# When is it okay to respond to a thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 27, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087 "2010-11-27T19:15:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Meggroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Meggroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meggroll)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/1 "2010-11-27T19:15:52Z")
Hi, I’m new to posting here, though I’ve read these boards for years. Sometimes I’ll be clicking around the boards and get to page two or three of a forum, and want to respond to a thread. However, I never do, because I’m paranoid that the thread is now “too old” because it isn’t on the front page. What is the proper etiquette for timeliness? I can recognize when something is a zombie and is ridiculously old, but what if the last post in the thread is, say, a week old and on the bottom of the second page? I’d like to contribute more! Really, I would! ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/2 "2010-11-27T19:22:35Z")
If it’s still on the normal forum pages at all I’d say you’re fine. Zombies are typically revived when someone finds a super old thread via a Google search or something. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/3 "2010-11-27T20:21:50Z")
The official policy on bumping threads is [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7697100&postcount=4). Note that 1) rules on bumping old threads are different in different forums, and 2) **Dex** defines, as a general rule, zombie threads as threads older than three months. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/4 "2010-11-27T20:23:24Z")
If you’re really worried about it, start a new thread with the info you want to add and link to the old thread. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/5 "2010-11-27T20:33:28Z")
I think the best and safest course of action is never to respond to any threads. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/6 "2010-11-27T20:46:43Z")
You wild man. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/7 "2010-11-27T20:58:37Z")
Hi **Meggroll** , glad you’re thinking of jumping in. In general, I think a week old is still active – and I wouldn’t think twice about bumping anything up to about a month old, frankly. Beyond that – well, despite this: > [@zut](#): > > The official policy on bumping threads is [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7697100&postcount=4). Note that 1) rules on bumping old threads are different in different forums, and 2) **Dex** defines, as a general rule, zombie threads as threads older than three months. We’ve relaxed this policy considerably, and are no longer reflexively closing zombies (thought we will if, for instance, it’s an acrimonious thread with numerous participants who are no longer posting here, or when the bump is made by a content spammer). This doesn’t mean that you _have_ to bump an older thread: as **Inner Stickler** suggests, you can always start a new thread and link back to the old one. Have fun! **twickster** , for the SDMB ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/8 "2010-11-28T01:09:14Z")
It also depends on what you’re posting to add. If it’s just “Yeah, me too!”, then you should probably just leave it lie even if it’s only been a couple of weeks. On the other hand, if you find an epic question that went for ten pages without anyone finding an answer and you happen to be the world’s foremost expert on that topic and can conclusively settle it, then it wouldn’t matter if it was years old, go ahead and answer it. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/9 "2010-11-28T15:27:33Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > On the other hand, if you find an epic question that went for ten pages without anyone finding an answer and you happen to be the world’s foremost expert on that topic and can conclusively settle it, then it wouldn’t matter if it was years old, go ahead and answer it. _Especially_ if it’s in GD. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Meggroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Meggroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meggroll)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/10 "2010-11-28T20:43:17Z")
Thanks so much! Now I can start posting WITH IMPUNITY. Look out for Meg! ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/11 "2010-11-28T21:13:56Z")
> [@Meggroll](#): > > Thanks so much! Now I can start posting WITH IMPUNITY. Look out for Meg! Actually, part of the registration agreement, (the part in white, so few people see it), restricts impunity to members who have offered more than $100,000/year for the privilege. (For about half that, you can post with immunity, but we’ll still ban you if you break the rules–we simply refrain from making a house call to enforce the ban.) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/12 "2010-12-01T10:51:26Z")
You’re not impugning my impunity, are you Tom? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/13 "2010-12-01T16:55:20Z")
I was going to wait a few months before responding to this thread, but decided, “what the hell?”, and did it now. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/14 "2010-12-01T18:03:43Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > I was going to wait a few months before responding to this thread, but decided, “what the hell?”, and did it now. I’m going to wait. Responding now would be just silly. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/15 "2010-12-01T18:23:10Z")
Me, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/16 "2010-12-01T18:43:09Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:12, topic:562087”] You’re not impugning my impunity, are you Tom? [/QUOTE] **tom?** ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/17 "2010-12-01T18:47:14Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > **tom?** I’m curious-why do you do this over and over again? Does it have anything to do with the topic at hand? ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/18 "2010-12-01T19:08:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m curious-why do you do this over and over again? Does it have anything to do with the topic at hand? I just laughed my ass off so hard at the adhay thread. But you’re right, it’s getting stale and should be put to rest. But with the style you argue with **Czarcasm** , if I were to tell you I had already planned on this being the very last “tom” time, you’d ask me for a cite. ## And besides, you have to admit this “topic at hand” has devolved into simply good-fun-type jokes so I didn’t see any harm in submitting one last **tom?** Okay, I just came up with two new thread ideas right now. (avail in MPSIMS coming soon..) _Why is **Czarcasm** so cranky_ & _Does **Czarcasm** really need a beer?_ ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/19 "2010-12-01T19:23:28Z")
> [@Meggroll](#): > > Thanks so much! Now I can start posting WITH IMPUNITY. Look out for Meg! 🙂 Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Board, Meg. > [@tomndebb](#): > > Actually, part of the registration agreement, (the part in white, so few people see it), restricts impunity to members who have offered more than $100,000/year for the privilege. > (For about half that, you can post with immunity, but we’ll still ban you if you break the rules–we simply refrain from making a house call to enforce the ban.) Very funny, Tom. 🆒 > [@the lone cashew](#): > > **tom?** He’s still consulting with the other mods. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087/20 "2010-12-01T20:31:21Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > _Does **Czarcasm** really need a beer?_ Of course he does. Hey, **Czarcasm** , what’re you doing after work? I’m only a time zone away 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-okay-to-respond-to-a-thread/562087.md?page=2)