# Post number on the actual post would be nice **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 22, 2020, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-number-on-the-actual-post-would-be-nice/911442 "2020-06-22T13:16:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yarblek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/71e660/32.png) [@yarblek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yarblek)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-number-on-the-actual-post-would-be-nice/911442/1 "2020-06-22T13:16:22Z")
Is it impossible to get the post number visible somewhere on the actual posts in a thread like before? Hopefully it’s not a Discourse limitation. Getting the post number now is not impossible but it’s not nearly as user friendly. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-number-on-the-actual-post-would-be-nice/911442/2 "2020-06-22T13:23:00Z")
> [@yarblek](#): > > Is it impossible to get the post number visible somewhere on the actual posts in a thread like before? Indeed, that feature would be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-number-on-the-actual-post-would-be-nice/911442/3 "2020-06-22T14:30:05Z")
Instead of the post number, why not post a link to the post? In fact, why weren’t you doing that on the old board? ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-number-on-the-actual-post-would-be-nice/911442/4 "2020-06-22T15:25:27Z")
If your device shows the timeline on the right (a vertical sliding bar) the post number is shown there. Notice, also, that the url changes as you scroll down. The last number shown there is the post number. Those are inexact, though. Which of the three or four posts on your screen is it referring to? Get the link to the exact post from the date/time of the post (8m, 1h) just like you’d get the post link from the post number on the old board. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-number-on-the-actual-post-would-be-nice/911442/5 "2020-06-22T15:30:15Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > If your device shows the timeline on the right (a vertical sliding bar) the post number is shown there. Notice, also, that the url changes as you scroll down. The last number shown there is the post number. Meantime, I had noticed that too. I’ll have to get used to the details. ETA: when you click the number of the post, the actual post it refers to becomes highlighted in blue, peach or whatever color your theme is set to. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-number-on-the-actual-post-would-be-nice/911442/6 "2020-06-22T15:33:01Z")
> [@PlaceboTarget](#): > > ETA: when you click the number of the post, the actual post it refers to becomes highlighted in blue, peach or whatever color your theme is set to. Very helpful, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-number-on-the-actual-post-would-be-nice/911442/7 "2020-06-22T15:42:04Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Very helpful, thanks. I know that change can be frustrating (especially when it feels futile) but change is unavoidable nonetheless and people should make the experience of learning new things a pleasurable one, especially when they are not alone. Loneliness is terrible. Loneliness is one of the few things (among other terrible occurrences I hate to mention) that should make a deal breaker. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2020, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-number-on-the-actual-post-would-be-nice/911442/8 "2020-06-23T01:07:43Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > If your device shows the timeline on the right (a vertical sliding bar) the post number is shown there. Notice, also, that the url changes as you scroll down. The last number shown there is the post number. I’m not seeing a timeline on the right–which theme are you using? (Found in Preferences / Interface.) ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2020, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-number-on-the-actual-post-would-be-nice/911442/9 "2020-06-23T01:42:53Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I’m not seeing a timeline on the right–which theme are you using? (Found in Preferences / Interface.) Are you using a mobile device? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-number-on-the-actual-post-would-be-nice/911442/10 "2020-06-23T21:46:27Z")
No, just a PC desktop (using Chrome). I realized later that you may be referring to the light-grey “20h” and such as the timeline. If so, I do have that. I still think having actual post numbers visible on each post would aid discussion. There are many times when we refer to what someone has said in a post without necessarily needing to link to it. But if that’s an unsolvable problem at this site, then it’s an unsolvable problem.