How to say thank you

October 5, 2003 4:02 PM

How to Write A Thank You Note. [With a sincere thank you to The Morning News.}
posted by adrober (37 comments total)

Dear adrober,

Thank you so much for your MetaFilter post. It brightened an otherwise dull day. I have enjoyed your 89 previous posts, and look forward to the next.

Thanks again for your post,
Mwongozi.
posted by Mwongozi at 4:09 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear Mwongozi:

Thank you for being the first to post a reply in this thread. Your courageous act of jumping right in with a reply has no doubt made it easier for others to follow suit.

Again, thank you for the inspirational post.

Crash
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:17 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear Crash:

Thank you for taking an obvious joke and running with it. It makes it much easier to coninue the joke, only this time, at your expense.

I have enjoyed your set-up lines in the past, and look forward to many more. Again, thanks.

Your pal,
yhbc
posted by yhbc at 4:24 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear adrober,

Many thanks for reminding me about The Morning News, if for no other reason than I got to read the article "Freddy and Jason and Reese and Julia"

Okay I can't take being polite anymore, I'm getting back to work.
posted by atom128 at 4:28 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear yhbc,

Thanks for keeping the joke going. A running gag won't work unless it runs.

I always have my kids write thank-you notes when they give gifts, and I try to do the same (need to set a good example).

Looking forward to reading this thread in 30 minutes.

Thanks again,
Jazon
posted by jazon at 4:32 PM on October 5, 2003

Tnx...send cash next time. Yours, P
posted by Postroad at 4:46 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear Jazon,

Thank you for participating in this effort to create a thread longer than that acronyms one. MetaFilter clearly needs more of such threads. It was great to see you step up to take on this important task, and I hope that you will continue to do so in future.

Thanks,

adrianhon
posted by adrianhon at 4:48 PM on October 5, 2003

Hmm, nice post. I appreciate a thank you note, and I've only ever received two in my life. The first was at work. I was loaned to a project for two weeks. Several months later I was still on it and putting in insane hours. The company I work for had a bonus plan, but the bonuses were generally pretty trivial compared to the hours it took to earn a bonus. They were appreciated, but in general if I was given the choice of a few extra days vacation or the bonus I'd go for the bonus. The manager I was loaned to wrote me a thank you note (via email, probably a major faux pas if you're the type of person who spends their time looking for things to label a faux pas). It was a couple pages long and I could tell he really spent a lot of time on it. He also forwarded it on to the CEO and senior vice president. Very smart guy, also a lot of class. Man, I wish there were more people like that.

The second ever thank you note I've received was from the organizer of a seminar/banquet I helped out with. I know this guy really well, see him once every two weeks but still really appreciated the thank you note.

I guess I've received other thank you notes, but most were of the usual "Thank you for the lovely gift of [money|place settings|silverware]."
posted by substrate at 4:56 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear Mom,

Thanks for the new printer. I'm using it all the time. I'd have even used it to type this note, but that crazy [censored] Mrs. Manners suggests that would be rude. So I had to dig this crusty old pen out from behind the filing cabinet to write this bi-annual note once again, rather than pushing "print", as I'm sure you'd have preferred. All in all, thanks for the kind gift. Don't forget about dinner next week!

Love,

shepd
posted by shepd at 4:57 PM on October 5, 2003

This would have been really handy about 365 days ago. I'm amazed at how stressed out you can get writing thank you notes for wedding presents.
posted by inpHilltr8r at 5:20 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear adrober:

I join in spirit with atom128 in thanking you for posting something, anything from The Morning News to Metafilter. I had been looking for some opportunity to note that sometime-Morning-News writer Sarah Hepola has gone back to updating her site after a six month absence, during which she apparently started working for the New York Times. And you have capably provided me with such an opportunity!

If I might be permitted to express one regret, it would be that I, without intending you personal affront, have subverted your no doubt well intentioned desire to turn MetaFilter in to a swarm of Judith Martin-quoting etiquette-obsessed starchy swan napkin folders by temporarily wresting attention away from the thank you article and redirecting it to Hepola's site. For this opportunity, I can only say again, most humbly, thanks.

With sincere gratitude,
onlyconnect
posted by onlyconnect at 5:45 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear Adrober,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful post. I'm saving it to read this Summer at the beach when I can devote my undivided attention to it.

In the meantime, please know that I'll think of you everytime I receive a trifle from someone, because I'll feel guilty until I haul out the stationery and write a danged thank you note for it.

