DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it rude to "like" a person's post that they are sad, or have sad things going on? I don't want them thinking I am "liking" their sadness. I sympathize with them, is what I mean.
GENTLE READER: To express sympathy, it is essential to demonstrate that you are thinking about the person with whom you sympathize. A computer interface -- the purpose of which is to reduce the time spent to an absolute minimum -- will not convey this message convincingly.
If the depth of your sympathy extends as far as pressing a button, but not so far as writing a personal letter, Miss Manners fears that you are condemning yourself to being misunderstood.