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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:
Original poster
Userguaranteed · 01/06/2021 08:39

@RogueMNerHidesUnderBigHat

I get that, but if you started a post because your cat got put down in 2015 and you were sad about it, you really don't need to click on it again in 2021 even if you got a notification
Don't think you do because this post is very insensitive and shows a rather weird entitlement. So in this example, the OP can fuck off and not read their own post ("even if they got a notification") if it's too upsetting to them because everyone else has the right to resurrect and merrily post away on an old thread about their dead cat. Yet everyone else can't just fuck off and not exhume an old thread about a dead cat by posting on it for their own entertainment? They can't just read the thread and walk away without posting their pearls of wisdom?
OP posts:
Original poster
Userguaranteed · 01/06/2021 08:33

The people who are wanting them locked down are adding strength to their argument by suggesting they cause hurt and suffering.
If a thread is likely to upset you, don't click on it

May cause distress to the original poster, not me. Not "adding strength" to anything, it happens and everyone who cares can see it. I wouldn't use something like that to "add strength" to a request to lock old threads or add something permanent to them to show they're old if my only concern was being "embarrassed".

I suspect most people who don't like a zombie are annoyed at the time wasted or embarrassed that they've posted outdated advice.

Annoyed at time wasted reading comments and planning to post, yes (This is 90% what happens to me because I often read comments before posting). Embarrassed? No. If I posted, I would only still be annoyed that I did unless it's relevant. Why would I be embarrassed on a forum full of anonymous strangers?

I don't mind reading old threads if they're entertaining by the way - I just want to know they're old threads, not current ones because they're on Active.

OP posts:
diddl · 01/06/2021 07:41

@RogueMNerHidesUnderBigHat

I get that, but if you started a post because your cat got put down in 2015 and you were sad about it, you really don't need to click on it again in 2021 even if you got a notification
It was trending though so hard to miss!

I think a lot of us just want the warning to remain even if someone does post on it after whatever length of time.

Or that the OP has a warning/is a different colour.

Or that they are locked & only Op can resurrect/update.

DeRigueurMortis · 31/05/2021 23:19

Personally I don't want to see them locked as sometimes a resurrection can be worthwhile.

What I'd rather see is the thread change to a specific colour that signals that it's been inactive for 6 months prior to the poster who resurrected it.

We can all set colour preferences on settings so I can't see it being a huge issue to pick a bright green for example that override your preferences on a zombie thread so it's really easy to see and then determine if it's worthwhile posting - which sometimes it might be.

LemonSwan · 31/05/2021 23:14

I can see both sides. Especially in the case of an upsetting event for the poster.

But for every other life issue, scenario, info etc. the open threads are super useful. So many other forums lock posts and when you search rather than finding a couple of regularly added-to posts you get 100s of posts about the same thing with varying opinions and no resolution.

On balance I am for open threads. There is always the option to remove a post by the OP if they contact MN.

RogueMNerHidesUnderBigHat · 31/05/2021 23:00

I get that, but if you started a post because your cat got put down in 2015 and you were sad about it, you really don't need to click on it again in 2021 even if you got a notification

PegPeople · 31/05/2021 22:56

The people who are wanting them locked down are adding strength to their argument by suggesting they cause hurt and suffering.
If a thread is likely to upset you, don't click on it

Isn't the point that the thread was upsetting the original poster who had obviously been made aware it had been revived as they had been tagged.

It's not that they are potentially upsetting to random posters who may happen to click on them out of curiosity but rather the issues in some threads could cause unnecessary upset to the poster who originally asked for advice which wouldn't happen if it was only the original poster who was able to resurrect them.

RogueMNerHidesUnderBigHat · 31/05/2021 22:49

You're extrapolating.

I love a zombie thread. Some people on here hate them. The people who are wanting them locked down are adding strength to their argument by suggesting they cause hurt and suffering.
If a thread is likely to upset you, don't click on it.

I suspect most people who don't like a zombie are annoyed at the time wasted or embarrassed that they've posted outdated advice.

hatcoatscarfalcohol · 31/05/2021 22:38

@RogueMNerHidesUnderBigHat

But literally anything could be a cause of distress to someone.
What, so that makes it ok to continue causing avoidable and foreseeable distress?

