[DonQ]

Bump is used to attract those Freepers whose browser picks up the most recent comments to any threads, even old threads. I think it is an acronym for Bring Up to Most recent Postings. A synonym is BTTT (Back To The Top).

Ping is used to attract those Freepers who search for their own names or handles in addresses (the My Comments feature, among other methods). A Freeper will add a comment that frequently contains no text but an address listing perhaps several other Freepers who have not yet written on the thread, in hopes of attracting them to this thread and encouraging them to contribute their viewpoints to it. I make a wild guess that if it's an acronym (and maybe it isn't) it's Posting an Individual's Name for Google.

[HeadOn]

(Best Cliff Claven impression) Actually, PING is a term that comes from the use of sonar. A "ping" is when a soundwave is sent out and comes back to the receiver, letting the operator know what is out there. The term has been co-opted by the computer society to mean, among other things, sending a signal to a server or client machine to see if you can get a response. So, sending a "PING" to another Freeper is the same thing. (Despite the Cliff Claven voice, I believe my explanation is correct....)

Welcome, and have fun.