But sometimes its a quick way of joining in, and there are quite a lot of people who don't feel comfortable tapping out a response and are happier with anonymity.

I think the 'down' arrows were a bad thing and they've long gone but a tsunami of up arrows might just mean that people agree with the statement.

Oh god this is going to be one of those clique threads isn't it? I've never met anyone on here by the way

if I agree but don't feel I have anything to add. Also to show appreciation for a witty post.

And I am thinking of getting rid of them. Sometimes (mainly depending on the type of thread) they're not used as we ask people to use them, which is for when someone adds something of genuine note to a discussion, but rather just to confirm one's agreement. But we've been through this before and, as we've had proved time and time again, the threads that cause the most problems, that raise the most heckles, are those, like this one, which seek to examine what's "going wrong". This was true before we introduced the arrows, and it's still true today.

I tend to use them when people have posted a picture or video and I like it as well. I see it as encouraging and a quick way of commenting without having to spend very long typing anything (Lazy joining in I suppose) Also I tend to ignore the threads that are just arguing and point scoring so that may be why.

... weren't anonymous it would be better - I think it would stop all the ganging-up - because nobody wants to be known as a crawly, bum-licking, "hold the bully's coat while he twats someone" type.

I have never, to my knowledge, met anyone from here. I use them to:

Indicate agreement
Appreciate a funny or witty post - "oh, bravo Sir"
Show appreciation of a fine piece of writing. I've 'upped' posts that I actually disagree with but have been very well expressed.

Get rid of the arrows and you could run the risk of a lot of 'me too' posts, and then things will turn REALLY ugly, both literally and metaphorically

I guess I just didn't notice them before; now, however, they're really apparent & have changed the way I view the blog. I even feel a bit left out when I don't get "upped" which is pretty pathetic & shouldn't be the point of the site at all.
It seems that they've begun to contribute to the generally negative vibe here & if we are to keep them then I agree that they should no longer be anonymous.

got a quiverful of up arrows doesn't mean I'm coming back. I'm not that easily bought. It will take - ooooh - maybe fourteen "ups" for me to climb down off my flounce.

...I neither use them nor take any notice of how many "ups" a post might have. My preference, therefore, would be to get rid of them and I certainly wouldn't want to see a "down" arrow.

Post, read, reply if you want, don't if you don't want to.

accounts. Each 'arrow up' is a donation of £1 (or the monetary equivalent) to the poster's Pay Pal account.
You could have an opposite function too!

I feel another "REALLY?" coming on. I realise I am a thick skinned oaf but it's only t'internet isn't it. I love an up arrow for the shit I write, I don't get many pats on the back at work or at home so it's a little shot of positive that has helped my day feel a little better. I genuinely couldn't give a flying fuck about people upping in gangs, it doesn't really hurt anyone, even if it does actually go on. Lighten up Burt and keep posting, oh and by the way come back Bob and stop being so precious. Get your big spoon out and get back to livening things up a bit. Jesus Christ no-one gets hurt. Oh and absolutely loving your work Fraser, you are why this place is the only internet I inhabit. Really people, try Yahoo or some other god forsaken hell hole. Love you all, really all of you xxxxx

... you're a great writer. But a mischievous rogue as well. Stop playing your evil games with us and get back to posting rude remarks about Coldplay or something.

is a huge "I'm not commenting on this thread" arrow, especially for people who are studiously avoiding certain subjects in order to not exacerbate things, but would nevertheless like everyone to know that's exactly what they're doing in the mean time. You could shape it like a big rosette.

Unless someone posted an attack on me rather than my thoughts, ideas, yes I do have some occasionally) or tastes/preferences, I wouldn't stop posting on a forum - too thick (skinned?) for that.

I sometimes feel left out of some threads where there is communication between members who obviously know each other, or meet at mingles, but living in the W. Midlands, it will probably remain thus for now.

You can't please all of the people all of the time, as Abe said.

Although some of the people some of the time is good too.

Hannah is right we did talk about a Birmingham or West Midlands one - although only 4 of us attended it was very good indeed and when we arrange the next one we would love you and anyone else to attend. Given that the best curries in the country are in Birmingham it is a good option to take over a Curry House but it will be a democratic process - we will of course need to take up Hannahs promise to attend because like Mr Kipling she does make exceedingly good cakes. We never had anyone as famous as the Beatles but Broad Street does have Hollywood style stars for the likes of Tony Hancock, Ozzy Osbourne and Julie Walters amongst others.

that you can not really duck a tsunami?