Now I understand why you interpret 👍 negatively. You are a negative person.

Nasty, negative vibes in your reply here. Dismissive, patronising and rude - all the things you dislike about 👍, ironically.

🖕

I’m surprised I can actually understand the difference! I read “I can’t believe you did that” [no full stop] as an expression of disbelief that invites the reader to defend themselves. It’s a conversation opener, an almost throwaway comment, not serious.

“I can’t believe you did that.” [with a full stop] is a conclusion, a considered opinion that the person is deigning to share with the reader, with no interest in any response it might incite. It shows disappointment.

Or am I overthinking?!

How on Earth is it rude? We use it all the time as in

What time shall I pick you up?
8?
👍

or maybe
👍x

Sometimes you don’t need to say anything else?
So bizarre.

No 👎

@sheworemellowyellow if somebody replies 'I can't believe you did that.'

They probably reported you to your workplace😂😂

You're not overthinking, it comes across very serious over text