Best regards,
Oriole
posted by Oriole Adams at 5:50 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear Deodorant:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for standing by me, so far, through all these years of job interviews, first dates, and unexpectedly tense Blockbuster video rental checkout experiences. You and your faithful comrade-at-arms, antiperspirant, have always been there for me, except when I have forgotten to stock you and resorted to crude talcum-powder-under-the-arms methods (which, by the way, you were right to discourage).

How will I ever forget that special time together in front of the dark and creepy construction site? Ah, Deodorant, I remain,

Gratefully in your debt,
onlyconnect
posted by onlyconnect at 6:01 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear Metafilter,

Thank you for helping our worker bees avoid burning out. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! When we catch a glimpse of that distinctive blue color while roaming amongst the cubicles, we know our employees are receiving a much-needed dose of community, which is always a breath of fresh air in a sterile, joyless workplace. We hope to see much more of your desightful azure hue in the future! Thanks again.

Sincerely,
Corporate America
posted by kindall at 6:22 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear Adrober,

Thank you for this post, as I found it informative and amusing. You may find it interesting to know that I've considered opening a business that caters to brides and graduates and excessively lucky present receivers to hand write thank you notes for them. But then, I decided that there weren't enough people who sent thank you notes to justify the startup costs.

Again, thank you for the reminder of manners and civility.

Regards,

Dejah
posted by dejah420 at 7:32 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear People Who Have Posted Thusfar,

Perhaps it is overly ambitious--Martha Stewartesque?--to deliver a thank you for a series of thank you's, but as the ancient Chinese axiom goes: a journey of a thousand thank yous begins with just one. So, thank you.

And, on behalf of Alanis Morisette, thank you India.

Fondly,
Adrober
posted by adrober at 7:53 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear Mr. Scrooge:

Thank you very much, thank you very much,
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me.
I may sound double-dutch, but my delight is such
I fell as if a losing war's been won for me!

And if I had a flag I'd 'ang me flag out
To add a sort of final vict'ry touch.
But since I left me flag at 'ome
I'll simply have to say
Thank you very, very, very much.

Sincerely,
Alan and Marilyn Bergman
posted by wendell at 8:21 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear Family Stone:

I wanna thank you falettinme be mice elf agin.

Regards,
Sly
posted by wendell at 8:27 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear adrober,

Thank you for reminding me of that song by Alanis Morissette. The thought of Alanis, naked, with a blank expression and long wavy tresses covering the naughty bits haunts me as I pull an all-nighter writing code. I look forward to the hours of other music I will need to listen to in order get that song out of my head.

Again, thanks for the ghoulish imagery and the earworm to boot! You are so thoughtful.

Yours,
whatnot
posted by whatnot at 9:24 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear whatnot,

If the Alanis Morrisette video gave you chills, then please know French & Saunders did a parody of it wherein they thank "Mr. Thesaurus and Mr. Dictionary." Not to mention the very large patch of pubic hair that crawls off Jennifer Saunders body only to be stuck back on by Ms. French!

I hope you find this information informative and perhaps get the chance to see it for yourself.

Best Regards,

sillygit
posted by sillygit at 9:44 PM on October 5, 2003 [1 favorite]

"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book. I'll waste no time reading it."

- Moses Hadas

Other Hadas thank-you note comments include:

"I have read your book and much like it."

and

"This book fills a much-needed gap."
posted by taz at 10:29 PM on October 5, 2003

Dear onlyconnect,

Thank you for alerting me to the fact that Sarah Hepola has resumed her website; I've been checking it every week since she went AWOL, but had missed her reappearance. Now I'm happy, and it's all because of you (or at least, 25% because of you, 70% because of Miss Hepola, and 5% because of club sandwiches).

Eternally,

Hot Soup Girl
posted by hot soup girl at 12:49 AM on October 6, 2003

Dear stavrosthewonderchicken

Thanks in advance for your impending reminder to me to go and buy some beer. It's people like you that make my life worth living.

Kind regards,

stavrosthewonderchicken

PS - Go buy some beer.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:56 AM on October 6, 2003

Dear Coffee:

I would like to thank you for the many fine times we have had together in the wee hours of the night and morning. Though it is true that in the past I sometimes have found you bitter and cold, no one else* would join me in some of the challenges we have tackled together, which have included work deadlines, existential angst, and impromptu 3am furniture rearrangements.

Though I suspect you are ultimately bad for me, Coffee, I cannot seem to get enough of you, you little minx. So, thanks for all that.

