For those of you who believe that people don't need to know they are appreciated:
Young children begin to get a sense of who they are by the comments and behavior of their parents. As they age and they get a wider circle of associates (extended family, friends, teachers, coaches, workmates etc.) their sense of self (self-esteem) will be directly linked to the degree of kindness, appreciation shown to them by others
As they get older they can then begin to transfer away from what others think of them and lean more to how they themselves can assess their own worth and value.
Parents who believe that telling their children nothing because they "might get a swelled head" are not doing their children a favor. In the absence of positive feedback from those around them the child will develop a poor sense of self.
A child whose parents constantly tell the child to "do more," "it's not good enough," "try harder," will develop a terribly negative sense of who they are in the world.
The WTS does the exact same thing to JWs whom they treat like willful children who will never measure up. No praise is given to individuals. JWs are constantly reminded to do more, preach more, pray more, but never expect a pat on the shoulder because that is pride which is a bad thing. .
This is a form of abuse - emotional abuse and neglect.
Every single person on this board contributes something valuable - even the WTS apologists who remind us constantly of what living in an ever shrinking box was like.