To ask for zombie threads to be locked

[kawliga]

Gah, just poured my heart out on a zombie thread. Not for the first time. Nothing worse than giving advice to a poster only to realize she had that problem in 2009 and she has definitely moved on by now.

[PHeadPH]

YANBU

I don't understand the logic of allowing zombie threads and for the zombie thread warning to disappear once a zombie thread has been resurrected with a few posts.

It's ANNOYING

BTW you should report this thread so that MNHQ sees it.

[kawliga]

Good point, should have posted in site stuff. Sorry MNHQ.

[Toooldtobearsed]

MNHQ will be after you soon for posting in aibu😐

I posted similar a couple of days ago, asking for the zombie warning at the beginning of the thread. MNHQ repliedreplied to say i was not bu to ask, and she would ask techs, but was bu for not posting in site stuff.......

I did point out that this request has been made in site stuff ad nauseum with no action taken.

Good luck! Warning at beginning and a better search facility would improve things no end!

[Sparklingbrook]

It matters when it's bumped by a spammer or a troll then nobody RTFT and starts responding to the OP from 2007 or something.

[kawliga]

usually by a spammer or troll

This. Usually it is a spammer who bumps it up. Just to be clear, I do search threads from google and love reading old threads, so it is good that the threads are immortal and will be on the internet forever and ever (ha, long live MN).

But I have never been guilty of responding to an old thread that I have pulled up from google, obviously. The danger begins when a spammer bumps it up, then lots of posters pile in without realizing that it's a nasty spammer who resurrected it.

[beetroot2]

Does it matter? Other's read it.

[Sparklingbrook]

The bumping of a zombie thread from years ago by the OP can't happen very often at all.

I think AIBU should go after 90 days TBH.

[AntiqueSinger]

Typos!

[AntiqueSinger]

I think YABU.

Original posters sometimes like to update their threads. Doesn't happen often on AIBU but fairly common on relationships, or TTC threads that entail a bit of progression and significant back story. Some people prefer to update a thread rather than start a new one explaining what happened and all the details All. Over. Again.

Sometimes a lurker feels the thread closely reflects their own circumstances and posts under the thread, instead of starting their ownbecause, they identify with it, and have read the responses and want to receive responses from the same posters.

I search old threads for info all the time. I recently wanted to research people's opinions were on a form of clothing for exeama and am glad that MNHQ do not automatically delete threads that are years old.

[TipBoov]

Yes it would be a good idea for the warnings to stay permanently.

[Sparklingbrook]

If a thread that is pages long suddenly appears in Trending and you have never seen it before=zombie.

Funny how it's always the pages long threads that get bumped. usually by a spammer or troll.

I don't understand why the Zombie warning can't be at the start and end of the thread and permanent.

[dodobookends]

Someone who's too stupid to Google?
Duchess, quite often the old zombie threads are found by people who have Googled.

[TheDuchessOfArbroathsHat]

Of course locking any thread over a year old would make sense. I can't think of any reason not to do this. The OP can either start a new one to update or ask HQ to unlock. If the only reason not to ditch these stupid zombie threads is that either the OP might come back (pigs might bloody fly too!) or the 'information might be useful to someone' (who? Someone who's too stupid to Google?). Is there an official line on just why threads from some topics are kept in perpetuity?

[TipBoov]

Locking would make sense. Especially if it meant getting rid of that ridiculous zombie cartoon.

[shitchef]

YA definitely NBU. Why not at least put the warning at the top in huge letters?

[ALemonyPea]

If they can't lock it, then maybe put something at the top of a zombie thread so you don't read half the bloody thing before realising. Or highlight the Op in a zombie colour so you know straight away.

[TheDrsDocMartens]

I think lock and the op can ask for it unlocked. Or don't lock relationships, post natal clubs etc which may be returned to.

[MamehaSan]

Posted too soon! I think there should be a permanent "old thread" warning at the top of the page so that it's clear that it's a zombie before you get suckered into reading it all. At least then you can decide whether to carry on or not.

[ThatsMyStapler]

surely with the wonders of technology they could lock a thread after 60 days of no action????

[ghostyslovesheep]

If you read threads as a whole page rather than individual pages Zombie threads are MUCH easier to spot - as are ZOMBIE alerts

I am baffled as to why people continue to click through endless pages!

[MamehaSan]

Been caught out by this myself a few times too. I think the problem is that when a zombie is first resurrected, the zombie alert is present at the bottom of the screen. But after a few / one (?) posts, the alert disappears.

[StarryIllusion]

What about locking them after a year but giving the option to the op to unlock it? Would that be workable?

[redexpat]

I have seen one thread resurrected by an op in relationships.

[wol1968]

Yes, good idea, except it might take a bit more work than the 3 and a half volunteers that MNHQ have on duty can handle (let's face it, they can't even keep on top of the trolls half the time).