Are there any guidelines or suggestions regarding timelines on replying to posts?

Of course, we have a lot of threads in the various forums and I try to reply when I think I can be of support.

However, I sometimes hesitate if the thread isn't very recent. I don't want to bump an "old thread" and aggravate other members. However, a lot of the threads contain issues an OP is going through that don't resolve themselves right away.

Additionally, I think it can be supportive to "check in" with an OP to see how things are going. Perhaps a PM is more appropriate in this instance?

Any suggestions or guidelines I may have missed are appreciated! Thank you.

[Tsukiko]

If you have something to contribute, offer it for sure! If an old thread being bumped up offends someone, that's their problem.

Thanks! I like your idea of replying if I feel that there is something significant I can contribute...thanks again. xo

[BipolarMama31]

I like when older threads are replied to because i often gain something from what was written. And its hard to find some topics even when you search for them.

I feel bad when i start a thread or end up in a convo and forget to reply. Not being rude! But this app gives updates on my phone atleast once an hour and i get confused

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[nonightowl]

I see nothing wrong with "old" threads being revived, esp. since some of them might be mine.

But really, if it's still open, then you can post in it. I've seen old threads that give revived get even more posts, therefore getting the thread going again.

Also, there's often mutiple threads on the same topic.

I also notice sometimes when I reply to a thread that nobody else has done, other people post after me. People are like sheep it seems.

[notz]

Hi Rainyday107 and thanks for your post! I just wanted to let you know that the general rule of thumb is 6 months or newer is a-ok to post in. Older than that, the Community Support Team's experience is the member may or may not be active any longer, the situation is no longer the same, and/or they may not want it brought back up. The best thing to do with the older threads is to start a new thread on the topic if you would like. Thanks again for your question!

[Yours_Truly]

People are like sheep it seems.

I'm an introvert. Always have been, ever since I was a 'shy' little kid. I'm just starting to feel my way around. It takes me awhile to get comfortable. There's also self-esteem to consider that tends to fluctuate for most people. I'm in a particularly low place currently. I'm not a sheep.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by notz

Hi Rainyday107 and thanks for your post! I just wanted to let you know that the general rule of thumb is 6 months or newer is a-ok to post in. Older than that, the Community Support Team's experience is the member may or may not be active any longer, the situation is no longer the same, and/or they may not want it brought back up. The best thing to do with the older threads is to start a new thread on the topic if you would like. Thanks again for your question!

I didn't know there was this "rule". I thought if a thread is not closed, then it's "fair game". I've been posting in old threads for years and nobody ever berated me for it. Also, I don't even look at the date of the posting but the contents/member name.

I'm still very much active, and unfortunately nothing changes in my life. So my threads are still relevant.

Multiple threads on the same topic are overwhelming for me. We once had 3 book threads going. I suggested a merging of the 3 threads.

2 were closed, and the most recent one was left open (and it was started years ago like the others).

Originally Posted by Yours_Truly

I'm an introvert. Always have been, ever since I was a 'shy' little kid. I'm just starting to feel my way around. It takes me awhile to get comfortable. There's also self-esteem to consider that tends to fluctuate for most people. I'm in a particularly low place currently. I'm not a sheep.

I wasn't calling YOU a sheep. I meant people tend to follow other people when it comes to a thread getting responses. It doesn't happen all the time, but in my experience, when nobody responds to a thread......nobody will respond to it.

I meant it seems to take at least one reply before others respond. I've done this too---posting in a thread that got no replies. Then more come.

[Takeshi]

It depends on the contents too I suppose.

Now first of all I'm an outlaw, I just wanna get that across.

Let me understand the general rule, a thread expires after 6 months and it'll be a shared wisdom and the OP's questions/experiences could help further the discussion, and I just don't see anything wrong with that.

However, a lot of the threads contain issues an OP is going through that don't resolve themselves right away.

That's a concern that some of members may share, we wouldn't wanna anyone's thread falling through the crack, at the same time even within the 6 months period, sometimes I may think of the sensitivity of the original poster, human nature is at play, therefore only way to salvage the situation is to be the best that I can be to assist as many as possible? I don't know, however I look at this, you, I and everyone who think about bumping the old thread just like the thread, because the action may help us grow, I'd take the risk by trusting others and myself.

What is your goal exactly? IMHO, this'll answer your own question.

I agree with nonightowl here about merging all the goodies together, so we can get at what we want to look up through searching the key words, and get a great idea about certain subjects. We are organic and the database management fall to that organicness, this will grow healthier and stronger on its own.

[Takeshi]

On the side note, when you reignite the life of an old thread, it comes on top of the listing when you go to someone's profile and search for the thread that was made by the member, I'd rather browse it in order of new/old, some may not like it changing.

[nonightowl]

Threads, by default, appear in descending date order: The most recent post will go right to the top of the page. It's the same with the list of social groups. The group that has the most recent post will appear at the top of the list of groups. You can sort the groups by other criteria, like number of members or by name. I don't know about threads cause I never looked into it.

No matter how old it is, as soon as someone posts in it, it goes to the top of the forum.. It stays there until people stop posting in it, as someone posts in another thread (or starts a new one)which bumps THAT one to the top.

When I was talking about relevancy, I was referring mostly to topics of a "lighter" nature, such as books, movies, music, etc.

Threads can fall into obscurity quickly if no one responds, and people post in other threads in that forum or start new ones.

It may depend on the forum, but I've noticed once a thread drops off the first page (doesn't take long!), no one responds to it anymore.

[nonightowl]

I'll just add one more thing: How can we have an arbitrary time frame or deadline of 6 months on someone's thread?? Who can put a time frame on someone's feelings?

If someone starts a thread on losing someone, after 6 months why is it "not relevant"? You don't know the original poster's thoughts. There's so many variables and factors on that.

One can ask a moderator to close or even remove a thread if he/she doesn't want any more replies. As long as a thread is OPEN, someone can post in it.

If I started a thread on losing someone, and activity stops after 6 months, does that mean nobody should post in it anymore??

It also depends on one's settings-----you may view threads one year old and newer. If the 6 month deadline is this critical, the options could be limited to "6 months and newer", OR maybe a program can be run to automatically close any threads that had no activity for 6 months. That way it can still be viewed......

This is why I stick to mostly "light" topics, as I don't want to upset anyone and didn't even know there was this rule.

Examples: My thread on musical instruments was recently "bumped up", a harmless topic I think, due to recent posts. Prior to this, last post was 2 years ago or maybe a year or so.

I recently started a thread on unbearable noises. Since I'm "sound-sensitive", it will always be "relevant" to me. I wouldn't mind if someone posted in it a year from now on.

I don't usually post in this forum but this subject I couldn't resist........

That's my 2 cents.

[Takeshi]

How long has it been? Not even a week!

We'd wanna take every and all things into consideration, such as someone's mental conditions, some members may not even aware of where they are posting, what they are responding to, all things considered, things look alright to me though.

One's morality, the sanity, the self, all of these could be anything and anywhere and we won't be able to see them from our end. What do we believe? Who are we talking to? In all honesty, I used to get confused a lot, I'm not going into any details on that.

Is trolling still a thing? They have a mental problem so they could be here, recovering. Bad apples are everywhere in our lives, we do our best to help and support, the number 6 don't help, it sounds arbitrary. One would say it is not evidence based, where is the data to support your claim?

Life's not fair, this upset me and that statement almost killed me inside, these members concerns are not important at all, 'cuz you know what? While we are thinking this topic, the helpful rainyday107's topic, an evil mastermind cat is plotting to kill us all, or just studying us, humans.