'Sympathy' reaction used inappropriately?

[BillieWiper]

I'm not sure if I'm misinterpreting it or it's just not really a thing...

But has anyone had the 'sympathy' (flowers thing) reaction seemingly used in a sarcastic manner? Almost like 'I feel sorry for you for thinking this as you must be pathetic'?

It's difficult to describe it but it feels a bit like the misuse of the 'laughing' reaction all over again.

It's only happend a couple of times to me and again I'm happy to be proved paranoid! Just wondering if others have felt it ever used in this way?

And that would be a big deal why? 😳

Surely it's better that they're made public to stop/cut down on them being abused?

And now 'like chasers' is something for adults to get tied up in knots about?

try harder, it's not exactly rocket science

ETA: to add a 😂(my reply was probably unnecessarily short)

Also: the poll makes no sense. How can anyone know unless they have used the react buttons in that way? they are not public

On another message board I use, reactions are public but so is the username of the poster who has used the reaction.

I think it is better, as that way, the person has to stand over what they have done - there is nothing hidden.

It would also mean we could have the 'laugh' emoji back, and be treated as adults.

ETA For example, at the bottom of a post you see a like or heart symbol (both if both have been used) and if you hover over the symbol you can see the usernames

I know what you mean, it's a bit like Facebook in that sense isn't it?

I think we'll stand a better chance of getting the laugh reaction back if MNHQ make it so they can be toggled on/off, if we do/don't want others to react.

They said they'd look into it about a month ago and I hope they do.

good god really

Right seems I'm a mug and that's totally fair! 🤣

So is that poster saying flowers mean different things if they are placed in the comment to when they are used as a reaction? Surely not?

Yes that was really rude of you. I genuinely didn’t know what you meant and try harder’ is such a nasty response to someone asking so they can learn.

I think one of the problems is that they’re not particularly intuitive emojis. So I could imagine sending the flowers if you say it’s your birthday, if you say you’re upset about something, or if someone wants to be snarky then they could send flowers in a kind of ‘you can’t even do this basic thing so here’s some flowers you pathetic loser’ type of way. Like people write ‘stunning and brave’ in a sarcastic way, not literally meaning how stunning and brave. And if it’s a private emoji no one knows you have sent it apart from the person receiving it. Like I sent you a thumbs up to demonstrate, no one knows apart from you. (Plus everyone else because I told you I was going to do it!)

Sending the anonymous emoji is quicker but if it’s a private was in public people would hopefully think twice about the appropriateness of it.

And when you click on the emojis on an iPad (like I do) the explanation isn’t there, you just get four emojis to choose from.

And when you click on the emojis on an iPad (like I do) the explanation isn’t there, you just get four emojis to choose from.

@NoCommentingFromNowOn The meaning of each emoji comes up briefly on the iPad when you click on each one, and remains there when you've chosen it (see photos where I demonstrated on your post). You can then click again to remove the reaction if you wish.

Ooh maybe I click too quickly then move on, I hadn’t noticed that!

I don’t think I’ve had that OP. But is it ‘misuse’ for someone to use an emoji in a different way from you? Are there rules for emoji use? Or can this evolve just like language?

Mumsnet took away the laughing emoji as people were using it negatively, so they obviously felt they could be misused. Justine also wrote a post not long ago saying she was cracking down on some of the mean behaviour on the site.

When I press the flowers emoji, it says “Support “, which seems fine to me.

and yet you made a nasty response to my apology

There is no helping some people.

In summary:

the reactions need to stay hidden from everyone but the giver and receiver because some people really don't understand nuance and how to use message boards

related to the above it may be a good idea for MN to allow users to disable reactions to their posts.

just in case.

No, I haven't experienced this - I've only received the support emoji when I have shared a difficult experience, from posters who are obviously genuine from their posts.

I would suggest reporting apparently sarcastic use, OP - if you report the post where it has been used inappropriately, MNHQ should be able to look into the poster who is using it.

Same here.

Ah, that's what the biscuit means! I wasn't sure - thought it might be a bit like Mumsnet's version of offering popcorn!

@Brefugee related to the above it may be a good idea for MN to allow users to disable reactions to their posts.

I think you can in your settings.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

You didn’t apologise you added in a laughing emoji. If you genuinely do want to help you should work on your delivery as you have been nothing but rude. I have received help from other posters who mated to explain there is a difference without the attitude.

I've used it on the have you met a celeb type thread if someone has had an encounter with an odious celeb such as Jim Davidson for instance.
But wouldn't use to mock someone.

Oh FFS.

We’ve not had other complaints about the reaction being used sarcastically, so it’s not something we’re seeing as a wider issue at the moment.

But of course, reactions can sometimes be interpreted differently depending on context, and it’s also possible for people to use them clumsily rather than deliberately unkindly. They’re intended as a quick way of expressing support, not judgement.

If anyone does feel they’re being targeted or mocked, please do report the post so we can take a look, but for now this doesn’t appear to be a pattern we’re seeing across the site.

This!

PLEASE give us back the laughing emoji! Make them public, make them able to be disabled by users but please let the rest of us use them who want them!