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Original poster

Tywin - resurrecting ZOMBIE threads

38 replies

Hankunamatata · 12/11/2022 19:03

Subject says it all

OP posts:
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ZombiehEhEhEh · 04/09/2023 09:42

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Pinkdelight3 · 17/11/2022 08:09

ZeroFuchsGiven · 17/11/2022 08:07

www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/4678030-what-is-this-you-might-also-like-clutter?page=6&reply=121591803

Yep, Blame Mumsnet

Show quote history

So much this! How did no one think - duh, this will direct people to comment on old threads thus resurrecting them, thus making active/trending a zombie-infested hell!

ZeroFuchsGiven · 17/11/2022 08:07

faw2009 · 17/11/2022 07:58

I'm wondering if it may also have anything to do with the "You might also like..." feature which I've only just noticed. People click on the old post thinking they're current and post on them?

www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/4678030-what-is-this-you-might-also-like-clutter?page=6&reply=121591803

Yep, Blame Mumsnet

justasoul · 17/11/2022 08:05

faw2009 · 17/11/2022 07:58

I'm wondering if it may also have anything to do with the "You might also like..." feature which I've only just noticed. People click on the old post thinking they're current and post on them?

This! It took me 3 goes on those thread to realise they were a new feature rather than the normal ‘trending’ that you get at the bottom of the thread Blush luckily I always look at dates of the OP (they seemed to get progressively older as I clicked through threads…)

Cigarettesaftersex1 · 17/11/2022 08:01

faw2009 · 17/11/2022 07:58

I'm wondering if it may also have anything to do with the "You might also like..." feature which I've only just noticed. People click on the old post thinking they're current and post on them?

I'd say most definitely this, there's 5 "you might also like" showing now, all of which are zombies

faw2009 · 17/11/2022 07:58

I'm wondering if it may also have anything to do with the "You might also like..." feature which I've only just noticed. People click on the old post thinking they're current and post on them?

justasking111 · 17/11/2022 07:50

Four zombies this morning, three in trending

BIWI · 14/11/2022 14:08

Well generally they post a short word - sometimes nonsense - and sometimes just YABU or YANBU

Nothing coherent or anything that might add to the debate!

Slig · 14/11/2022 11:29

BIWI · 14/11/2022 08:32

It doesn't matter, on these zombie threads, what they post - it's the fact that they're posting at all. It means that a large proportion of Active Conversations gets taken up with zombie threads as opposed to current ones.

It's a deliberate ploy to make MN less usable.

I __ know that :)

Just idle curiosity!

It may not matter to you but I'm interested to know.

All a storm in a tea cup anyway! First world problems an' all that ;)

BIWI · 14/11/2022 08:32

It doesn't matter, on these zombie threads, what they post - it's the fact that they're posting at all. It means that a large proportion of Active Conversations gets taken up with zombie threads as opposed to current ones.

It's a deliberate ploy to make MN less usable.

Slig · 14/11/2022 08:06

Nope still don't know why you'd want to lock old threads, just because some Nutter is going round posting.

If people really don't have the wherewithal to look at the OP date that's their lookout.

Same as the posters who post on a 600 comments, read the OP then reply. It doesn't take a genius to work out that if a post has loads of comments the OP will have posted more info.

I'm sure most posters don't know how to just see the OP posts.

Anyway on another note, what does the Nutter post? By the time I open up they've been deleted!

TidyDancer · 14/11/2022 07:31

Locking old threads to everyone but the OP when they have been inactive for say six months would be the best solution imo. That way if the OP does want to come back and update or get further advice then they can. OP posting could 'unlock' the thread for everyone else too.

liveforsummer · 14/11/2022 07:26

Wouldnt It be better for OP to start a new thread entitled update and just link to old thread

Not really as the people involved in the thread probably won't see it unless they happen to be online when it's active

JobSeekingMissile · 14/11/2022 06:53

I've been assuming their intention was to annoy people so giving them a reaction is success for them.
I've got in to the habit now of looking at the date the op was posted. I do think MNHQ could have come up with something better though. I suggested previously that they change the colour the thread title appears in once it's over 12 months old - the same way threads you have read appear in a different colour than those you haven't on the talk pages.

WiddlinDiddlin · 14/11/2022 03:56

It is ridiculously simple too - just set threads to no longer accept comments when they get to however old MNHQ decides.

If someone wants to update an old thread they have two choices - contact MNHQ and ask for it to be reopened for them or, link it in a new thread with a title saying there is an update.

There is NO need to leave threads active for decades, its reallllllly poor forum management practice and I absolutely do not understand why MN do it.

bruffin · 14/11/2022 00:58

Slig · 13/11/2022 23:37

I'd hate for old threads to be locked! I love a good update!

And it's really not that difficult to look at the OP date when you open a thread!

Wouldnt It be better for OP to start a new thread entitled update and just link to old thread

Slig · 13/11/2022 23:37

I'd hate for old threads to be locked! I love a good update!

And it's really not that difficult to look at the OP date when you open a thread!

justasking111 · 13/11/2022 22:24

toastofthetown · 13/11/2022 21:51

I don't think anyone is saying that old threads need to be deleted. Just locked for new comments. You can use an old thread as a reference (and I've done the same) without needing for it to be bumped back to the first page to bother everyone else who didn't have the same question you did.

Show quote history

I've seen two threads this week where the OP has come back to update and thank members though. A good outcome in both cases.

toastofthetown · 13/11/2022 21:51

justasking111 · 13/11/2022 21:48

Sometimes a zombie thread can be useful. I've googled a question and a Mumsnet answer has come up too

I don't think anyone is saying that old threads need to be deleted. Just locked for new comments. You can use an old thread as a reference (and I've done the same) without needing for it to be bumped back to the first page to bother everyone else who didn't have the same question you did.

justasking111 · 13/11/2022 21:48

Sometimes a zombie thread can be useful. I've googled a question and a Mumsnet answer has come up too

NadjaCravensworth · 13/11/2022 21:47

sittingonacornflake · 12/11/2022 19:18

I have a theory. I think it's a poster (or a number of posters) who have previously unsuccessfully rallied Mumsnet to lock zombie threads.

If they keep doing this and pissing everyone off Mumsnet will lock the threads. Clever really.

i have to say I agree - surely with their GIANT IT bill they can set an 'autolock' after X months? its not rocket science

PinkSyCo · 13/11/2022 21:37

It’s someone with far too much time on their hands clearly. Quite sad really.

NippyWoowoo · 13/11/2022 21:36

RoomOfRequirement · 13/11/2022 21:26

At this point I'm thinking of taking a MN break because I'm so fed up of clicking on 2007 threads. It's ridiculous.

I've seen 3 today specifically from February of this year. Bizarre

liveforsummer · 13/11/2022 21:35

I did it the other day. We're always being told to use the search bar instead of starting a new topic when there has already been posts on the subject so I'd did that and commented my up to date experience, also interested in that OP's outcome. So which is it? Make new duplicate or search for old. Somehow I feel whichever you choose someone will complain!

justasking111 · 13/11/2022 21:34

Overgrowngrasslady · 13/11/2022 21:31

Someone started a thread the other day. It was incredibly odd. They were acting like some weird online gangster, telling Mnhq to lock old threads or they would keep resurrecting old ones as they had been Really impacted by a zombie thread. Apparently mnhq had 7 days. I think someone not very well.

I would have reported that poster