# How Many Posts Does It Take to Get To the End of a SDMB Thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 10, 2021, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734 "2021-04-10T07:44:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/1 "2021-04-10T07:44:38Z")
Here’s a link to a closed thread called: [FriendlyCurmudgeon banned for trolling](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friendlycurmudgeon-banned-for-trolling/933568). **This thread is not about that poster, the ban, or the reasons for it.** Instead it just happens to be the thread which caused a question to pop into my head which I’ll share here: _How many posts are in the linked thread?_ ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/2 "2021-04-10T07:54:45Z")
That thread has one post the way we normally count them, but Discourse counts the closing message (the one with the lock beside it) as a post as well, so it says there are two. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/3 "2021-04-10T08:08:20Z")
I looked at the page for a while and I considered that. But the note by the lock does not look like a post. Now, if they’d wanted to they could have done it that way–with the avatar all the way to the left followed by name, title (if applicable), then the date at the far right with the lock and “CLOSED” as the body of the post. But they didn’t do it that way. They can call a single post two posts if that trips their triggers, just like I can call my piss champagne if I want to. But it doesn’t make it so. Yah… I’m not exactly on board with Discourse’s counting method. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/4 "2021-04-10T08:47:14Z")
Discourse’s counting seems logical to me. The notification about closing the thread is a special kind of post, like a mod note or warning. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/5 "2021-04-10T12:09:48Z")
Ask Mr. Owl. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/6 "2021-04-10T12:12:11Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Ask Mr. Owl. - Asking Mr. Owl is for suckers. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/7 "2021-04-10T12:13:34Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Ask Mr. Owl Who?? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/8 "2021-04-10T12:13:43Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Ask Mr. Owl I was going to but I figured I already knew what he’d say. “1…2…,…,.THRREE! Thrree posts to get to the end of a SDMB thread!” ETA: Yes, that TV ad was the inspiration for the thread’s title. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/9 "2021-04-10T12:15:18Z")
The world may never know. The End ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/10 "2021-04-10T12:24:06Z")
The End. Yes, I think. I still say DiscoBot is double counting posts in that thread. Possibly in some nefarious post-padding quid-pro-quo scheme with **Colibri.** 😝 And I’m not a fan of the slip-sliding post numbering, so, there. I’ve said that. Hoera. It’s fine with me if this stays open or is closed. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/11 "2021-04-10T18:57:23Z")
It must really drive you nuts that when you start a thread, that automatically counts as one view, even tho most people don’t view their own posts. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/12 "2021-04-18T14:27:24Z")
Don’t ask Mr. Cow, Mr. Fox, or Mr. Turtle. Good memories. Good play, @ **burpo**. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/O6rHeD5x2tI/hqdefault.jpg "Classic Tootsie Roll Commercial - "How Many Licks"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6rHeD5x2tI) ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2021, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/13 "2021-04-18T15:37:16Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > It must really drive you nuts that when you start a thread, that automatically counts as one view, even tho most people don’t view their own posts. Indeedy-doody it does. I was going to start a thread on it but… well, you know. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/14 "2021-04-19T02:41:13Z")
I have never seen Mr. Cow or Mr. Fox and the rest of the dialogue was shorter and the ending was different in the version I remember! Thanks, **Bullitt**!! that was boss! (Why does Mr. Fox have shades?) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/15 "2021-04-19T02:42:57Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > (Why does Mr. Fox have shades?) - Because the sun is very bright. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/16 "2021-04-19T02:44:40Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Asking Mr. Owl is for suckers. ISWYDT! 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-posts-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-sdmb-thread/939734/17 "2021-04-19T05:54:14Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I have never seen Mr. Cow or Mr. Fox and the rest of the dialogue was shorter and the ending was different in the version I remember! > > Thanks, **Bullitt**!! that was boss! > > (Why does Mr. Fox have shades?) You started it, so thank you!!! Nicely played. It was fun finding that old commercial. I hadn’t seen it in years.