Is there a way to shut off the thumbs up notices?

I can see that we are shown the number of thumbs up a post received at the bottom of the post, and I do appreciate the Thumbs Up that people give.
I also understand that sometimes you just don't want to type a message but want to show your appreciation or agreement, but I don't understand why you need to know who gave them to you, is there a protocol in place of which I am not aware?

Unless I'm missing something, the only way I can see who gave a thumb is to click on the (1) next to it which then brings up a screen with the name(s) of those who gave a thumb. If you are not interested in who agrees with a post, just don't open that screen. I use the thumbs frequently to show appreciation or agreement (as you noted) rather than typing an atta-boy or smiley face. I also like to see who gave thumbs as it often shows me who thinks alike.

I think she's talking about the system messages that come though announcing the thumbs up.

Oh, perhaps so. I do find the system message on the home screen a bit redundant, since the little icons change color when there is mail or a system message of some type. If I could opt out of the big system message block I would probably do so.

There are a number of options to change preferences on your profile. This is not one of them but maybe this is something @dave could do when he has time?

I also think that Terri may be referring to the system messages we receive whenever someone gives us a thumbs up.

It's something I can consider adding as a preference option.

There's no protocol, although I can share the reasoning:

Often the original poster doesn't go back and view their original post (dare I say never?)
If you don't receive a system message alerting you to the fact that people agreed with you, you would never know.
I generally just click on the blue icon on the left, that opens the window to all of my system messages, then I close that window. Takes a second or two.

Trish said:.......
Often the original poster doesn't go back and view their original post (dare I say never?)
If you don't receive a system message alerting you to the fact that people agreed with you, you would never know.
I generally just click on the blue icon on the left, that opens the window to all of my system messages, then I close that window. Takes a second or two.

I don't always go back. I like the notification system as it is. I wouldn't turn it off if it were an option. I think, more often than not, thumbs are indicative of interest in the subject matter more than the poster and that makes the thumbs more interesting.

Trish, You're right, it's very seldom that I will view my original post again, and to me it doesn't matter who agrees with me. I'm more for the discussion than the atta girl.

When I see a system message I think someone is actually going to talk to me and its a disappointment to just see a thumbs up when I open it. You get a large number of messages I'm sure, so for you its just part of the routine but for me its a plain letdown

I like the thumbs as is, I quite often go back to view the thread, especially an older one because I have forgotten what was said, photos not so much.

Terri- it isn't just posts, though- your photos in the database can also get thumbs when people stumble across them.

I can understand where you are coming from- discussion is always more fun than a "drive- by thumb".

Trish said:Terri- it isn't just posts, though- your photos in the database can also get thumbs when people stumble across them.

I can understand where you are coming from- discussion is always more fun than a "drive- by thumb".

I don't concur that discussion is always more fun. A good bit of the time, the thumb is a sufficient - and brief - way of making a comment without using up extra space and time to essentially just say "Thumbs up!"

Occasionally the notification tells me that I have received a thumbs up from a brand new member. I look at their profile to see which other posts they have thumbed and it gives me an idea of the type of gardening preferences they have.

My name is vic and I'm a thumb"er"

I just looked and I've given over 33,000 thumbs. I come to the garden almost everyday and give thumbs for photo's that make me smile for comments too but mostly photos.

needrain said:

I don't concur that discussion is always more fun. A good bit of the time, the thumb is a sufficient - and brief - way of making a comment without using up extra space and time to essentially just say "Thumbs up!"

You are right, and I didn't mean to imply that discussion is *always* better.

A bunch of thread starters with nothing but thumbs (no comments) would be dull.
OTOH
Thousands of beautiful pictures and wonderful, thoughtful posts without any thumbs would also be sad.

Definitely need both!

An ATP thumbs up button popped up on my desktop about two weeks ago. Any idea as to how I can remove it?

Right click on it and see if you can just delete it, or move it to your trash can.

Thanks Trish! The first suggestion didn't do it, but the second one did.