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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

MN pleeeeease consider CLOSING OLD THREADS...

181 replies

Userguaranteed · 28/05/2021 09:33

...and only reopen if the OP requests it.

Posters are exhuming threads from ages ago and asking for updates, posting advice, etc. The recent one was from 2012!

I often look at dates now because I've been sucked into zombie threads many times in the past but sometimes I forget, especially if the thread hasn't got too many replies.

Can MN close zombie threads from say a year? There's nothing more to be said - let it go [in Elsa's voice].

OP posts:
MoreAloneTime · 08/06/2021 13:56

Quantity over quality

DumplingsAndStew · 08/06/2021 11:41

@soniamumsnet

Hi - just dropping in to say thanks for the comments and feedback which we'll take on board. Flowers
I think rather than a 'thanks but no thanks' comment, you need to actually be considering "Is the way we do things now really working for our users?" The evidence displayed on this thread suggests not, but I'd be interested to see any evidence to the contrary.

I'm assuming a review date will be put in place, and the outcome will be shared?

Giantrooster · 08/06/2021 11:35

@soniamumsnet

Hi - just dropping in to say thanks for the comments and feedback which we'll take on board. Flowers

😂

MNHQ
soniamumsnet · 08/06/2021 11:19

Hi - just dropping in to say thanks for the comments and feedback which we'll take on board. Flowers

bruffin · 08/06/2021 11:14

This has been requested time and time again over the last 15 years the best MN has come up with is the Zombie thread notice, which really isnt fit for purpose

murbblurb · 08/06/2021 09:19

MN hq won't do it, the babbly reply is just a long way of saying no. Must be something to do with traffic or advertising revenue.

MoreAloneTime · 08/06/2021 09:18

That sort of ressurecting is surely malicious, very nasty.

bruffin · 08/06/2021 07:57

Agree , just close them after 6 months from the last post. Just make sure they are linkable so if someone wants to refer to the post they can link it in a new thread

Especially if there's the potential to upset the original OP?

Ive seen awful miscarriage threads bumped after 2 years , totally inappropriate

DumplingsAndStew · 07/06/2021 11:51

Of course MN don't have an issue with zombie threads, though, as every click generates income Hmm

DumplingsAndStew · 07/06/2021 11:50

@soniamumsnet

Hi - just dropping in to say thanks for the feedback. Where possible we post when a 'zombie' thread has been resurrected, but we're happy to take your comments on board. Flowers
And how does that help? That sounds snarky, but seriously, do you have anything to suggest that people who boost an old thread take any notice of your post?

I had thought this a few weeks back - the only person who should be able to revive an old thread is the OP. So yes, maybe lock threads 6 months (12?) after the OP last posts, and make it so they can and only they can revive it again.

PegPeople · 07/06/2021 11:43

@Viviennemary

Yet another Zombie thread from 2018 I was duped into replying to. It really is too annoying.
Same here although I didn't actually respond, I just wasted time reading 90% of it before clocking the date.

It's probably the 4th or 5th I've clicked on in the last 2 days. It's getting tiresome.

Seeline · 07/06/2021 11:39

@soniamumsnet

Hi - just dropping in to say thanks for the feedback. Where possible we post when a 'zombie' thread has been resurrected, but we're happy to take your comments on board. Flowers
There needs to be a very clear indication at the top of a post that this is a zombie post that doesn't disappear after the first 'new' post. That way posters have the option of scrolling to the end to see if it is worth investing time and effort in reading and posting.
Viviennemary · 07/06/2021 11:30

Yet another Zombie thread from 2018 I was duped into replying to. It really is too annoying.

MoreAloneTime · 05/06/2021 05:43

The few times I have seen a genuine OP return with an update I find they tend to start a new thread and link the old one. Anyone with some brain cells can see that's a better option than ressurecting an old thread and hoping for people to read all the way to the update.

Viviennemary · 04/06/2021 22:57

Exactly. I think a lot of old threads are resurrected by mischief makers. Especially relationship type ones.

BIWI · 04/06/2021 22:17

Thing is, there are more than enough threads for people to comment on. Why would you want to comment on one that's years old? Especially if there's the potential to upset the original OP?

JoveWhenHeSawMyFannysFace · 04/06/2021 17:20

One other advantage of closing old threads would be to stop all the bloody spammers resurrecting them!

5475878237NC · 04/06/2021 09:10

I like having the option to pick up conversations from the past because people, not just the OP, may come back and add to it. There was one recently that was 3 years old and some posters had updated with really helpful info. It's up to you to as the reader look at the date and not bother if you don't want to.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 04/06/2021 08:27

Oh , I love the resurrected zombie threads - especially when OP comes back 10 years later to update (eg carpet thread, husband not telling OP about his day off from work spent at home)

MoreAloneTime · 03/06/2021 08:21

This thread hasn't been resurrected yet though I have seen some threads about zombies later get turned into zombie threads

EverythingRuined · 03/06/2021 01:34

I ageee!

Is this an old thread? I didn't check

Viviennemary · 02/06/2021 12:17

Of course its easy to be hoodwinked into replying to a years old thread. Especially when it shows up as trending. Really annoying.

Giantrooster · 02/06/2021 10:57

but at the very least a banner like that which says 'MNHQ have commented...' but in a different colour, which also shows up on the app, would be a vast improvement.

Well I still agree, sigh.

But please MNHQ could you explain why you really really don't see it this way?

VeryLongBeeeeep · 02/06/2021 10:53

There have been so many Zombie threads in Trending/Active recently and in most cases they haven't been funny or amusing, they've been about someone's real-life (presumably; assuming not troll) problems which are almost certainly resolved or irrelevant now. When a thread is trending it's not unreasonable to expect it to be a recent one, and if it's a topic on which someone feels they can give advice, it's easy to waste time reading dozens or more replies before spotting the date.

Locking threads from further posts from all but the OP while keeping the thread visible to read would be ideal (although I agree that there's no reason an OP couldn't start a new thread and link to the old one, since so many people only seem to read the first post before wading in), but at the very least a banner like that which says 'MNHQ have commented...' but in a different colour, which also shows up on the app, would be a vast improvement.

SoupDragon · 01/06/2021 10:03

I love a zombie thread.

You love reading resurrected threads where, say, someone"s cat was put down after a distressing time? Really? Where a thread is likely to cause distress with people not bothering to read it all, tagging the OP and thus filling up the notifications with her thread title? You love all that? Have a think about that.