I had been searching but don't seem to be able to find a guide or tool on how to bump a post - especially those that remain unanswered for a while.

Is it only available to moderators of specific threads or super moderators?

Appreciate some advice and guide from senior moderators. :thanx:

Anyone can "bump" a post, moderator or not. Merely add a new post with some comment, even as innocuous as "just thought I'd bump this thread for those who may have missed an opportunity to reply with a comment"

I sometimes do it for newbies who post late Friday and the thread drops off the "last 24 hour" grid without a pertinent response by Monday.

Thanks for raising the topic- it's part of what we do in looking out for the benefit of the Covers who may not consider the big audience dropoff over a weekend or USA holiday.

Thanks for the reply Wes. I note that a lot of old post/threads were bumped up without the need for anybody to post - just like 'the famous ford study of mazda transmissions' thread currently in the most recent active discussion threads.

I just wonder how it is done!

Like Wes says, you have to add a new post in the thread. A thread cannot be 'Bumped' in any other way.

Thanks for the reply Wes. I note that a lot of old post/threads were bumped up without the need for anybody to post - just like 'the famous ford study of mazda transmissions' thread currently in the most recent active discussion threads.

I just wonder how it is done!

I think that when someone votes in a poll, but does not post, it still bumps the thread.

I think that when someone votes in a poll, but does not post, it still bumps the thread.

Thanks Miner - I checked a few threads and you are right. I had always been wondering who had been bumping up the posts/thread.

I think that when someone votes in a poll, but does not post, it still bumps the thread.
That is correct, but typically one doesn't vote in a poll with the sole intention of bumping the thread, and if someone has already voted in a poll they can't vote again to bump the thread.

That is correct, but typically one doesn't vote in a poll with the sole intention of bumping the thread, and if someone has already voted in a poll they can't vote again to bump the thread.

This is a minor annoyance in the software. It makes it appear as if there's a new post, and points to the last person who did post as having made a recent entry. Sometimes the last post was many months previous, but it'll say, "Last post by Sam on July 22 at 10:30 AM." You click through only to find that it was just someone voting in a 5-year-old poll. Is there a way to close an old poll, but leave the thread open for comments?

I can turn off the switch to bump threads with polls so it is not a software issue. It's a 'Marc' issue. The reasoning is I like to know when a new vote is added to a poll in a thread and that is the only way one can tell a new vote has been added to an existing poll whether it is a very old poll thread or a relatively recent poll thread (as in from, for example, two days ago, or 2 weeks ago).

As to closing polls, I think the switch is set so that moderators can close a poll at any time, just as the poll starter can set a time limit on a poll when the poll is set up and started.

Personally I haven't noticed 5 year old polls popping up very often (a few times a year?). I might call that a 'rare' occurrance. If it does happen and you notice it, just close the poll if it seems appropriate to do so. If you have a problem closing a poll all you have to do is let me know and I can close it. But please consider the age of the poll/thread and the poll its self. Five years old is not 3 months old.

An old poll with a new 'vote' bumping a thread has never bothered me - If I see a thread pop up and there's no new reply, I know a vote has been added (which is the point), but I know it confuses some folks who don't know about this aspect of the software settings.

Personally I haven't noticed 5 year old polls popping up very often (a few times a year?). I might call that a 'rare' occurrance. But please consider the age of the poll/thread and the poll its self. Five years old is not 3 months old.

The poll in this thread (http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=1263) is eight years old, and keeps turning up. I think it should be a matter of whether or not a poll is still useful, as opposed to the discussion in the thread. I think it's interesting when new users revive old threads for further discussion, but once a poll has had thousands of views and a hundred or so votes, the results aren't likely to change.

If it does happen and you notice it, just close the poll if it seems appropriate to do so. If you have a problem closing a poll all you have to do is let me know and I can close it.
I think I lack the requisite access to close polls, and as I said earlier, it's just a minor annoyance, and one that might not be shared by others. Just throwing in my own :2cents:. :D

Well, if an old poll pops up which it makes sense to close, let's close it.

I checked the moderator settings, and, as happens, I tried to remember my rationalization for some settings that I haven't even looked at since this software went live in August 2001 (if I remember correctly).

There is a setting to allow moderators to edit polls, which includes closing them. It carries with it the permissions to change the numbers in the polls. It's a single 'switch' for both.

Now, I hate to be paranoid, but... I do have to have some limitations on moderators. A pi$$ed off moderator could do some real damage to the forum and to believe there will never be a pi$$ed off moderator and that nothing could ever happen would be foolishness on my side.

So - To make sure no one could go in an actually change polls, including numbers, I have editing of polls limited to administrators.

The best thing to do if an old poll pops up which should be closed would be to do a 'Report This Post' on one of the posts and give a reason something like "This is an old poll. Should it be closed?" That will start a new thread in the moderators forum, I will see it and I will close it.

Well, if an old poll pops up which it makes sense to close, let's close it.

I checked the moderator settings, and, as happens, I tried to remember my rationalization for some settings that I haven't even looked at since this software went live in August 2001 (if I remember correctly).

There is a setting to allow moderators to edit polls, which includes closing them. It carries with it the permissions to change the numbers in the polls. It's a single 'switch' for both.

Now, I hate to be paranoid, but... I do have to have some limitations on moderators. A pi$$ed off moderator could do some real damage to the forum and to believe there will never be a pi$$ed off moderator and that nothing could ever happen would be foolishness on my side.

So - To make sure no one could go in an actually change polls, including numbers, I have editing of polls limited to administrators.

The best thing to do if an old poll pops up which should be closed would be to do a 'Report This Post' on one of the posts and give a reason something like "This is an old poll. Should it be closed?" That will start a new thread in the moderators forum, I will see it and I will close it.

Thank you Marc!

I have been on some forums where the moderators imposed their viewpoints on posters, they never looked at "both sides" of an issue. We don't want that to happen on this great Forum. Glad you took that step.
Balanced and equal participation and fair to everyone......

Stijloor.