diff --git a/web/chat/chat-message-list.react.js b/web/chat/chat-message-list.react.js
--- a/web/chat/chat-message-list.react.js
+++ b/web/chat/chat-message-list.react.js
@@ -17,11 +17,7 @@
   threadOtherMembers,
 } from 'lib/shared/thread-utils.js';
 import type { ThreadInfo } from 'lib/types/minimally-encoded-thread-permissions-types.js';
-import {
-  threadTypeIsPersonal,
-  threadTypeIsThick,
-} from 'lib/types/thread-types-enum.js';
-import sleep from 'lib/utils/sleep.js';
+import { threadTypeIsPersonal } from 'lib/types/thread-types-enum.js';
 
 import { defaultMaxTextAreaHeight, editBoxHeight } from './chat-constants.js';
 import css from './chat-message-list.css';
@@ -122,7 +118,11 @@
     const prevMessageListData = prevProps.messageListData;
 
     const { messageContainer } = this;
-    if (messageContainer && prevMessageListData !== messageListData) {
+    if (
+      messageContainer &&
+      prevMessageListData !== messageListData &&
+      messageContainer.scrollTop === 0
+    ) {
       this.onScroll();
     }
 
@@ -382,9 +382,6 @@
     this.loadingFromScroll = true;
 
     try {
-      if (threadTypeIsThick(this.props.threadInfo.type)) {
-        await sleep(100);
-      }
       await this.props.fetchMessages();
     } finally {
       this.loadingFromScroll = false;