idea that could boost forum activity..

[JustinBr]

I have an idea that might boost forum activity if used properly. (specifically for newer forums trying to get started). The premise is this:

Many times people come into my forum, look for new threads and 1 of 2 things happens:

#1) They are overwhelmed with a surge in new/updated threads. They only have time to reply to one or two but are unable to reply to each of them. Topics go stale long before their due and so many miss out on relevant threads.

#2) They see no new/updated threads and assume "nothing has happened" here so they leave. So many seem to neglect to look back at old threads that are just as relevant to our niche topics. Another bummer as this also causes participation to plummet.

What if their was a way to bump a certain number or percentage of threads (particularly the "dead" threads)? This could be an effective means of creating the illusion of new activity.

Here is what this plug in might do:
Take a few threads out of each forum section (particularly the old threads that people are likely to have forgotton about). Then, automatically delete the last post for that thread, and immediately replace it. Preferably using the same poster's id but the current date/time. This effect would bump the thread to the top, and I believe a lot of people would jump back in on this thread that probably shouldn't have died yet anyway.

People sometimes can just feel overwhelmed. My niche market is so targeted that when people find us, it is often times EXACTLY what they needed. The only problem is that with so much information - where do they begin? A mod like this would help the latest/newest members get started digging into the older threads, often times adding new questions/comments.

The cautious application of a mod like this would begin a process that would just feed on itself. People dont like "old threads". Worse, they usually aren't very good at knowing which threads really are "old".

In my particular forum's situation, I believe that a plugin like this could have a dramatic effect in helping us get off the ground. We've been around for about 5 months, have about 1100 members with only about 2500 posts. People are losing interest too quick and this vicious cyclical phenomon is holding my forum back!

What could it do for yours?

[JustinBr]

hmm no response on this? Not even a "your wasting your time its a horrible idea"

[mpage]

This would just be like bumping a thread, hmm. Okay if the old threads are important, but not so good for irelavant threads.