Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies • Hacker News Board

ineedasername wrote: post #23

civilized wrote: post #7

I hate it when people use thanks for everything . What, you're thanking me for reading the email announcing the re-org? It reads as mindless and weird. I'm a "best" guy. It's never inappropriate. Whether I'm promoting you, firing you, reporting up on progress or problems, "best" always works. (I'm not saying it's the best closer in all situations, but if you hate thinking about closers, it's the best generic choice.…

"Best" what? These things may be somewhat culturally determined (including office/corporate culture). To me, "best" reads as mindless as any other. In fact, they all read as mindless to me, probably because in most cases they literally are mindless. You choose one and write it automatically in nearly every message. That's not to say they're useless . Politeness in social interactions is filled with formulaic, almost…

Originally, "My best wishes to you and yours".

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#44

Post by mensetmanusman » Thu, Oct 28, 2021, 3:36 AM UTC

forgingahead wrote: post #15

In the early days of email I would write to a lot of family members who were far away and were also connected to this new gizmo called "the internet". I of course would always sign off with "Love, NAME" as we're family. That muscle memory would randomly kick in at inconvenient times when I started using it for professional correspondence. Nobody said anything, but I can imagine the cocked eyebrows of someone receivin…

Thanks for the laugh!

Love, Saruman

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#45

Post by dsr_ » Thu, Oct 28, 2021, 3:47 AM UTC

I have the honor to be,

your obedient servant,

-dsr-

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#46

Post by citizenpaul » Thu, Oct 28, 2021, 3:51 AM UTC

This is long known by skeezy sales.people and they often include "thanks" as part of their signature. Thereby completly devaluing the meaning to the point i now aaaume it is disingenuous whenever i see it

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#47

Post by notreallyserio » Thu, Oct 28, 2021, 3:52 AM UTC

I wonder if this works on GitHub issues.

Thanks.

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#48

Post by lai-yin » Thu, Oct 28, 2021, 3:53 AM UTC

Any good synonyms for 'thanks in advance' to mix it up? "Look forward to your thoughts" etc.

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#49

Post by ghoomketu » Thu, Oct 28, 2021, 4:04 AM UTC

Maybe it's an Indian thing but I generally end most of my emails with "Awaiting your reply..." and sure enough I always get a reply.

I guess when you end with that, it makes it clear that I'm waiting for the other person to reply to me.

We also write "please do the needful" and "please advise" a lot in our emails too :/

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#50

Post by djmips » Thu, Oct 28, 2021, 4:12 AM UTC

variaga wrote: post #30

civilized wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because thanking someone means you're grateful for something they did or that you'll hope they'll do. It doesn't really apply to every email. In contrast, expressing best wishes always makes sense unless you hate the recipient's guts and want them to know it. Thanks, civilized (See? It makes no sense.)

Every message you send is implicitly requesting something though - the time and attention of the person reading it. Time is one of the most precious commodities we have - it seems appropriate to thank people for spending it on you. Thanks, variaga

One thing is clear to me, everyone signing off on their comments is kinda nice.

Yours truly, DG