What's the big deal about thread bumping?

[Quillz]

I don't get why people care so much if an old thread gets bumped. If I bump an old thread with either new, relevant information, or I want to ask a question regarding something mentioned within the thread content, well, why not? What's the difference between an old thread and a new one?

[Gray Matter]

Because they love to close threads.

And if they don't want people bumping them they should close them after a certain period of inactivity. And not just assume that it's some unwritten rule or "convention" that everyone is supposed to abide by.

[Quillz]

Also, I don't mean this board specifically, I mean in general. Lots of boards that I go to seem to discourage thread bumping, and yet at the same time also get frustrated with new users who make new threads w/o searching first.

[David Grove]

On my forums, I have no problem with someone reviving an ancient thread if (1) the new information contributes to the old thread in a meaningful way, and (2) the old thread is still relevant today. To me the term "bumping" is reserved for the threadstarter or someone else trying to artificially generate interest in a thread that people are not interested in by repeatedly posting to it so that it rises to the top of the forum.

[Gray Matter]

On my forums, I have no problem with someone reviving an ancient thread if (1) the new information contributes to the old thread in a meaningful way, and (2) the old thread is still relevant today. To me the term "bumping" is reserved for the threadstarter or someone else trying to artificially generate interest in a thread that people are not interested in by repeatedly posting to it so that it rises to the top of the forum.
I agree. I think it's annoyingly hypocritical of people to scold users for bumping threads while at the same time people will scream at them to "use the search function next time!!!" if they happen to post a thread whose topic has already been discussed. Why not just keep all the discussion in one organized place?

[John Miller]

Also, I don't mean this board specifically, I mean in general. Lots of boards that I go to seem to discourage thread bumping, and yet at the same time also get frustrated with new users who make new threads w/o searching first.
maybe to get new content or prevent content duplication ;)
majority of boards new or old, large or tiny have begun taking care of this..

[Wayne Luke]

Bumping old threads is a very common form of spamming. Add a new comment with some links, add a signature, etc...

[PRicanMami]

i guess people bump old threads, cuz mayb its a topic they wanted to do and not make a new topic of it if its been done.. also people probably bump threads in case if a few didnt see it and that person probably wanted them to look at the thread

[jeffinj]

When I was new to forums, I remember replying to very old threads. I've never noticed the dates on the thread then.

[MRGTB]

I've also replied to old threads in the past, if I've been searching for information on how to do something with vBulletin and still needed some advice. I posted a reply in the hope the thread started would see it. There are times when replies to old threads are done for a genuine reason.

But I see Lukes point though. About sometimes people just digging-up old threads to spam a site link in it, or to advertise a product etc.

[David Grove]

When I was new to forums, I remember replying to very old threads. I've never noticed the dates on the thread then.
Very true. Novice users usually don't notice the thread's date at all.

[checkin]

It`s one thing to `bump` a thread by adding some additional content with some value. But, sometimes thread starters will just write a few words in a reply, knowing their thread will rise to the top again.

On those forums with advertising folders it`s a common practise, but is unfair to other thread starters.

[MRGTB]

When I was new to forums, I remember replying to very old threads. I've never noticed the dates on the thread then.

I did the same thing, when I using vBulletin 2 (and 3 was out). I was searching for help with vB2 and replying. Which meant I was digging-up very old threads.

[Floris]

We want users to create their own thread for their individual support questions. Instead of stepping in on someone else their thread. But that's just this site.

[Dream]

I don't get why people care so much if an old thread gets bumped. If I bump an old thread with either new, relevant information, or I want to ask a question regarding something mentioned within the thread content, well, why not? What's the difference between an old thread and a new one?
Because most times the old thread is bumped wrongly then not. They either don't notice the information is old and worthless anymore, or just do it to annoy people, so the others just respond the forum zealot mindset.