Heartfelt thanks for being there,
onlyconnect

*excluding cd collection, that Thai place that delivers all night, and, apparently, on preview, hot soup girl. ~waving~
posted by onlyconnect at 1:03 AM on October 6, 2003

wendell: I wanna thank you falettinme be mice elf agin.

Dammit, now I have green tea all over my LCD. Please send screen wipes immediately.
posted by gen at 1:05 AM on October 6, 2003

Dear All,

I must say this is the most civilised discourse I have ever ever seen on the supposed internet. How lovely to see everybody framing their comments with salutations and so on. But I must express my confusion over the article linked. I really don't understand why it is necessary to write thank-you notes to people. Just say thank you when you see them. Doing things out of a feeling of obligation seems a bit false or whatever.

Best Love,

Mokey.
posted by mokey at 2:07 AM on October 6, 2003

Dear Mokey,

Thank you for your gentle and good-natured dissent. I too feel that thank you notes are a bit formal, and I doubt I would ever send them to people that I see on a regular basis, because they would understand my thankfulness when I looked them in the eye and said "Thanks," or "Wow, thanks!" or "Dude! Seriously, thanks."

But when thanks cannot be communicated casually and verbally, it still seems like a good idea to somehow acknowledge the kindness. The other person will no doubt be waiting in mild suspense to see how you've reacted, and to express no reaction at all might prompt them to feel slighted, embarrassed, or crestfallen. The note is therefore written out of respect for the other person's feelings; if you don't think they'll care, then screw it.

Best wishes and much respect,

brookedel
posted by brookedel at 3:04 AM on October 6, 2003

Dear brookedel,

Thanks for your valuable reply to Mokey. I too felt chastised by the article in question, having not sent a thank-you note to anyone for many years, and your response provides a much-needed reality check.

I must say the linked article does not take the same reasonable stance as you have. By saying that unless you "live under the same roof as the giver" you should send a thank-you, it suggests that I should be bombarding all of the helpful people in my life with postcards, despite the fact that I see them regularly and can communicate in a more personal fashion.

Thanks again for your post and for helping all of us prolong this thread until it jumps the shark.

Best Wishes,

mmoncur
posted by mmoncur at 3:33 AM on October 6, 2003

Dear Twine42,

Thank you for not getting involved in the frankly strange and predictably MeFi-ish thread.

Regards,

Twine42
PS. D'oh
posted by twine42 at 5:35 AM on October 6, 2003

Dear Frank,

Thanks for the memory.

Kind regards,

carter
posted by carter at 7:33 AM on October 6, 2003

Dear President Bush,

Thank you for bombing Iraq, and thank you for now asking France to help you.

Best regards,

JR.


(wrong thread?)
posted by Sijeka at 8:11 AM on October 6, 2003

Dear Adrober --

This is the opposite of a thank you. I think we know what the verb is. Never attribute an article without crediting the author and the permanent URL. Has Mefi taught you nothing?

Signed,
The Disgruntled Author
posted by leslie at 8:12 AM on October 6, 2003

Dear ABBA,

Thank you for the music.

Fondly,
Adrober

PS Ok, I'll stop. Ooh, but first

Dear Eminem,
I just want to thank you for the best day of my life. Shit, my teas gone cold.
Love,
Dido
posted by adrober at 8:12 AM on October 6, 2003

Dearest person who purchased this annoying singing toy for my baby,

Die, damn you! Die! There are not enough evils contained in the bowels of Miskatonic University that would do justice to the person who would inflict this upon an innocent (relatively speaking) parent.

You are an evil, evil person, and someday, somehow, I will get even with you.

Regards,
An annoyed mother

P.S. Even ABBA would be better than this.
posted by dejah420 at 10:16 AM on October 6, 2003

This is just to say I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold.

Thank you for buying the plums. It was very kind of you to leave them in the icebox, knoiwng how much I love them.

Sincerely,
William Carlos Williams
posted by theora55 at 6:22 PM on October 6, 2003 [1 favorite]

knowing. augh
posted by theora55 at 6:22 PM on October 6, 2003

Dear MetaFilter:

Thank you for having meetups attended by brainy hot guys, and for the crazy euphoric sexual bliss that may result from dating brainy hot guy, and, finally, for the joyful and goofy influence said guy may have on general weltanschauung. What a lovely and unexpected present that was, MetaFilter. Thanks.

Sincerely,
onlyconnect
posted by onlyconnect at 12:21 PM on October 8, 2003