Get rid of the Laugh reaction

[LetsNCagain]

We don't need the Laugh reaction.
I've now only had it had used mockingly.

Specifically for example, in a thread where the op is upset about something and I gave a supportive message. Some loser gave me the Laugh emoji because they think op is being ridiculous and by extension, so am I for showing sympathy.

Mumsnet, please just get rid of it. If someone says a funny joke, the clap hands or thumbs up is perfectly adequate. The Laugh emoji is the only one that can be used in a mocking way

Edit to add Please!

How do you know they weren't agreeing with you?

Seems to be 2 polls running in AIBU now

Serious question - how do you know they were using it to mock? They might have been using it to show e.g. sympathy, understanding etc?

Very hard to understand how a heart (which could have many meanings) could be used sarcastically without context.

I would think, @NoTouch, that if you’re the recipient of one, you’d probably realise it. And MNHQ will know too, because those malicious reactions will have been reported to them. It’s on the basis of these reports that they’ve taken the decision to remove the laugh reaction.

@biwi Any 💗 I have received, over various names I post under I assume are a show of support what else could they mean? And is the problem of the perception of the meaning on the part of the sender or the receiver.

I can understand the laughing emoji on a serious topic is malicious (but personally think on a moderated forum that can easily be dealt with), but I honestly cannot think of a single instance where I would see a 💗 meaning something malicious, if anyone could share a context/example would appreciated it.

But this isn’t a moderated forum @NoTouch. MNHQ only see/read posts if they are reported to them.

God I'm so naive. I've had reactions to posts I've made and it has never occurred to me that any of the emojis were anything other than supportive. It makes me smile now to think that those happy faces, which made me feel mildly validated in whatever I was posting, were actually meant to be wounding me. Who knew? Well, all of you guys obviously.

Anyway, as an old timer, I think we should get rid of the lot of them. I can understand the argument for not making them public and turning threads into popularity contests, but if they are private, what is the point of them at all?

@biwi They (thankfully) do not do pre- or post-moderation but there is reactive moderation through post reporting and warnings/banning if necessary.

@SantaToSSD they are very useful in long/fast running threads with lots of members who post updates on progress. I am a member of a few of these.

Much better to get 20 emoji reactions etc on your post than the thread filling up with 20 posts saying "Well done @notouch!" interspersed with 20 posts saying "Well done @SantaToSSD " interspersed with 15 posts with "🤣" because someone made a joke etc etc. It just clogs the threads up unnecessarily.

I agree with you, or perhaps as naive, I still don't understand how a 💗 can be seen as, as you say, meant to wound.

But post moderation is still moderation.

I agree with @NoTouch - the emojis may not have been perfect but did help cut a lot of noise out of long threads. I found them useful to express agreement or support or enjoyed a joke where I had no content to add to the thread. I don’t feel the need for a “disagree” emoji as I generally have a reason to add in that case but I can see why some would use it.

I’ve asked, as have others, what alternatives have been considered eg make the laugh emoji visible, restrict it to particular topics, find an alternative emoji etc but having had nil response I assume the reports became a hassle so it was cancelled without considering other options. We now already have people complaining the heart emoji is being used sarcastically and I’m sure if the heart emoji goes the next will be the applause emoji. HQ should consider more options or just bin the entire system - presumably they spent time thinking options through before implementation and have those to revisit.

Yes, I can see what you are saying re long running threads but can you actually tell who has thumbed up your post or is it just about getting 10 thumbs up or whatever? Because I have never worked out how to know who has reacted to your post. You can tell I don't get many reactions, or actually, if I am honest, don't really look at the notifications.

If you look at your post when it has a reaction you can click on the emojis showing on your post it it will show you who the responders are. (This is on the webpage, the app goes from bad to worse so I avoid it almost entirely but imagine something similar is possible).

I agree completely - and its easier to add a like/love etc but when you can't see how many others have done the same to a post you can end up quoting and when the poster has written something heartfelt that deserves support you end up saying 'I completely agree etc - or similar) so I would like to see what reactions others have left so you can avoid adding a comment - just my humble opinion.

Fucks sake! Just went to add laugh emoji. Gone! How am I supposed to laugh now. Misery

😂

Like that.

i dont see the problem with filling the thread with laughing to show everyone what is amusing

Me neither. Most people will use their words too, so it will be a thread full of witty responses as well which makes for fun reading!

I would like to see what reactions others have left so you can avoid adding a comment

And that’s exactly the problem with these reactions. This is supposed to be a discussion forum!

Because they'd just been extremely snippy with me.

Same way a smile was used.

Still don’t get how an emoji alone would be interpreted as mocking.

If you post about something difficult/upsetting/personal/etc and someone sends a 🩷 how does it go from being interpreted a symbol of sympathy/support to mocking?

The only way I can think is if the poster has also posted words to show their negative intentions which, IF they break forum guidelines, rather than just a difference of opinion, would get them a warning.

There is nothing wrong with having a shorthand way of saying “funny”, “sympathy”, “agree”’ without filling up threads with otherwise contentless posts. Pretty much every modern discussion forum offers this and I appreciated that reduction in noise and I used them to express those sentiments where I had nothing else to add. I can see both sides on making them visible/invisible but don’t have strong feelings.

Never felt the need for a “thumbs down” type emoji as I wouldn’t disagree without giving a reason so would have actual content to add.

The laughing emoji has only just been binned and already we have the next bid to get rid of the heart emoji. I’ve no idea what other options have been considered because HQ haven’t told us (and the question has been asked several times on the various emoji threads). There must have been other options considered when the system was set up - certainly there were options discussed on threads here at the time.

As a user I find reconciling “we are banning the laugh emoji site wide because it has upset some people” with “we think its best to battle out the discussion on threads even if it upsets people in that category” when some of the *isms are reported somewhat difficult.

The emojis are still there for posters who don’t wish to use their words for whatever reason - they just take a second or two longer to insert. By defaulting back to this, it now means that posters who behave like arseholes - and there have obviously been enough of them to warrant the change from MN - can be publicly called out and/or reported (hopefully before the OP of the more sensitive threads see them).

My point was that threads filling up with many posts containing nothing but 😀 or 💯or 👍 rapidly become all noise and minimal signal. Adding them to a post reduces noise on the thread - they were successful at this.

Clicking through pages of emojis to find the next post with actual content is a pain and reduces readability which is why pretty much every modern forum has some simple method of indicating simple support, agreement or laughter if you don’t have actual content to add.

I’ve been on MN for many years and can’t recall many/any threads that are primarily made up of pages of emojis - most posters who use them do so within their text as one part of their response. I like the fact that this is a discussion forum, so if I want a forum where my only contribution is an emoji - especially one that no-one can actually see (and particularly if I want to be a dick by mocking a poster) - then I have my pick of SM elsewhere.