# Unwritten "rule" about # of started threads? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 29, 2002, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rule-about-of-started-threads/106205 "2002-04-29T02:18:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rule-about-of-started-threads/106205/1 "2002-04-29T02:18:27Z")
I might be insane, but I seem to remember once before the Winter of Our Missed Content reading that there was a “rule” about not starting more than one thread per forum per day. As there seems to be a rash of people starting three or four threads in a single forum on a given day (particularly in IMHO and MPSIMS), this has come to my mind once more. Is there such an unwritten rule, or do we just grin and bear it when one overzealous poster bumps other people’s threads off the front page? I seem to recall that being the rationale given along with this “rule” when I read it the first time. Thanks. 500th post. Greeeaaat. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rule-about-of-started-threads/106205/2 "2002-04-29T03:01:22Z")
I’d argue that it’s more to do with etiquette than with rules, written or otherwise. It’s just not good manners to clutter up the forums with your own stuff, and it shows a lack of consideration for other posters and thread starters. IMhO. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rule-about-of-started-threads/106205/3 "2002-04-29T04:29:56Z")
There is no explicit rule at the SDMB limiting the number of threads a poster can start in a day. Of course if one poster started dominating a forum with her/his threads we would probably ask her/him to be more considerate. ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rule-about-of-started-threads/106205/4 "2002-04-29T05:22:35Z")
Thanks, **Arnold**. That’s why I wanted to check and see if what I remembered reading was just someone ranting, or if it was a “rule.” ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rule-about-of-started-threads/106205/5 "2002-05-07T21:11:22Z")
I promise to do better. My current rate of about two per month was probably really, really getting on some nerves. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rule-about-of-started-threads/106205/6 "2002-05-07T21:23:06Z")
actually, I thought the rule was you’re starting too many threads “when it grates on **Cranky’s** nerve’s,” 'cause it’s all about you, right? ( 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rule-about-of-started-threads/106205/7 "2002-05-08T19:05:58Z")
whe-e-ew For a moment, I was afraid that I might be reprimanded for starting too many threads. I’m glad there’s no actual rule on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unwritten-rule-about-of-started-threads/106205/8 "2002-05-08T20:02:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > whe-e-ew For a moment, I was afraid that I might be reprimanded for starting too many threads. > > I’m glad there’s no actual rule on the subject. No, Tom, the rule you run afoul of is for ENDING too many threads with clear, incisive posts that resolve the issue raised. You’re shutting down those of us partially knowledgable folks who want to post half-assed, half-right, half-answers.