is 'thanks a lot' considered sarcastic or even mean/rude?

[_Minsk]

i use it quite often, but in a positive way. i just saw a post on quora saying its understood by many as sarcastic or even mean, is this true?

 

[esse_est_percipi]

It can be interpreted negatively or sarcastically in certain contexts yes.
In spoken language it is often used sarcastically, so in text it will often be interpreted that way too

 

[Sprite_Geist]

It can depend on how you say it - the tone of your voice.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

Any niceties or word of thanks can be interpreted sarcastically over the internet. That's why I try to infuse as any emojis into my posts as I can to get my true point across. Sadly, even THOSE can be interpreted sarcastically which is probably why we don't have a laughing reaction here...

 

[greebo6]

i use it quite often, but in a positive way. i just saw a post on quora saying its understood by many as sarcastic or even mean, is this true?

It can easily be meant sarcastically or ironically simply by how/when you say it (the tone , inflection ,context ,or whatever). But only if you want it to.
Its just as easy to say it with simple sincerity in a positive way.

 

[ocd is bad]

It's hard to tell someones tone over the internet so I sometimes would interpret it as being sarcastic. I would try to say "thank you very much" or some other alternative.

 

[BPD Barbie]

Definitely depends largely on the context I think. In the UK I think it's used more sarcastically than anything else. When I read it I instantly read it in a bad tone in my head. But as others have said, it's the internet, the home of misinterpretation so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

It's odd, but sometimes when I see 'please' after a request between people online, it feels a bit rude to me Like if I was to say, for example "Can you read this article for me?" that would sound more polite than "Can you read this article for me please?" It's as if adding the please adds a terse layer of formality. Yes, yes, I know, I'm odd.

"Thanks a lot" has been used so much in a sarcastic context, it's almost become rude to use it normally.

 

[XYZ]

Irl it's all about intonation and facial expression. Online, it can be interpreted both as a "thank you" and as the opposite.

Would an emoji help perhaps online? For instance:

Thanx a lot

Does this ^^^ seem genuine?

 

[Mm80]

Irl it's all about intonation and facial expression. Online, it can be interpreted both as a "thank you" and as the opposite.

Would an emoji help perhaps online? For instance:

Thanx a lot

Does this ^^^ seem genuine?

Thanks a lot for explaining that xyx ❤