There is no need to leave threads open indefinitely.

RogueMNerHidesUnderBigHat · 31/05/2021 22:31

But literally anything could be a cause of distress to someone.

Soubriquet · 31/05/2021 15:45

A thread from 2019 has just resurfaced too

Please look at closing them unless the OP wants it reopened

Original poster
Userguaranteed · 31/05/2021 15:14

This is one of the issues I have with people resurrecting old threads, some threads are best left alone unless the OP wants to update it. When years or even months have passed, you have no idea what has happened and it could be a source of distress to someone. They could have divorced, someone may have died, anything could have happened and your need to be updated on a stranger's life shouldn't be priority.

OP posts:
missmopple · 31/05/2021 14:51

...and the OP of that thread has come back to say that she is upset by having it all brought back (especially by the people who are saying unpleasant things without even reading the thread).

If ever there was a good example of why idiots shouldn't be allowed to resurrect zombie threads this is one and I really hope that @MNHQ reconsider their policy of not locking old threads.

This also applies to anyone who does the faux "how are things now OP?" to really old threads. If the OP wants to come back with an update then they will.

diddl · 31/05/2021 14:21

Oh lord-just clicked on the cat one.Sad

People merrily commenting on the OP only.Angry

missmopple · 31/05/2021 13:39

@Roonerspismed

Oh no! I love old threads. Please don’t!
Please don't what?

If they are locked then you can still read them. What's the issue? Do you need to be able to comment on something that happened years ago?

I am not sure that the poster whose cat was put to sleep last year is "loving" having her thread resurrected Sad

CharityDingle · 31/05/2021 13:39

The problem is that, whilst some are funny like the Carpet Fitter, others might cause distress where the OP has got through the original issue or got over it and doesn't want it dragged up time and time again. The current cat one is a fairly mild example.

Exactly.
Sometimes a thread that is resurrected can be amusing.

But when someone doesn't bother to read even a few posts, and starts earnestly advising an OP to do such and such about e.g their baby/ small child when the thread is years old, and the situation long past, it is a little bit tiresome, in my opinion.

SoupDragon · 31/05/2021 13:29

@Roonerspismed

Couldn’t people ask for old and distressing threads to be taken down then?
Better to lock old threads automatically after a period of inactivity IMO.

None benefit from people posting on them after they've been inactive, if someone has the same issue it is better to start a new thread. It's probably also better for an OP to start a new thread with a link to the original one if they have an update because not everyone sees that there is an update, they just answer the original post.

JoveWhenHeSawMyFannysFace · 31/05/2021 13:22

@Roonerspismed

Couldn’t people ask for old and distressing threads to be taken down then?
Why would that be better than closing them Confused? At least if they’re closed people can still read them.
Roonerspismed · 31/05/2021 13:21

Couldn’t people ask for old and distressing threads to be taken down then?

Viviennemary · 31/05/2021 13:20

I totally agree SoupDragon. Some are helpful but others could be distressing.

SoupDragon · 31/05/2021 13:15

@Roonerspismed

Oh no! I love old threads. Please don’t!
The problem is that, whilst some are funny like the Carpet Fitter, others might cause distress where the OP has got through the original issue or got over it and doesn't want it dragged up time and time again. The current cat one is a fairly mild example.
Roonerspismed · 31/05/2021 13:13

Oh no! I love old threads. Please don’t!

missmopple · 31/05/2021 13:11

@Viviennemary

I agree. They are becoming a great nuisance. Another one today about a cat.
Yes, and the cat in question was put to sleep last year so all of the advice is totally redundant and may just be bringing back painful memories for the OP.

It also demonstrates that not only do people fail to read the thread, they can't even be bothered to look at the OPs updates either.

Viviennemary · 31/05/2021 12:35

I agree. They are becoming a great nuisance. Another one today about a cat.

RogueMNerKnowsNoShame · 29/05/2021 21:27

I absolutely love a zombie

Let the zombies stay!

People should rtft 🤷‍♀️