Wikipedia:Don't make a smarmy valediction part of your default signature
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 | This page in a nutshell: Page title. Cheers! |
Consider the contradictions posed by messages like these:
- "Further such behavior on your part will be cause for an immediate report to ANI. Cheers. —Example 1 (talk) 00:01, 1 January 2023 (UTC)"[reply]
- "Please do not post on my talk page ever again. Regards, —Example 2 (talk) 00:02, 2 February 2023 (UTC)"[reply]
- "This is your last warning. Thanks! —Example 3 (talk) 00:03, 3 March 2023 (UTC)"[reply]
- "I have blocked you indefinitely for hate speech. Happy editing! —Example 4 (talk) 00:04, 4 April 2023 (UTC)"[reply]
The effect can be jarring and reflect poorly on the writer. It gives the appearance that the writer is either socially tone-deaf, or being sarcastic, when all they may be guilty of is being lazy and putting the valediction in their default signature.
It is thus better to not have these or similar platitudes as a part of your default signature. If you can't be bothered to type it out, it doesn't mean much anyway. If you append "Cheers" to every signature, it isn't going to warm my heart when you do so in a comment to me.
On the other hand, if I notice that you don't say "Have a nice day" to everyone, then if you say it to me, I'll know that (a) you're an American, and (b) well, you still don't really mean it, because no one does, but at least you made a token effort. If you give me a picture of a cake, on the other hand, I'll know you really mean it.