# What's a "bump"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 15, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-bump/224531 "2004-01-15T04:33:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![labmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f19dbf/32.png) [@labmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-bump/224531/1 "2004-01-15T04:33:29Z")
On a message board that is…you know when someone posts “bump”, then adds post? My netiquette is sorely lacking, but me talk pretty one day. ---
**Author:** ![Madness2MyMethod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Madness2MyMethod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madness2MyMethod)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-bump/224531/2 "2004-01-15T04:34:49Z")
> [@labmonkey](#): > > On a message board that is…you know when someone posts “bump”, then adds post? My netiquette is sorely lacking, but me talk pretty one day. moves a post to the top of the forum. bumps it up ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-bump/224531/3 "2004-01-15T04:34:56Z")
It just means they’re bumping the thread back to the top of the list, so more people will see it. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-bump/224531/4 "2004-01-15T04:39:39Z")
“Bump” is used to denote that someone wants their thread back at the top of the list or “bumped” to the front. Since threads are listed by most frequent post or reply, and if someone finds their post getting forgotten about and on page 3, they can reply “bump” hit submit reply, and it will be back at the top of page 1. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-bump/224531/5 "2004-01-15T04:42:58Z")
Next question: What’s a “simulpost”? Kidding!!! Kidding!!! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-bump/224531/6 "2004-01-15T04:44:38Z")
The heck with bumping a thread … **Do the Hustle!** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-bump/224531/7 "2004-01-15T04:44:45Z")
Can we bump posts on SD? I have a real old one, that is so long gone. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-bump/224531/8 "2004-01-15T05:12:33Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Can we bump posts on SD? I have a real old one, that is so long gone. From **Arnold** ’s [FAQ - guidelines for posting at the SDMB](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=106617) > [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > 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: > [list=A][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.[/list][/li]When you bump your thread, it is preferrable to include additional information relevant to the original post, which may help encourage posters to respond. > > **What if I want to continue / add to the discussion on a topic that was mentioned in an old thread?** > > Start a new thread with a link to the old thread. A general guideline for “old” would be a thread older than three months.