Can we put a lock on old threads?

[mrscumberbatch]

It's great entertainment but getting a bit annoying having some people floundering in from all corners of the Internet getting their knickers in a twist about 3 year old threads.

Can you put a lock on threads over a year old so that new conversations can be started and the same old shite isn't dredged up?

[eurochick]

Surely the zombie thread warning is enough?

[CanaryYellow]

There's already warnings on old threads isn't there? Both on the top of the thread, and if you go into the "add your message here" bit, you're clearly informed it's an old thread and asked are you sure you want to add a post.

[AlpacaLypse]

This was why 'zombie thread alert' was created. Clearly it doesn't seem to stop some people though!

[MirandaWest]

The problem with the zombie thread warning is that once someone has posted on one, it de zombiefies it. And sometimes a poster will have posted on the zombie thread with some sort of spam and then someone else will have missed the fact it's a zombie thread and post on it. And so the problem goes on.

[mrscumberbatch]

I think a zombie thread warning directing them to create a new thread on their chosen subject would be more effective.

[trikken]

Yes its annoying to write a long post and then realise someone else has de-zombied it.

[CanaryYellow]

I think a lot of the time when zombie threads are re-ignited, it's people doing it deliberately for sheer devilment.

[MajesticWhine]

Once zombified, perhaps the thread should stay zombified. Creates a headache for the IT people. So instead of the system checking the date of the last post, the system needs to flag it as zombied so that it stays that way, even if last post was recent.
(Can I have a job on the IT team please)

[AmenGirl]

Not fair.

If you come on here with a problem that has already been posted about then often people say "oh refer to that old thread / this has already been answered / have you tried searching through old posts / this has been done to death" etc...

[mrscumberbatch]

Yes but it is very easy to google or use the search facility and 99.9% of the time there is a kind mumsnetter who does the job for you and links to it...

[trikken]

Yes but not un zombie them. Just read them.

[AlpacaLypse]

Oy Tech, over here a minute!



How hard would it be to keep Zombie Thread Alert for (say) one full day after it had first been 'broken' on an old thread? Might help keep it out of Active, which is why they tend to start running again once someone restarted it.

[AmenGirl]

What if the query wasn't answered fully? Or what if you need a slightly more specific answer? Would you really start a whole new thread just for the sake of a few tweaks?

[AmenGirl]

There'd be duplicates everywhere with the same answers...

[scaevola]

I think keeping the zombie thread warning in place for a whole day after reanimation would be a good thing (it lasts 2 posts at the moment, doesn't it?)

Some threads are worth reanimation, and although most aren't, I don't think the possibility of reanimation should be removed.

[bruffin]

I agree mrscumberbatch. Very few answers the new poster on the dezombied thread, just answer the OP and the new poster gets ignored.

[mrscumberbatch]

Yes but the majority of people who are looking for specific information( ie: sleep training or breast vs bottle ) will have searched for that specifically or will have come to us via a search engine.


In which case they can read all about it and taadaah- their question is solved!

The only people who add to zombie threads are spammers, people arguing a point or those looking for further info.

We don't need spammers thus a thread lock would be good.
People who want to argue a point can do so via a new thread which generates new content on the site.
And those who are looking for further information are just as likely to get it on a relevant new thread as they are by resurrecting an old thread.

So it's a win/win either way

[AmenGirl]

Haha very good Kate, love the colour coding idea!

[BuzzardBird]

I agree, also the trolls like an old thread sometimes.

[KateSMumsnet]

Hullo all,

Thanks for suggesting this. The reason the zombie alert was introduce was to warn folks that they were about to post on dormant threads, so they knew that chances were everyone else had buggered orf, but not to completely stop them from posting.

We do see what you're saying, but from our point of view, we try to encourage debate and discussion as much as possible, and locking threads feel kind of against this. Often when zombie threads are posted on, the discussion will be revived, or poster will kindly point the newbie in the direction of fresher threads. Of course, if it's a troll or troublemaker, they're usually reported to us and sorted out quicksmart.

We know there's been occasions were the OP has come back to update old threads (often with heart warming or hilarious results), and we think it's nice to keep the old threads in Classics open, so the mirth and joy can continue.

So to get to the point - we reckon it's more productive to keep zombie threads open, and deal with iffy resurrections as and when they occur.

[mrscumberbatch]

I see what you mean Kate but surely the one or two threads where OP has come back with an update are very few compared to the hundreds of de-zombied threads where people end up getting annoyed because they're told they are posting on an old thread.

An OP would be just as able to weigh in an update on a new thread.

I'll agree to disagree on this one methinks [winks]

[bruffin]

If op wants to come back just start a new thread with update in title and link to old thread. If you are in an old thread it doesnt update on TIO if you posted more than a few weeks ago anyway.