Facebook replies not on button

As Facebook matured, it was obvious that we needed more than a “like” button.

So we then got more. We got other “reaction” buttons — buttons by which we could show our love, laughter, surprise, sadness and angry responses. After all, it seemed wrong just to hit “like” whenever someone shared sad news or simply kvetched about being stuck in a long line at the grocery store.

It seems these days, even this array of responses is inadequate. I can’t count the times my finger hovered over the reaction buttons when someone announced the passing of a relative, but expressed thankfulness that the relative was no longer suffering. Should I be “sad” for them? Maybe I’ll just play it safe and hit the “love” button. And although I sympathize with the friend who got home from the fast-food drive-through to find that she’s missing some fries, how “angry” am I on her behalf, really? Then there are the questions that pop into the mind of a recipient of these reactions: Why did that friend react with a “Haha” to that photo of me looking all good an’ stuff when everybody else reacted with Likes, Loves and Wows? Did this person hit the wrong reaction button? (I can’t shake the fear I’ll accidentally register a “Haha” reaction to a “my mother passed” post.)

At least there are countless memes, emojis and symbols by which our reactions to social-media posts can be more specific. But at times I find even those to be so woefully inadequate.

Some responses I’d like to see created, or promoted to, official reaction buttons on Facebook:

■ A better prayer reaction, a wider variety of prayer reactions, or better yet, a customized prayer reaction. Those of us who have many “friends” don’t have to look far into their newsfeeds to see a post that deals with someone’s sickness or death. I’ve gotten to where I hate just saying “Prayers going up,” “You are in my prayers,” “You and your family are in my thoughts/prayers,” or simply, “Prayers!” How many of us end up choosing not to react to someone whose post begs for a kind of reaction of love/sympathy/prayers because we’ve gotten to the point where we feel like frauds if we have the same old rote response and helpless to do anything for them? It almost feels like the equivalent of driving, eyes averted, past a down-on-his-luck friend or acquaintance who’s at the intersection holding a sign asking for financial help.

■ The “Oh, sorry; I’ve been off Facebook awhile” reaction. This

one would be great for those who get off Facebook for a time, come back and see they’ve missed some important posts or let someone’s birthday pass.

■ Seasonal reactions. For when you want to say, “Dang, I wish I could have had your child’s Spring Break/prom experience when I was that age” a couple of times. Or, “I would wish you a Happy (whatever) but a jillion folks have already posted identical greetings so here’s my low-key way to show I’m not a humbug.” Or, “Hey, bring me a Christmas/Easter/Memorial Day/Labor Day dinner plate?”

■ A “bless yo’ heart” reaction — complete with genteel, Southern-belle face. This polite put-down could be used in place of angry responses to

posts we don’t like and, sent whenever somebody directs a nasty post our way. (Right now, this reaction is in the form of a double emoji — praying hands, followed by a heart.)

■ In all seriousness, I’d like to see an “I don’t know what to think/don’t know how to react/I’m overwhelmed by all the madness and sensory-overload” response.

A couple of alternatives to the “I don’t know what to think” button:

■ A “Doggone it, where’s that meme? Guess I’ll steal these and be ready for the next time” reaction. Perfect for when you find you have no clever meme waiting in your cellphone photo library to respond to a post, but everyone else apparently did.

A simple “Acknowledgment” reaction. A button that lets your social-media contact know that you saw his post and took the trouble to read

it, but you wish to share no reactions or emotions at this time. This reaction could

have Mr. Spock’s face.