The unique post called bump

[oLLie]

I was wondering if something special could be done about bumps. Specifically, my request/question has to do with bumps in the FS/FT forum. Many FS/FT threads get very long and probably 4/5 of the posts in it are "bumps". Posts with no information, whose only purpose is to move a thread to the top of the forum. Over (not very much) time a thread can get pretty long and it can take some time to scroll through all the posts, looking for information or things like that instead of bumps. I was wondering if maybe there could be a different kind of post than a regular post, like a special bump post. Like instead of just options for [Post Message] [Preview] and [Cancel] there might be one for [Bump thread]. A problem this might cause are excessive bumps, which would require some bump-tracking (who and at what time bumped this thread) to deter. If I haven't made the idea clear, maybe I can come back later when I have more time and clairfy. I think it might help reduce forum clutter and make threads easier/clearer to sort through, however it may not be easy (or even possible) to implement. Any opinions on it?

 

[ProviaFan]

On the one hand, that would be a great idea, but I'm afraid it would be abused way too much to make it worthwhile.

 

[olds]

Tough one. In the end it will stay the same. The only real problem is if you have a thread and it isn't getting bumped. The more senior traders have more "friends" since they have been around for a while and have many trades under their belts. These friends will bump their threads. I do this and I have had others do it for me which I appreciate.
That being said, if a thread has more than about 20 posts I don't even look at it. I assume that all the deals would be gobbled up out of it. If I do a search for something I am looking for and it has many posts, I will look at that one. But if I am just browsing, I pass it up.

 

[MedicBob]

I do like the thought, it could track bumps on the bottom of the original post.

Another thing that would help is stop the post counter in FS/FT unless you post the original.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Could a "bump" button be created that would bring the thread to the top without actually generating a new post.?

 

[mechBgon]

If that were done, it would also be wise to build a limiting feature into the code, so a person could only bump a given thread once per four-hour period or so. Even then, the ability to bump threads anonymously could be abused, with people going on bumping rampages for the heck of it. Maybe a "last-bumped-by-mechBgon-at-10:30PM" tag would help eliminate this anonymity?

 

[ScrapSilicon]

ttt

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
If that were done, it would also be wise to build a limiting feature into the code, so a person could only bump a given thread once per four-hour period or so. Even then, the ability to bump threads anonymously could be abused, with people going on bumping rampages for the heck of it. Maybe a "last-bumped-by-mechBgon-at-10:30PM" tag would help eliminate this anonymity?

Something at the bottom of the thread like:

Bumps
------------
03/30/03 1:30pm by mechBgon
03/30/03 10:45pm by BingBongWongFooey

but of course in some real html

 

[oLLie]

Originally posted by: ScrapSilicon
ttt

Hehe ... "the ironing is delicious"

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Something at the bottom of the thread like:

Bumps
------------
03/30/03 1:30pm by mechBgon
03/30/03 10:45pm by BingBongWongFooey

but of course in some real html

I like it, it reduces the clutter posts while maintining a reference for the bumps. No one has to search for information if all the bumps are kept at the bottom! Maybe people don't like the lack of expression with the idea though, they kind of want to say: "Hello, how are ya doin? Here's a bump!" Hmm...

If the idea does materialize, I think it could be done as an added button in the viewing mode, not the actual posting mode. I mean, when we read threads we have five current options: Reply, Quote, Top, Bottom, Edit. Perhaps a button could be added after reply which said Bump. BTW, does Bottom not work for anyone else?

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

BTW, does Bottom not work for anyone else?

Nope, doesn't work for me, but I just use the "End" key, works better, and it works on every webpage

 

[oLLie]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

BTW, does Bottom not work for anyone else?

Nope, doesn't work for me, but I just use the "End" key, works better, and it works on every webpage

Yeah I've never used it before (never even noticed it before), but I just tried it and it didn't work for me so I thought hmm.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

BTW, does Bottom not work for anyone else?

Nope, doesn't work for me, but I just use the "End" key, works better, and it works on every webpage

Just tried, and it doesn't work for me, either. The end key works just fine, however.

 

[oLLie]

Is this idea being considered or is it too much hassle to implement?

 

[Hossenfeffer]

To me it sounds a bit too much to implement, given that it would be a feature created for only one forum and would likely take some manipulation of the forum software.

Personally, I haven't had a problem looking through a post, but then again I often assume that the initial post is being updated (rather important, in my eyes). So long as folks don't have some "uber-sig", another 10,20, even 40 or more "bumps" are easy enough to scroll through.

Random thought:
If you wanted to guarantee a fairly equitable "bumpage", you could remove the new posts bumping a thread to the top and hardcode a "rotation" into the posting in that forum. So that, while your thread is "active" it get's bumped automatically every 6-8 hours. Stays active for a couple days and then you'd have to reactivate the bumpage or something. This would cut down the bumps by anyone saying "great trader", etc. Ah, the pandemonium.

Well, basically, I don't have a problem scrolling through posts. If I've accidentally PM'ed somebody out an item that is already sold, I'll get a PM back clearing things up for me.

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Tough one. In the end it will stay the same. The only real problem is if you have a thread and it isn't getting bumped. The more senior traders have more "friends" since they have been around for a while and have many trades under their belts. These friends will bump their threads. I do this and I have had others do it for me which I appreciate.
That being said, if a thread has more than about 20 posts I don't even look at it. I assume that all the deals would be gobbled up out of it. If I do a search for something I am looking for and it has many posts, I will look at that one. But if I am just browsing, I pass it up.

Consider this, using your system, you could be passing up great deals.

A recent (past 6 months or so) trend is to recycle your thread. Offer up 1-2 items at a time, sell them, then edit the original thread to include 1-2 NEW items. I have seen 100 post threads that had fresh goodies in them.

 

[BillGates]

I like this idea a lot.

 

[lowlevel]

Excellent idea, but I'm not sure that it's that easy to implement. Especially in light of the fact that a simple command like "Bottom" appears to broken.

 

[BD2003]

bad idea

 

[cmv]

If the poster of the thread doesn't update their first post with pricing and sold status information than maybe you should just consider skipping the thread until that person wises up.