Bumping

[Witch]

What is the big deal with bumped threads? You'd think someone committed a sin.

All other forums I'm a member of don't have that policy on bumped threads. In actuality, many forums just one have thread for a certain topic that people post in whenever they feel is necessary. For instance, there could be a thread on the Olympics. People post in there whenever it's relevant, and when it's not, people don't post. Once the Olympics roll around again, people resurrect the thread and continue posts. I think this is much more effective, not to mention it reduces clutter. Of course, I understand the principle in terms of P101, H&A, and etc., but for places like Countdown, Music, and Fashion, is it really necessary to lock threads that are still perfectly legitimate? Why is it necessary to start a million threads on the same thing instead of keeping just the one?

[And?]

'Cause de internets, deys srzbznz; dats y. Sillies!

Lawl.

(And this is the best reason I can come up with).

[Witch]

Helpful as always, Jack!

[And?]

I feel it made clear my thinking that there is no reason for this.

Honestly.

[Witch]

Neener neener neener.

[Vision of Glint]

I think the thing is if we tried to do that, odds are people would just make a new thread as it is.

[Witch]

There's nothing to try doing. It's as easy as not locking every single thread that's bumped (with discretion, of course).

[Neverender]

Okay OKAY!

I was told not to bump old threads once and IT HAS RIDDEN ON MY CONSCIENCE FOR TWO YEARS! I'm sorry, I was reading an insanely old thread and I just got so engrossed in the conversation that I replied. I forgot that it was old...

My rational mind tells me that it was just a mistake and it's no big deal. I didn't get an infraction or anything, and it never happened again. But deep in my mind I'm paranoid that it will happen again, meanwhile remembering what I did.

DO I HAVE TO KEEP PAYING?

*Monstrous, engorged vein wraps around neck and squeezes tightly"

[FlyingKiwi]

You will find different moderators have differing opinions on bumped threads. I tend to not mind as long as the original thread is still relevant, and at least some of the original contributors are still here.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by FlyingKiwi

You will find different moderators have differing opinions on bumped threads. I tend to not mind as long as the original thread is still relevant, and at least some of the original contributors are still here.

Yeah, that is the basic rule for bumped threads. When I was a moderator, that is the rule I went by as well as most of my colleagues.

Basically, it's better to start a new thread. You never know how a moderator will react (because it is based primarily on the first moderator to see the thread after it is bumped). It would be easy if there was a universal rule, but then there would always been exceptions.

[Karxili'boq]

Generally, if you bump a thread that is still releveant and what you have to say can spark off another discussion on the topic, it's fine, but if all the members are long gone and you only bump it to stick your answer in as a statement with no discussion quality or you just post "lol! ha!" to the previous poster, it's just spam, and the thread is pushing other valid and relevant threads back by being pushed up.

[Luke]

Originally Posted by Karxili'boq

Generally, if you bump a thread that is still releveant and what you have to say can spark off another discussion on the topic, it's fine, but if all the members are long gone and you only bump it to stick your answer in as a statement with no discussion quality or you just post "lol! ha!" to the previous poster, it's just spam, and the thread is pushing other valid and relevant threads back by being pushed up.

This. It depends on the section/moderator in question.

[reddie]

Here's my opinion:

Who's to say what's old? Is two days old? What about two weeks? What if the thread starter was on vacation for two weeks and replies? LOCKED!

If it's a worthy response, and not just an "I agree" type response, then I say there shouldn't be a limit. If someone quit govteen and gets an email saying someone replied six months later, that's their fault for not replying.

In some of the forums, people get annoyed because the question was asked before. Well, it's kind of silly to have people get annoyed when the question was asked multiple times before and you can't bump the old thread.

You can't bump a thread? Well, what is the person to do? Start the 15th thread in 5 months on the subject!

Yay! Isn't life grand?

[WhereIsTheLove?]

The whole thing between starting new threads vs. bumping is simple. Search your question, if YOUR ANSWER to YOUR QUESTION is not found in a thread that's been previously posted, start a new thread asking that question, but don't bump a thread asking a new question, or answer a question that's already been answered.
Why bump an old thread if you already have your answer?

[reddie]

Originally Posted by iRob

The whole thing between starting new threads vs. bumping is simple. Search your question, if YOUR ANSWER to YOUR QUESTION is not found in a thread that's been previously posted, start a new thread asking that question, but don't bump a thread asking a new question, or answer a question that's already been answered.
Why bump an old thread if you already have your answer?

I think part of the problem is that everyone wants to ask their own version of the "How big is your ___" or "how big are your ____" or "How do you masturbate" questions.

If we had a sticky concerning each question in the appropriate forums with a warning that all similarly-related threads in those forums would be locked, I think that could help.

I do think that part of the problem is that there's too much clutter between all the locked threads and all the unlocked duplicate threads.

There has to be a solution which isn't locking something where someone makes a valid reply.