Thread bumping

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Individual
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Thread bumping

Post by Individual »

I don't remember if I suggested this already. It's a common rule on forums because people that go back and post in old threads tend to be disruptive. Because the conversations are old, people generally aren't involved in replying anymore. However, people often miss the time-stamps on posts and, after one person bumps an old thread, a few people can start replying before they even notice it's an old thread that's been re-hashed.

Should a rule be established prohibiting bumping old threads?
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Bonsai Doug
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by Bonsai Doug »

A suggestion from my experience running a couple of forum boards: The forum software
can be set to purge out threads which have not been replied to after a certain amount of time
has passed.

It's automatic and therefore would not require any rules which may or may not be adhered to.
Now having obtained a precious human body,
I do not have the luxury of remaining on a distracted path.

~ Tibetan Book of the Dead
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mikenz66
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by mikenz66 »

Individual wrote:It's a common rule on forums because people that go back and post in old threads tend to be disruptive.
I haven't noticed such a pattern. It's true that sometimes there are replies to old comments mistaken for new, but that hardly seems disruptive. Most things being discussed here are not current events, so a gap of a year or two in discussion is hardly a problem...
Should a rule be established prohibiting bumping old threads?
Certainly not, in my opinion. In fact, I'm off to add information to an old thread right now... :woohoo:
Bonsai Doug wrote: The forum software can be set to purge out threads which have not been replied to after a certain amount of time
has passed.
That might be appropriate on some boards, where the information might be only of fleeting interest, but in my opinion it would be disastrous on a board like this, where part of the point is to assemble information that can be searched or browsed later. There are many, many, posts on the meanings of Pali terms, or tricky passages in Suttas that may not get much discussion, but are an incredibly valuable resource.

:anjali:
Mike
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Modus.Ponens
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by Modus.Ponens »

I agree with Mike.
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m0rl0ck
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by m0rl0ck »

Modus.Ponens wrote:I agree with Mike.

Me too. I have used older threads as a resource myself.
“The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling.” ― Robert M. Pirsig
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Bonsai Doug
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by Bonsai Doug »

mikenz66 wrote:
Bonsai Doug wrote: The forum software can be set to purge out threads which have not been replied to after a certain amount of time
has passed.
That might be appropriate on some boards, where the information might be only of fleeting interest, but in my opinion it would be disastrous on a board like this, where part of the point is to assemble information that can be searched or browsed later. There are many, many, posts on the meanings of Pali terms, or tricky passages in Suttas that may not get much discussion, but are an incredibly valuable resource.
Humbly, I suggested it could be done, not that it should be done.

The fewer rules a forum has, the better. Keep things simple. If the board owners/admins feel bumping old threads
presents a problem, all they have to do it lock the thread = no further posting and info preserved.

Now having obtained a precious human body,
I do not have the luxury of remaining on a distracted path.

~ Tibetan Book of the Dead
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mikenz66
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by mikenz66 »

Hi Doug,
Bonsai Doug wrote: Humbly, I suggested it could be done, not that it should be done.

The fewer rules a forum has, the better. Keep things simple. If the board owners/admins feel bumping old threads
presents a problem, all they have to do it lock the thread = no further posting and info preserved.

Sure, locking threads is another useful option. Sorry for mixing up your technical input with other issues....

:anjali:
Mike
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tiltbillings
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by tiltbillings »

Individual wrote: Should a rule be established prohibiting bumping old threads?
It only happens occasionally, not enough to be a real problem, and sometimes old threads are full of interesting stuff and worth a bump up.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Individual
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by Individual »

No rule is universally applicable.
The best things in life aren't things.

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tiltbillings
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by tiltbillings »

Individual wrote:No rule is universally applicable.
Except the rule that no rule is universally applicable.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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BlackBird
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by BlackBird »

Why prohibit people from bumping old threads? People might have something good to say. Does that really grind your gears when you see a thread from a year or two ago pop up on your new posts panel? Why purge old threads? They contain a wealth of information.
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'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70 Kitagiri Sutta

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Individual
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by Individual »

tiltbillings wrote:
Individual wrote:No rule is universally applicable.
Except the rule that no rule is universally applicable.
Not a rule. Just a fact. Feel free to try to apply rules universally and eventually, it will fail. Only wisdom is transcendent, not its particular expressions. :)
BlackBird wrote:Why prohibit people from bumping old threads? People might have something good to say. Does that really grind your gears when you see a thread from a year or two ago pop up on your new posts panel? Why purge old threads? They contain a wealth of information.
It just has a habit of being disruptive. Maybe it's a bad idea, but if it starts happening more often because certain new posters seem to dig up old threads just to say, "I agree", to posters that are no longer here... maybe you'd see what I mean.

Perhaps it is just a bad idea.
The best things in life aren't things.

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BlackBird
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by BlackBird »

Individual wrote: It just has a habit of being disruptive. Maybe it's a bad idea, but if it starts happening more often because certain new posters seem to dig up old threads just to say, "I agree", to posters that are no longer here... maybe you'd see what I mean.
Maybe you can take it as training, work on that khanti-parami eh :P
"For a disciple who has conviction in the Teacher's message & lives to penetrate it, what accords with the Dhamma is this:
'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70 Kitagiri Sutta

Path Press - Ñāṇavīra Thera Dhamma Page - Ajahn Nyanamoli's Dhamma talks
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tiltbillings
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by tiltbillings »

Individual wrote: It just has a habit of being disruptive.
That is a habit you should work on breaking.

As for old thread being bumped up, it really is not an issue here. It happens, and they can be easily enough ignored, or maybe they still have some life left in them. Either way, it is not a problem.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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Khalil Bodhi
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Re: Thread bumping

Post by Khalil Bodhi »

I almost didn't reply to this post (and I am despite my better judgement) but if a topic is of interest enough to one of our fellow forum members to incline them to replying (id est, bumping) a thread what's so wrong with that? Isn't this a discussion forum? Sorry but I don't understand the motivation for the thread and it just seems kind of mean spirited. My apologies in advance for any toes I may have stepped on. Mettaya.
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