The actual meaning of "bump" for those of you that still thi

killagb
killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
edited October 2024 in Chit-Chat
To bump a thread on an Internet forum is to post a reply to it purely in order to raise the thread's profile. This will typically return it to the top of the list of active threads. The term "to push-up" a thread is also used to describe this type of action. It has been suggested that "bump" is an acronym of "bring up my post",[1] however this is almost certainly a backronym and the usage is entirely consistent with the verb "bump" which means "to knock to a new position".[2] It can also be used in personal messages (PMs) or instant messages (IMs) on the Web, to return an older message to the top of the list.

Many Internet forums show as their first page a list of the 20–50 topics or "discussion threads" most recently posted to. Someone wishing to keep a thread on this first page—or bring an old thread back to it—will post a reply to it purely to do this. Posters who are open about this simply write the word "bump". Acceptable reasons range from wanting to remind others that the question with which the thread started is still unanswered to offering new information that relates to an old thread; doing it simply to raise a thread's profile is generally as unwelcome as spam.

On some messageboards, users can choose to sage a post if they wish to make a post, but not "bump" it. The word "sage" derives from the 2channel terminology 下げる sageru, meaning "to lower".

:bigsmile:

Replies

  • ShapeUpSidney
    ShapeUpSidney Posts: 1,092 Member
    A backronym. I love it!
  • SimplyFreckled
    SimplyFreckled Posts: 444 Member
    Bump ;)
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    bump :bigsmile:
  • ZeroTX
    ZeroTX Posts: 179 Member
    ttt :D
  • kennethmgreen
    kennethmgreen Posts: 1,759 Member
    Agree with your post. However, the way MFP is set up, there is no mechanism for bookmarking or subscribing to forum threads. Many forum packages have both, almost all have one or the other (where bookmarking is just that - you get a list of your "Favorite Topics" and subscribing is actually getting notification to all new posts).

    The only way to mark a topic as a "favorite" from within MFP is to reply to that topic so it shows up in My Topics. I think a LOT of MFP users are actually doing this, rather than trying to raise the thread's profile. This is why I submitted a request to have Favorites in the Suggestions/Feedback board: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/315216-bookmark-favorite-topic

    I don't like having to scroll through a bunch of "bump" posts, but I understand people wanting to save a thread for reference.
  • zippo32
    zippo32 Posts: 1,407 Member
    Thanks, I needed that.................
  • tammykoon
    tammykoon Posts: 297 Member
    Yep!
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    Agree with your post. However, the way MFP is set up, there is no mechanism for bookmarking or subscribing to forum threads. Many forum packages have both, almost all have one or the other (where bookmarking is just that - you get a list of your "Favorite Topics" and subscribing is actually getting notification to all new posts).

    The only way to mark a topic as a "favorite" from within MFP is to reply to that topic so it shows up in My Topics. I think a LOT of MFP users are actually doing this, rather than trying to raise the thread's profile. This is why I submitted a request to have Favorites in the Suggestions/Feedback board: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/315216-bookmark-favorite-topic

    I don't like having to scroll through a bunch of "bump" posts, but I understand people wanting to save a thread for reference.

    Right, I get that reference too....it's just the people that say "bump" then go on to say other things after that...you really don't need to say bump if you're going to actually say something lol And others have the impression it's something like a fist bump... haha!
  • juicygurl1
    juicygurl1 Posts: 195 Member
    stupid me, i thought it ment pregancy...like ladyluck has a baby bump. i know, i need to stay off of those OMG gossip sites
  • kennethmgreen
    kennethmgreen Posts: 1,759 Member
    Right, I get that reference too....it's just the people that say "bump" then go on to say other things after that...you really don't need to say bump if you're going to actually say something lol And others have the impression it's something like a fist bump... haha!
    Oh.... You are right. Hadn't thought about that. Very true. Why "bump" *and* reply? In fact, that's how I realized what others were doing. I kept seeing "bump... to read for later" or "bump... thanks for this, I'm saving in My Topics"
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