Zombie Threads

[LRZ 283]

Is it possible (or desirable) to have threads locked automatically after X years, so they can't come back to life for new posts? Old threads can contain out-dated information, right? And why should someone have to sift through a lot of possibly irrelevant posts? If an issue comes up that was discussed years ago, start a new thread, with current information.

[maven 4,520]

I have a few additional criteria to propose:

• any thread with more than 20 posts
• any thread with a post by [redacted]
• any thread with an answer in FAQ

[Thunderheads 2,744]

I've already "locked" a couple of threads that have been resurrected from 2012 this morning.  I'm going to discuss this with Warren to see what we can do.   

It doesn't happen that often, so I don't think a major deal will be made of this, however, the points presented above are very valid.

@Umpire in Chief   ...........  thoughts?

[Umpire in Chief 1,606]

I have mixed thoughts and could be persuaded either way...

1.  We always ask people to use the search feature to find the answer to things which have been discussed before. 
2. But seeing a VERY old thread resurface can be annoying too. 

What are your preferences? Please comment below.

[kylehutson 480]

I don't know that the forum software would even have this capability (or why the author would add it without a specific request like this), but ideally, you could have an extra step in there that if a thread has been over a year (or whatever) without a reply, you have to click a button that says you know this, and are resurrecting on purpose before it lets you type a reply.

Barring that...

I say leave it. It's not like it happens frequently. There have even been a couple of times I have intentionally re-started a previous thread (and made note of such in my response). And we should (if we don't already) have a "new members" section that mention this. (Not that it was a new member last night, but in general to keep the annoyances to a minimum.)

And for what it's worth I hadn't ever seen the resurrected threads from last night - they were from before I joined.

[LRZ 283]

If it doesn't happen all that frequently, then no harm would arise from time bars. Locking an old thread would only prohibit new comments, not the thread's availability.

Search function? We might not know when or how often people use it, but we see when they don't, so this is, for me, an unsettled factor. Besides, the answer to a question that may have been correct in 2012, for example, may no longer be correct in 2019.

Obviously, I'm in favor, in part because there is enough dross on the internet without adding more: all too frequently, zombie threads are resurrected by posters who merely add their 2¢. 

[Aging_Arbiter 1,317]

1 hour ago, Umpire in Chief said:

•  We always ask people to use the search feature to find the answer to things which have been discussed before. (Does this really happen?)
• But seeing a VERY old thread resurface can be annoying too. (Agreed)

...........Maybe........a 30 day (after OP) lockdown?   60 day?

[Umpire in Chief 1,606]

Te software would allow me to lock a thread after X days...

[Thunderheads 2,744]

23 minutes ago, Umpire in Chief said:

Te software would allow me to lock a thread after X days...

then maybe you could do a lock after 365 days (1 year)?

[maven 4,520]

1 hour ago, Umpire in Chief said:

Te software would allow me to lock a thread after X days...

Too bad there's no button for X% stupid posts.

[LMSANS 541]

I would suggest 60 days.

Also, is there a way to  "this thread is closed. Would you like to open a new thread with a similar topic."? Then do a new thread command pre-title with XXXX-#. Where # is a sequence for this re-thread title. 

I'm not sure this makes sense 

[kylehutson 480]

Can you make some threads permanently unlocked (thinking like "Mask Porn") if you turn on that feature?

[Thunderheads 2,744]

10 minutes ago, kylehutson said:

Can you make some threads permanently unlocked (thinking like "Mask Porn") if you turn on that feature?

Agree.   Equipment threads that are "show and tell" and not a question, or inquiry could remain open, I'd assume

[LRZ 283]

No need to make the lock-up too quick. A year or maybe six months, I would suggest: there is a difference between killing a thread by cutting it off too soon and locking an "already-dead" zombie thread to stop it from coming back to life.

[BLarson 1]

Would it lock X days after thread started or X days after the last comment added?

[noumpere 3,021]

8 hours ago, maven said:

I have a few additional criteria to propose:

• any thread with more than 20 posts
• any thread with a post by [redacted]
• any thread with an answer in FAQ

I'd add:

No gifs or pics (they rarely add anything)

No more than one post every x hours by any one person

[kylehutson 480]

2 minutes ago, noumpere said:

I'd add:

No gifs or pics (they rarely add anything)

No more than one post every x hours by any one person

[Kevin_K 754]

If the revival of zombie threads was at the top of my list of concerns on social media I would consider my life charmed.

Is this really a concern that makes any one unhinged?

C'mon guys!

[LRZ 283]

No skin off anyone's nose (as my mother used to say) if threads are locked after the passage of some time. Zombie revivals are irksome. I may not be able to address the top of my social media concerns list, but a fix to this one is relatively easy. You know, kinda like "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

[Umpire in Chief 1,606]

I'm going to play with this over the weekend and see what I can do.

[The Man in Blue 234]

11 hours ago, Umpire in Chief said:

I have mixed thoughts and could be persuaded either way...

1.  We always ask people to use the search feature to find the answer to things which have been discussed before. 
2. But seeing a VERY old thread resurface can be annoying too. 

What are your preferences? Please comment below.

 

Can I let you know in a few years?

[yawetag 726]

Using the search function doesn't stop someone from finding old threads and reading them. It would just prevent them from commenting in it.

To me, this is the main reason to stop zombie threads from reappearing:

On 11/15/2019 at 8:06 AM, LRZ said:

Old threads can contain out-dated information

I would agree to a 1-year lock of threads. Warren, I don't know how well you can customize, but I would even suggest having a message at the top of all locked posts: "This thread has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Please be aware that due to updated rules and interpretations, the information provided in this thread may be outdated."

[Umpire in Chief 1,606]

Let me see if there is a customization to locked threads. You all have some good ideas. Sorry I didn't work on it this weekend. 

[Mudisfun 595]

Another site I cruise though locks threads after 7-10 days of inactivity on that thread... really annoying when you do not visit daily and have something to add to the discussion.

I agree with @Kevin_K, is this really an issue to have to be concerned with?

[LRZ 283]

Yes. It is an irritant--minor to some, not to others. Even if it were considered minor, what's the harm in locking old, inactive threads?