# What's up with BUMP?? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 9, 2001, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-bump/75641 "2001-08-09T18:44:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hermn8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/53a042/32.png) [@hermn8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermn8r)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-bump/75641/1 "2001-08-09T18:44:13Z")
I have seen several threads that contain a post that has the single word BUMP in it. Often like this: _BUMP_ Sorry if this is a silly question, but what does that mean? ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-bump/75641/2 "2001-08-09T18:48:43Z")
**hermn8r** , when threads are not posted to, they “fall down” the front page of whatever Forum they’re in, eventually “falling off” that page entirely and into the relative obscurity of the later pages. Posters who want to ensure that threads do not fall in this way often post empty “Bump” messages. This causes the thread to jump back up to the top of the Forum Pages, which list threads beginning with those posted to most recently. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-bump/75641/3 "2001-08-09T19:09:48Z")
It should be noted that on most message boards, etiquette and prudence dictate no more than one bump message per day, and no more than three bumps in a row. (If there need to be three bumps, it can be safely assumed that no one gives a shit about your thread.) I don’t know if the admins have ever issued a decree regarding official bump standards for the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-bump/75641/4 "2001-08-09T21:03:47Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t know if the admins have ever issued a decree regarding official bump standards for the SDMB. I think all we’ve said is that it is generally considered a mild breach of etiquette and we strongly prefer no one acquires the habit. Since it’s not been a problem here, we trust you guys to use your own judgement. If it becomes a problem, then we’ll step in with a more formal edict. How’s that? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-bump/75641/5 "2001-08-09T21:59:14Z")
Oh, and if you are bumping a thread about _The Sopranos_ and decide to be [a little witty](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=76008) about it, take my advice: I don’t care what [hbo.com](http://hbo.com) says, it’s spelled Bomp **ensiero**. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![hermn8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/53a042/32.png) [@hermn8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermn8r)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-bump/75641/6 "2001-08-09T23:22:26Z")
Thanks a lot, folks! ---
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2001, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-bump/75641/7 "2001-08-10T04:02:37Z")
For my money BUMP is crude and lazy. Smart and clever is: “I had another thought on the issue and I wonder if anyone agrees…” and then you add an additional idea. Gets it back on the front page, adds to the likelihood of further responses (if that’s a measure of anything anyway), and it shows that the issue is important, not just a time waster. Redboss. ---
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2001, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-bump/75641/8 "2001-08-10T04:03:43Z")
and I should add welcome to the SDMB - have fun, won’t you?