# Can the threads-in-forum page show first post date? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 12, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-threads-in-forum-page-show-first-post-date/628030 "2012-07-12T17:54:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-threads-in-forum-page-show-first-post-date/628030/1 "2012-07-12T17:54:10Z")
Inspired by the recent (and chronically recurring) thread about marking zombie threads to make them obvious. The thread list page shows: Thread title, user name of OP, and date/time and user name of most recent post, among other tidbits. But it does NOT show the date of the OP. There is plenty of room that this could be shown below the thread title, right next to the OP user name. This would be valuable for all threads (zombie or not), so we can know the vintage of any thread before even opening it. Is this a doable thing in vBulletin? I think this would be very useful, and incidentally would go quite a ways toward alleviating the recurrent zombie-surprise complaints. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-threads-in-forum-page-show-first-post-date/628030/2 "2012-07-12T17:59:47Z")
It would certainly come in handy when answering “Major Problem-Need Answer ASAP!!” threads. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-threads-in-forum-page-show-first-post-date/628030/3 "2012-07-12T18:30:43Z")
To tell the truth, I’ve never seen such an option on any message board software. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, but it is a good indicator. I’m guessing being able to edit posts (some that allow unlimited editing) may be a factor. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-threads-in-forum-page-show-first-post-date/628030/4 "2012-07-12T18:36:38Z")
I post on another messageboard (not VB – I’m not sure what their message board is using), that uses this format: Thread title Started by Poster1 07/11/2012 at 3:19 PM Last Reply by Poster2 07/12/2012 at 11:33 AM ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-threads-in-forum-page-show-first-post-date/628030/5 "2012-07-12T18:44:25Z")
Looking at the vBulletin website I don’t see that particular option, even with the most current version 4.0. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-threads-in-forum-page-show-first-post-date/628030/6 "2012-07-13T00:47:58Z")
It’s doable. I post on another vBulletin forum and the pages show: Thread Title Started by Username, 7-11-2012 at 4:53 PM Last Post by Some\_Other\_Guy, 7-15-2012 at 9:01 AM I’m actually surprised this isn’t done on the Dope. I don’t know anything about vBulletin, but I always assumed this was the default forum display. And the site is running Version 4.1.11 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-threads-in-forum-page-show-first-post-date/628030/7 "2012-07-13T01:40:13Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It’s doable. I post on another vBulletin forum and the pages show: > > Thread Title > Started by Username, > **7-11-2012 at 4:53 PM** (Bold added) This looks promising! Think vBulletin 3.7.3 could do this? I think this would be a widely appreciated addition, for all threads in general, and for recognizing zomboids in particular, before even opening such threads.