POLL: Do Houzzers like to be THANKED for their creative input?

8 years ago

On Houzz people can ask for help. Other Houzzers may or may not answer their questions.

Sometimes an answer is easy to give, but sometimes a Houzzer really tries her/his best to provide a decent and creative answer to a question.

Sometimes an answer is given within a minute. Sometimes Houzzers invest much more time to help someone else. And for that investment, nothing is charged. It is given for free.

The one asking the question has the opportunity to both thank the person who took the time and trouble to answer the question, and to 'like' it. Of course not every answer will fit the taste, so sometimes it honestly can't be liked. However, someone did invest time into you.

So the question is: do Houzzers like to be thanked for their creative input? Whether or not it was to the taste of the one asking the question doesn't matter here, for they really tried to help.

Or does that depend on how much time was given? This poll is not about the quick one-line answer. Here we assume you made at least a bit of an effort.

Or do Houzzers don't mind putting in quite a bit of effort without receiving so much as a 'thank you' by the receiving part?

In the poll the options go from 'very much so' to 'would like it' to 'depends' to 'don't care' to 'other'.

Please describe your feelings in the comment section.

Yes, of course! Very much so. And if not, I find that lacking in manners

Yes, I would like to be thanked for my creative input

Depends on how much time I invested, but if much: than yes.

No, I don't care if I'm thanked or not, even if I really put in time

Other, please comment

Featured Answer

jmm1837

8 years ago

Some of the thanks are pretty generic - if everyone gets thanked, regardless of how useful or not the comment was, the thanks don't mean much. I prefer it when the OP actually engages in conversation with the Houzzers.

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Comments (10)

Maria Privat
Original Author
8 years ago
For sure I don't like it, if one has really tried to help and a 'thank you' is too much 'work' in return.
Maria Privat
Original Author
8 years ago
You know, it only takes 1 single second to thank someone for their help. You only have to click one little button under a comment. One second only...
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Maria Privat
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi jmm1837, You're right. That's why I wrote that this poll is not about a quick one-line answer, but that here we assume someone made at least a bit of an effort.

Say you would have studied the photos and information given by the OP and then really tried to give an answer, that would benefit her/him. Using all the knowledge and experience you have accumulated over the years.

I mean: we say thank you, when someone hands us some grocery we dropped on the floor. And that's not more than common courtesy. But what if that person sees you are going to drop it rightaway again and thus helps you to carry everything to your home? That's quite an effort. Of course you would thank him, even elaborately.

On the internet we do not see each other. We do not see the other person 'carrying our groceries all the way to home'. The effort isn't any less, but the simplest 'thank you' isn't given. Not by pushing the 'thank you' button and also not by engaging into a conversation.

That bothers me about nowadays society.

So I started this poll, to find out if I'm the only one... And of course hope I'm not. And to also create a bit of awareness on this subject.
Maria Privat
Original Author
8 years ago
The score so far: 4 people don't mind if they are not thanked, 8 people would like it if they really put time in and 6 people love it or expect it.
havingfun
8 years ago
where as i like being thanked, if it is sincere, I really feel thanked if the op gives me valuable input on the items i show them. but it is difficult, most come in throw $200 pillows etc. at the op, so they learned not to particpate, but to accept it all as examples. I feel like an ad repeating that my items are actually affordable, I work hard towards that goal. I also do not thank someone once in a while, when their comments are all negative.
Maria Privat thanked havingfun
Maria Privat
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi havingfun, I understand what you mean. Although every now and again a negative comment is given with a sincere and kind heart. It's just, that the op has something in mind - or already done something - that is really not very helpful for his/her project. An honest opinion might not be what they are looking for, but in the long run such comments might give them the most benefit. Especially when things can't be undone or when a lot of money is involved.
havingfun
8 years ago
no, let me make this clear. there is negative and there is negative, i mean the rude, nasty kind that is sometimes exhibited here. yes, it holds truth, but did not need to be voiced that way, ever.
Maria Privat thanked havingfun
jmm1837
8 years ago
Have to agree with HF on this. I don't comment all that much, but when I do, I try to be gentle (doesn't always work, but I try). There are times though, when exasperation takes the upper hand. Posters who want affirmation, not opinions, or who only give you a tiny part of the picture and then expect you to fill in the blanks. Urgghhh.

On the other hand, I am not a design guru, I'm simply a homeowner with my own views, and surely what that is what Houzz should be about. Real people, exchanging ideas and experience. I get that the real experts can get pretty acerbic about really bad design or structural concepts, but what I have an issue with actually is the amateurs getting equally brusque and opinionated, without really providing a clear view of what particular design "rule" the OP is proposing to break.
Maria Privat thanked jmm1837
havingfun
8 years ago
i speak even of the pros. ok, so structural needs to be dealt with. tell them once dont beat them over the head with it. when they come with drawings or designs, etc. they are looking for ideas, not declarations that this will work world wide forever. of course they need professionals to work with them. when i did my electrical in what appears to be an unusual way. I got the idea from the pbs show. I then went to a very well known semi retired expert, so it even passed inspection, and all we did was grunt work. but others attack me about it on a regular basis, saying that since i did not spend $10000 + to an expert it must be improper and risky. It all gets very tiring and i wish they could think outside of their little square ticky tacky boxes.
Maria Privat thanked havingfun