If a post of mine has been answered to my satisfaction, and is way down on the page, how do I thank the people who have responded without bumping my post back up to the top?
Uh, just post a thank you. People appreciate that far more than a bump annoys them. (WAY more, in fact.)
You can either bump the thread or PM everyone you wish to thank.
You could start with a 6 pack.
And a Thank You post will bump the post anyway. 
I guess that if you don’t want the thread to be bumped you could always send private messages.
Most of the forums here are fast moving. If nobody posts after your bump, rest assured your thread will fall off the main page in a timely manner.
If someone else does post, although your question has been answered – well, maybe there’s something more to be learned there!
And people always appreciate a thank-you.
Win-win-win.
Just post your “thank you” post 
[QUOTE=C K Dexter Haven]
Bumping your own thread
If you start a thread, and after a while think you would like more comments on it, you may be tempted to “bump” the thread by adding a post to make the thread reappear back at the top of the forum list. We strongly discourage this practice, but since the boards are so busy sometimes a single “bump” will bring about good results.
Our guidelines:
[ul]
[li]Wait until a suitable time has elapsed (at least, until your thread is no longer visible on the first page of the forum) [/li][li]Bump your thread only once [/li][li]Do not make a habit of always bumping each of your threads [/li][li]When you bump your own thread, it is preferrable to include additional information relevant to the original post, which may encourage others to respond [/li][li]Posting a thank you to those who responded to your question is not considered a “bump”[/ul][/li][/QUOTE]
(from the “Guidelines and Etiquette” FAQ)
Note especially the last bullet point (bolding mine). Go ahead and post your “thank you.”
Yes, that’s kind of the point everyone is making. You cannot post in a thread - even if you say “thank you” - without bumping it. So your options are to bump it with a thank you, or send everyone private messages, or do neither. You cannot post a thank you without bumping it.
Uh, yeah? I’m saying that a thank you is worth far more than the mere annoyance of a thread being bumped - because no one cares about threads being bumped. i.e. I’m willing to go through the trouble of putting on pants if it means I can open the door so that Ed McMahon can hand me a giant check.
I’d be really leery of opening the door for Ed McMahon, seeing as how he’s dead and all.
On the other hand, being dead he really isn’t going to care if you are wearing pants.
I think even zombie Ed McMahon wants me to wear pants. It’s how I get myself out of bed every day, at least.
Have you ever thought of becoming a motivational speaker? 
I understand good motivational speakers picture everyone in the audience without, you know, pants.
And in return, most audiences view motivational speakers as braindead zombies.
If the thread is way down on the page, no-one is going to see Your thanks if You could post it without a bump.
And who it would annoy. If it’s still visible it won’t even push another thread out. And if it pushes, that’s an old thread anyway.
Thanks, all, for your replies!
Not just yet, dude-I’ve come up with another solution.
You start a brand new thread thanking others for their help in the original thread, providing a link to the original thread!
As the FAQ says, there’s no problem with posting a “thanks” even if it happens to bump the thread.