Thread Ressurection

[Hobbs]

Hi. I know at another forum I'm on that there is a thing known as 'Thread Necromancy.' Basically it means responding to a thread that hasn't been responded to in a long time...usually a span of 2 weeks to a month. I think it'd be a good addition to the rules, since sometimes people respond to month-old posts.

[Ree]

Actually, there is already something in place where inactive threads now automatically close after a certain time.

It's a good suggestion, though.

Thread necromancy can be a pain, especially if it was a problem thread that we were glad to finally see die. LOL.

[Rapscallion]

As Ree points out, threads close automatically and I think we set that to six months. Seems to have been a reasonable figure to go for. If anyone really needs an old thread opened, just ask - if it's a good reason, we'll do it. If it's just to add "LOL" we probably won't.

Rapscallion

[HYHYBT]

There are boards that set it much lower than six months... but it's more annoying than helpful. Because if you *can't* add to an existing thread, you have to start a new one, and will get a lot of the same posts in reply. And if you *can* but it's against the rules, then you get a lot of threads showing up as having new content when it's just one post, often an interesting one, followed by a moderator yelling at the poster about the rules and locking it then.

Plus for some things, for example, posts about an illness, or something where there's going to be a court appearance later, etc. it's better (in my opinion, of course) to add to your old thread rather than starting a new one simply because that way those who were subscribed to the old one will get the updated information, while a new thread is easy to miss.

[Broomjockey]

If you're not going to update the old thread, we much prefer if you'd at least link it. It seems terribly inconsiderate to expect people to go search out the important details themselves, and to find any updates contained in the previous thread.

[ArcticChicken]

since sometimes people respond to month-old posts.

I'm not sure I quite understand the problem. Like Ree said, the threads auto-lock after a certain period of inactivity.

Sometimes people miss seeing a thread for a while, and we do get new members. While I do think it's bad form to resurrect a thread merely to add "Haha! LOL!", if you have something to add to the discussion, or something relevant that doesn't quite warrant it's own thread, I can't see the harm.

Of course, I am speaking as one not unknown for acts of threadcromancy. IIRC it was one of the many incarnations discussing cooking, and what I was eating for dinner.

[Lace Neil Singer]

On some boards, it's quite agreeable to ressurrect an old debate thread as long as you plan to add something. However, it's not if all you're going to add is "Yeah I agree lol". XD

[Flying Grype]

I am never sure of this. Some boards have a rule against thread necromancy, and others want you to resurrect old threads and add to them in order to keep the number of threads down and make less work for the search engine.

[HYHYBT]

I am never sure of this. Some boards have a rule against thread necromancy, and others want you to resurrect old threads and add to them in order to keep the number of threads down and make less work for the search engine.

The very best boards don't get too picky about that sort of thing

[Ree]

As long as a thread is still open, anyone may reply to it.

As we already pointed out, the board auto closes inactive threads after a certain length of time.

If you read a post and feel like commenting, and it's still open for commenting, go ahead.

If you don't want to start a new thread on the same topic, ask a mod to open an old one and add your new input.

[Peppergirl]

Thread necromancy can be a pain, especially if it was a problem thread that we were glad to finally see die. LOL.

I tend to be a pretty good thread-killer just by posting in said thread.

Mods, feel free to give me a nudge anytime and I'll go post in the offending thread. Heehee.

Always willing to help out!

[Primer]

Peppergirl, I just couldn't let you be the last one, yet again, to post in a thread! LOL! I generally try not to be a necromancer, but sometimes it's just gotta be done to save somebody else!