Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

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:
Original poster
Userguaranteed · 28/05/2021 17:03

It's helpful for posters to make that choice to read a zombie thread or not - so even if not lock it, a permanent conspicuous sign at the top will help, not one that goes away after one poster has given their much needed advice on an issue that's likely to have been solved. Like the 2012 one, posters are still commenting on the issue when the OP has moved on and a lot has changed since then. Thankfully, the OP came back to say so.

Again, the OP can still update their thread and the thread itself isn't deleted. Just to make it easy for every poster - not just the one who found it first - to know that it's an old thread.

OP posts:
MaryTheMiddle · 28/05/2021 16:47

Yes, I would like this too.

People who aren't familiar with the site will sometimes just post even if the thread is ancient.

oneglassandpuzzled · 28/05/2021 16:46

@WankmasterBastardDeLaShithead

I think old threads can be really helpful. Occasionally there's an interesting update after a few years!
Entirely agree. Especially long-running chronic health condition ones, where seeing how people progress is very useful.
SmallPrawnEnergy · 28/05/2021 16:45

@soniamumsnet a post from MN doesn’t really help though because it’s clear posters don’t read the bloody thread to work out they’re years old to start with. It’s absolutely ridiculous the amount that are being resurrected at the moment. It’s honestly not difficult or a strange thing to lock threads after so long, it’s beginning to look like MN don’t actually listen to posters or they’re deliberately leaving zombie posts to get resurrected as a weird way of driving traffic.

SallyCinnabon · 28/05/2021 15:00

I saw 2 today and fell victim to one.

Someone pointed out that one of the resurrectors on posts today has only posted twice, once today and once on another zombie thread from 2018! So it seems some accounts are just hunting zombie threads or something (that can’t be a coincidence).

bumblingbovine49 · 28/05/2021 14:52

@Crockof

Old threads are a complete highlight at the moment, nothing is new in life anyway, it's all been experienced before.
This. I just think it is funny or occasionally interesting when an old thread is resurected
PegPeople · 28/05/2021 14:42

Just coming in to say I 10th, 20th and 30th this suggestion. The only person who should be able to resurrect an old thread should be the original creator of the thread. It's also very frustrating that the zombie banner disappears after only 1 post.

HotToddyColdSauvignon · 28/05/2021 14:38

@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 is something weird going on today though MNHQ, I’ve had about 6 zombie threads today.

It’s feckin’ annoying

nowlook · 28/05/2021 14:37

Is there something particularly odd going on today though? At one point, three of the active convos on the banner were zombies. I don't remember it being that bad before.

MyDcAreMarvel · 28/05/2021 14:17

Ah yes the pram thread Grin

diddl · 28/05/2021 14:14

Or that the Zombie warning comes up on each post rather than disappearing when it's resurrected?

Or there's a warning on the OP?

Crockof · 28/05/2021 13:04

Old threads are a complete highlight at the moment, nothing is new in life anyway, it's all been experienced before.

WankmasterBastardDeLaShithead · 28/05/2021 12:52

I think old threads can be really helpful. Occasionally there's an interesting update after a few years!

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 28/05/2021 12:48

@MyDcAreMarvel

Please don’t, old threads are interesting and often the new information is relevant.
Agreed. I don't understand why some MNers are so enraged about reading old threads.
Original poster
Userguaranteed · 28/05/2021 12:44

Xposted FourWords. Yes something everyone can see at all times and posters can choose if they want to engage or not.

OP posts:
osbertthesyrianhamster · 28/05/2021 12:43

Sometimes the OP comes back and updates.

Tal45 · 28/05/2021 12:43

Yes, yes, yes.
It's all very well saying they post when it'a zombie thread but loads of people had posted that that 2012 one was a zombie and still it was getting reply after reply.

Original poster
Userguaranteed · 28/05/2021 12:42

Glad to see others think so too.

Thanks very much @soniamumsnet. The notice band over the comment box expires after the first person resurrects the thread so unless you happen to glance at the date, another poster will just merrily post away seeing as it's active and no warning to let them know. So, a permanent lock or permanent notice band (for subsequent posters) both on the first page (over the OP) and comment box would be helpful.

And if we go the locking route instead of a notice band, the OP can still resurrect their own thread if they want.

It just helps those of us who don't want to read a resurrected thread or post advice on an issue that was posted 10 years ago to move on. The thread will be there for others to read.

OP posts:
FourWordsImMuNiTy · 28/05/2021 12:39

The problem with you posting is that it’s blatantly obvious that many people posting at the bottom of a resurrected zombie thread haven’t read recent posts, they’ve just skim read the OP and piled in. You need something right up at the top which doesn’t go away after the first post. Maybe highlight the OP’s date in red if it’s more than six months ago.

I got a hundred posts into the saga of the DH and broken train ticket machine before reading a post that said “Can’t he buy it online? for heaven sake it’s 2017!” Grin

MNHQ
soniamumsnet · 28/05/2021 12:31

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

ShirleyPhallus · 28/05/2021 11:56

If we had this though we wouldn’t have had that priceless thread where a poster responded to herself years later on a thread looking for pram recommendations Grin

JemimaTiggywinkle · 28/05/2021 11:55

I’m making a note to come back to this thread in 10 years to ask for an update

roguetomato · 28/05/2021 11:53

Yeah, it's very annoying to respond to a thread and find that was years old.
I clicked on to 3 consecutive zombie thread this morning from random years.
If one odd thread has been revived, it can be a genuine reason behind it, but seeing so many, I can't shake off the thought something sinister is going on.

MyDcAreMarvel · 28/05/2021 11:30

@HotToddyColdSauvignon I mean the new information can be relevant. I do t find them annoying at all, if anything it’s quite amusing, brightens up the day.

ticktockriojaoclock · 28/05/2021 10:42

Why not leave them up, and posters can decide whether to read or post on them or not? Some have useful info or links. If you've wasted time reading old threads that's on you, surely?