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Is there any reason why the Zombie Warning couldn't stay for a few more posts after the thread is bumped?

52 replies

Sparklingbrook · 30/03/2016 14:49

I think it needs to stay longer. Maybe 10 posts?

2012 seems to be a popular year to bump v long threads from currently. Bit tiresome now.

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IonaMumsnet · 30/03/2016 22:55

Hi Sparkling. Thanks for this. We will certainly have a think about it. 2012 was a great year though wasn't it?!

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Sparklingbrook · 30/03/2016 23:01

Thanks Iona. What seems to be happening is really long threads being bumped the Zombie warning disappearing, then people not RTFT offering the OP advice which after 4 years is irrelevant.

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MrsLettuce · 30/03/2016 23:06

yy, a Zombie Warning at both ends of the thread would be most handy too. Is a bitch when you do RTFT only to find it;s eons old when you get to the end.

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Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2016 09:14

Yes one at the start would sort it out nicely, because people are reading the OP but nothing else.

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TheDrsDocMartens · 31/03/2016 09:18

I still don't understand why you can't lock anything over a year (or something) old.

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Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2016 09:21

Why is it only Chat that disappears after 90 days? Why is AIBU saved for all eternity?

Locking threads would be great.

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TheSpottedZebra · 31/03/2016 09:23

Yy, one at the top would be ace. And logical.
Or a mini zombie next to each timestamp on every post over 12months.

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HeffalumpHistory · 31/03/2016 10:35

yy, a Zombie Warning at both ends of the thread would be most handy too. Is a bitch when you do RTFT only to find it;s eons old when you get to the end.

Yes to this!

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BeccaMumsnet · 31/03/2016 15:25

Hi all - thanks for all your posts on this.

Extending the warning and adding it to the top of the thread is something we'll certainly look into and speak with Tech about, but it will take a bit of work and so will not be imminent.

Do keep the suggestions coming.

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SoupDragon · 31/03/2016 15:31

Maybe colour all the posts on an old thread red.

Or lock them after a good amount of time.

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GlacindaTheTroll · 31/03/2016 15:42

Could there be two types of warning? If not posted in for 6-12 months, keep it as it is (not too old, might still be worth continuing rather than starting afresh)

But over 12 months, then an enduring one?

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MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 31/03/2016 15:44

Any reason why old threads can't be locked?

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Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2016 15:46

Does anyone with good intentions really go rummaging for an AIBU thread from 4 years ago rather than just start a new thread?

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TheDrsDocMartens · 31/03/2016 15:50

Is there a reason they can't be locked? People regularly ask this.

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WicksEnd · 31/03/2016 19:17

Extending the warning and adding it to the top of the thread is something we'll certainly look into and speak with Tech about, but it will take a bit of work and so will not be imminent

^^ too right, I asked for this when the zombie warning was first introduced

It drives me potty! Especially on the app as the date isn't displayed until you open the thread.

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GlacindaTheTroll · 31/03/2016 21:23

sparkling it depends on what other sites they are members of. Because on the other one where I post a lot it is a distinct faux pas to start a new thread when there's a perfectly good one on the same subject within living memory. So you use search functions, and you find. If really can be that innocuous.

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Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2016 21:27

How would anyone know that there was a thread about that subject 8 years ago? Do people turn up and reprimand them and show them the ancient now irrelevant thread?

I don't think I have seen any innocuous bumps TBF.

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TheDrsDocMartens · 01/04/2016 07:33

If they werep

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TheDrsDocMartens · 01/04/2016 07:34

Sorry

If they were locked then it couldn't happen at all...

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BIWI · 01/04/2016 07:38

Sparkling is right, I think.

If I want to post something where I think someone might have posted before, I'll go to that board and read through the list of posts on the first screen. If I don't see something in that list, I'll post my question. But that might mean I'm only looking at posts made in the last few weeks or months - very unlikely that I've looked through posts from years ago.

IMVHO, people who search for these threads are doing so to either troll or spam the boards.

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DonkeyOaty · 01/04/2016 20:56

Hullo chaps

Adding my tuppence-worth:

There's nowt in the Talk Guidelines (at least on the mobile site) to say about Zombie-threading and how irritating it is to bump a long-dead thread in most cases

Is there a MNettiquette page (do I dimly recall one long long ago or was it just a dream #BobbyEwing) that could be repositioned or one created, embedded within the Talk Guidelines, please?

Cheers m'dears

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Sparklingbrook · 01/04/2016 20:59

Today's observations. Threads that get bumped after years and years are always pages long. Nobody ever bumps a thread with only a few posts on.

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DonkeyOaty · 01/04/2016 21:00

Yes true, true

(Apart from Pram Lady, bless her)

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JoyofSpring · 01/04/2016 21:05

In my experience, at least one way old threads get bumped is after someone has googled the topic and that thread has come up and then they have contributed. Might also explain why it's often threads with more posts as Google might think it's more relevant?! I've almost been caught out that way myself! Not necessarily because they have been trawling through threads from years ago.

It would be great to have the zombie warning at the top and / or colour code the thread so people know they are old!

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BertieBotts · 01/04/2016 21:08

Oh yes this would be useful :)

I don't think I would want them to be locked - there are some in the Relationships topic for example which get bumped every now and again and it's great when funny old Classics threads appear in Active. And vv occasionally I have seen people give an update on a v old thread which wouldn't be quite the same if they had to start a new one.

Plus the wondrous incident where a MNer innocently answered her own thread three years later would never have the chance to happen again