When you want to give a hug to a post or comment

October 2, 2022 6:46 PM

I was reading the moving stories of grief from Mefites in the comments on this thread and saw the little "+" to click to favorite them. The + seemed so inadequate. I don't want to favorite, I want to give a virtual hug. The symbol for that would be maybe "()"

I don't know what I'm talking about and just riffing on a feeling.....

posted by storybored to MetaFilter-Related at 6:46 PM (17 comments total)

On IRC many many years ago it was common to indicate a hug by putting their name inside of it: {{storybored}} .
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:27 PM on October 2, 2022

In my view, words are usually quite adequate for this. I don't think we need a button to click for everything.
posted by Too-Ticky at 12:59 AM on October 3, 2022 [11 favorites]

i.o.I.h.a.penguin, in case you're not aware, triple brackets around a name was a trope for tagging Jews online, which many folks tried to drown out by doing it to their own names.

This was a few years ago, true, but a lot of people remember it -- so it would be one hell of a misunderstanding to have your expression of "I offer you comfort" be mis-read as, "That one is a Jew!" when that was not your intention at all!
posted by wenestvedt at 6:54 AM on October 3, 2022 [6 favorites]

i.o.I.h.a.penguin, in case you're not aware, triple brackets around a name was a trope for tagging Jews online, which many folks tried to drown out by doing it to their own names.

Holy shit, I had no idea. Well when I say many years ago, I was thinking of like 1997ish, when it was definitely intended to show a hug. I didn't realize the meaning had morphed. Apologies if I offended anyone.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:01 AM on October 3, 2022 [5 favorites]

The nice thing about the polysemy of '+' is that if I need a hug, I can just decide that’s what all of my '+'s are that day. If instead I desire an acknowledgment of my cleverness, my wisdom, or my upstanding character, I can likewise project. Fungibility is a feature!
posted by eirias at 7:54 AM on October 3, 2022 [9 favorites]

yes, agree with too-ticky and probably not a tech solution to this but i do want to say to you storybored:

this is a very kind sentiment and I just want to say thank you for thinking of us (the metafilter community) in this way. means a lot to me in particular. you're a good egg.
posted by lazaruslong at 8:05 AM on October 3, 2022 [22 favorites]

As long as I've been alive, there have been square brackets, round/curved brackets aka parentheses, and curly brackets aka braces.

Somebody ought to invent a fourth kind.
posted by box at 8:53 AM on October 3, 2022

< 4th kind >
«guillemets»
posted by BobTheScientist at 9:25 AM on October 3, 2022 [7 favorites]

I always use angle brackets to signify
< awkward hug > and all my hugs are awkward.

I've also often wanted some way to indicate that I super duper appreciate a comment, or to beam positive vibes and comfort at a particular person.

I settle for mashing the + an unequal number of times.
posted by Zumbador at 10:11 AM on October 3, 2022 [7 favorites]

I think it's fine for people to use whatever brackets they want to signify virtual hugs. Sure, try and remember to avoid using specifically 3 brackets, but if you do, so what, I'mma let it slide because that just means you're giving more hugs.

I'll be damn if I let some goddamn racists steal the very meaning of hugs and support for their own means. They can fuck right off with that.

((((([{{{{{{{{hugs to all who want them}}}}}}}]))))))
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:18 AM on October 3, 2022 [17 favorites]

Thank you, Brandon!
posted by jgirl at 10:23 AM on October 3, 2022 [1 favorite]

I'm a little awkward, so here's a (((side hug.
posted by michaelh at 10:49 AM on October 3, 2022 [16 favorites]

I just read my job's handbook and it says we can give "A-frame hugs" so here's one for anyone who wants one: /////your_name_here\\\\\
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:05 PM on October 3, 2022 [2 favorites]

Thank you lazaruslong, that is a heartwarming thing for me to read!
posted by storybored at 7:23 PM on October 3, 2022 [3 favorites]

Brandon Blatcher: I'll be damn if I let some goddamn racists steal the very meaning of hugs and support for their own means. They can fuck right off with that.

I always kind of enjoyed the accidental implication that they love to give us 3 big hugs all the time
posted by capricorn at 5:21 PM on October 4, 2022 [4 favorites]

Hug Me, It's Yom Kippur
posted by capricorn at 5:33 PM on October 4, 2022 [4 favorites]

{{{{{capricorn}}}}}

Is that like 'kiss me, I'm irish'?
posted by hydra77 at 2:56 PM on October 10, 2022 [1 favorite]