Comments on: Removing Dates From Posts for Timeless Content

By: Treasa Graughard

Treasa Graughard — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:18:47 +0000

your sharing, really nice

By: malcolm coles

malcolm coles — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:14:06 +0000

I’ve changed my mind. Dates in big letters. This post is from July 21st, 2008. Enough already!

By: DTs Flash Drive Blog

DTs Flash Drive Blog — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:08:21 +0000

I think the need for time stamping depends on the content. If it’s an expose on spirituality you don’t need one and chances are the reader doesn’t look for one. But if it’s about the latest gadget or an actual diary entry then of course placing a date is an absolute must. One problem I see though is with the comments. Often people don’t bother to add to the comments anymore when they see the last one was posted about a year ago. For some reason it feels discouraging. But who says you can’t refresh a discussion years later? With rapid developments all around us new perspectives on topics are guaranteed. That’s why I like some forums where all of a sudden an old thread shows up because a new members had something to say about it.

By: Sanavas

Sanavas — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:46:17 +0000

I don’t like removing dates from posts because it destroys the appeal of blog. It will look just like a web page

By: Wil (Spot Cool Stuff)

Wil (Spot Cool Stuff) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:43:01 +0000

I’m one with a blog without timestamps. Though, I admit, your post is making my rethink that a little. A little.

Absolutely some blogs should have timestamps. Perhaps most blogs should have timestamps.

In my case, I have a blog about “cool” things like architecture, websites and travel destinations. It is true, by removing the timestamp I’m deciding for my readers that the content on my site it is relevant (not necessarily that it will be timelessly relevant, but relevant while it is still online). There are all sorts of editorial judgments I (and every blogger) makes on behalf of readers. So I guess I’m OK with that.

My main reason for excluding a timestamp is that I want to make it clear that my blog is not a chronological work but a conpendium of ideas and knowledge. If you look at Wikipedia, or the trip planning ideas of the Nile Guide, or the buying primers of Amazon they don’t have timestamps either.

Still, I do see your point. Thanks for giving me something to think about.

By: bedava Film izle

bedava Film izle — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:44:34 +0000

thanks..

By: Cleveland Movers

Cleveland Movers — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:54:27 +0000

I think blogs should definitely have the date stamps. As you said, it’s necessary for context and relevance. Some things you write about are only relevant for a certain time period, like if you write about an election or an approaching event. But if you want to preserve the timeless ones, have an option for readers to rate your posts and have a section that contains the top rated ones. That way, the best posts, even if they’re old, will always be preserved and will continue to be read.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:53:48 +0000

Without dates, websites would be like reading eBooksâ€¦.and that too with contents, which might not be good to a larger extentâ€¦.

By: Philips

Philips — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 06:56:30 +0000

Hi,
Superb Article. Just keep the blog section of the site with dated posts (since web-log is technically a record of your daily. I think dated content can put people off reading or commenting when they see itâ€™s older content.
Thanks!

By: Raman

Raman — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:47:21 +0000

I like your website template design.. kudos to the designer.

By: mmo

mmo — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:12:00 +0000

One of those posts that is truly timeless! hehe Seriously what an awesome idea. Some posts are truly timeless but like you said some things are more relevant today than technology of yesterday. Extremely interesting.

By: online sinema

online sinema — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:22:32 +0000

Iâ€™m considering that as wellâ€¦ but I think news should be timestamped – everything else – perhaps not

By: Mac Jones

Mac Jones — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:11:20 +0000

It really does depend on the content. Tech news for example would be pointless without a date, general observations for example probably don’t require it. I think dated content can put people off reading or comenting when they see it’s older content.

By: Jai

Jai — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:44:22 +0000

I don`t think it would be a good idea to remove them.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:27:36 +0000

like to see the date when a post was published. The lack of dating doesnâ€™t make an article timeless

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:14:20 +0000

I agree, posts need to be dated. However, as Ryan suggested above, to make it necessary to click on an ‘i’ to see the actual timestamp still makes the date available yet eliminates the possibility of a ‘timeless’ piece being prematurely discounted. I know most of us are guilty of searching for something, following a link and fleeing the scene when we see ’2006′.

By: Antuan

Antuan — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:58:59 +0000

I think itâ€™s best to have dates. Because timeless blogs doesnt show current event.
And thanks for this awesome post

By: website optimization

website optimization — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:58:08 +0000

I don’t see what the point in dropping the date on a post would be unless you are trying to dupe the reader in some way. I have actually seen some blogs that have some sort of way of backdating their posts, probably some sort of mysql dump hack or something that ends up having blog posts date back to 1976. I don’t recall any blogs being online at that point, perhaps a BBS or two. I think that removing the date on a post would raise suspicion from most readers and I would never do it on my blogs that is for sure.

By: gift gadgets

gift gadgets — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 06:59:34 +0000

I’ve been seeing a lot of sites lately that have been dropping the dates from their post. If your post is on a timeless topic, let’s say a poem about the rain, then you could probably drop the date and I’d be okay with that.

However, I find that I tend to read blogs for opinions on current events and sometimes want to refer to the date a post was written to see if the author’s comment takes into account all relevant information that was available on a given date.

To make it short, I guess it depends on the type of post you are writing and depending on that, you can make a decision as to if you can or cannot drop the date.

By: Money Bush

Money Bush — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:44:19 +0000

this is exactly what I do with my blogs because I am not a consistent blogger so I have no choice but to leave no trace behind.

Btw I love your strawberry footer. It makes me want to com back.