Response rate affected when response not necessary?

[Zack16]

Hi, sometimes guests respond with messages like: Thanks! OR Ok! 

Simple things that don't require responses. 

If if I don't respond, will that adversely affect my rating response? Do Airbnb algorithms recognize this? Or should I ALWAYS respond, even when the conversation doesn't require it. 

[Hilary-And-Ed0]

No, the response rate refers only to approving or declining a request.  Once that is done, your response rate will not change.  Also, the "within an hour"  or "within a few hours" also only refers to the initial response.

[Aogán0]

That's great to know, thanks very much @Hilary-And-Ed0!

[Zack16]

Thanks!