Zobie threads why do mn hq allow

I'm afraid Zombies have the habit of turning me from

into

If people are that bothered they can add to Threads I'm Watching which seems to hold history a long time (maybe not 10 years...)

But honestly I think our lovely MNHQ are overthinking it, and I hope they recognise it is much more user-friendly to lock-down and get people used to not being able to reactivate worn out news from way back when.

I remember a Fred where the OP was talking about her DS but by the time it was resurrected as a Zombie the DS would be a strapping 6ft tax-payer, who certainly didn't need help with his maths homework any more!

TIO only show up if you posted on in the last 21 days max.

Maroon. It wont show up on TIO
For some reason TIO dont seem to pick old threads

Actually I have just seen that Threads I'm On is limited to the last 20 days, so I am wrong and ignore me!

I suppose the thing about that is, bruffin, if an update is added to an existing thread those who posted on it will see it in their Threads I'm On, whereas a new thread with update on relies on interested parties being on the site while that thread is in Active. I think - correct me if I am wrong.

I also find zombie threads mildly annoying, if they are long, and quite often they have only been revived by a spammer, who has been trawling for a thread they can insert their spam into. But I also do think that sometimes the opprobrium heaped on those who post on them is a bit over the top, given the other side of it is "God, X subject is posted about ALL THE TIME, we've had sixty threads about this" - but posters also aren't allowed to find those old threads and post on them, so what are they supposed to do?

What is the point of adding to old threads. Posters respond to the OP not a new post at the end. Much more sensible to close threads after 6 months and put a nice message to start a new thread.
If original posters want to update, then its more sensible to start a thread with the title UPDATE etc and link to old thread

Threads should definitely be locked after a certain period of time. If the original OP wants to update they can start a new thread and add a link to the old one.

OMG loads of GFs and perves out there!!

sparkling- I bet about 0.000001% OPs come back to their thread.

I have seen lots of threads (there's even 1 currently running atm) where the OP says "hi, remember me from 6 months ago ... [ just wanted to update you, my fanjo hairs have all grown back now ] or similar.

Most just take the line of least resistance, let's face it.

Please, please put the zombie warning back at the top of the thread.

Well said daisy. I wonder what actual percentage of zombie threads are updated years later by the OP.

They are usually reanimated by spammers, goady fuckers or pervy men.

It made people feel like they couldn't or shouldn't get involved with a thread, it seemed. So we decided then to move the warning to the end so you only saw it if you were actually posting on a zombie thread

MNHQ please please can you listen to your users. The above statement shows hQ still has not grasped the fact it is a massive waste of time and energy when a Zombie thread appears at the top of the list and you start ploughing through the thread reading it, which takes ages. This happens long before most people post!!! By then you've wasted the time, then suddenly see the date and realise it is 6 or even 10 years old!

I have just read through a thread on Employment Issues reading all the detail, only to reach the end of the whole thread for someone to say "sorry this is 10 years old, but is everything OK?"

Honestly please just put a big bold message atop the thread "this thread is over 1 year old, the details may not be current. Consider starting a new thread!".

Nobody will be put off - honestly more people will be grateful for the info than put off.

Otherwise people's will stop investing time RTFL because they will get fed up of more and more of these stupid Zombies.

This caters to your existing loyal users, not just new people.

Thanks is it time for yet?

I don't mind zombie threads being left open but please, please make the zombie thread warnings clear AND permanent

It would make sense if threads were automatically locked after say 3 months, like they are when they get to 40 posts There must be a way of doing it surely? Then if OP wants it unlocked, they message MN and ask.

As Tribpot says, the Zombie warning should be at the top of the thread. If it was putting people off posting on that thread, then surely that was doing its job?

I think it's probably a software limitation that MN are dressing up as policy.

Removing the zombie warning from the top is a bizarre decision. Some spammer decides to reactivate a thread from another decade and you read all the way through it before you get to the Zombie warning? WTF is that about?

If new posters find the Zombie picture offputting, by all means change it to something else, and have a pop up on Post Message saying 'you're posting on a thread that's 75 years old, are you sure you want to do that? Starting a new thread may be more appropriate'.

But why not just leave it to the OP to initiate an update?

Indeed, can anyone else think of any decent reason why, given that they could still be read and linked to, threads should not be locked after a period of time?

In fact, what would be any disadvantage. I'm blowed if I can think of one.

Why can't threads be locked after a certain time, Lorna? They could still be read and linked to. What would be the big disadvantage?

I did it by accident when I first joined MN after searching for help online. I didn't realise it was an old thread and was advised to start my own.

I think closing them would be a good idea so can read but not post.

Okay, I can see why Mumsnet did this, but heavens I'm not the only one who spent last night being tearful. There has to be a way round this, although buggered if I can think of it at the moment. (Up with dd a lot last night).