Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Zombie threads - WHY do people start them up?!

107 replies

TeethDrama · 14/01/2017 23:28

Recently there's been (it seems to me) a load of threads which are resurrected zombie threads.

How far back in the pages do you have to go to find a thread from 2009?

Even if one comes up via a search - why would you pick on up from (say) 2010 and post as if it is a current problem?

What kind of MNetter does this?! Grin

If you are one of those MNetters who does this. Why?!

OP posts:
TrustySnail · 15/01/2017 13:52

Just because that's the etiquette on these mysterious 'other forums' doesn't mean that's what it's like on MN.

No, but a new member wouldn't know that and might assume it was general forum etiquette.

TheNoodlesIncident · 15/01/2017 13:54

I've often thought it would be nice if old threads could be closed to new posts. Hence they will be available to read for anyone interested in the same topic or with a similar issue, but they can't be hoisted back into the current threads.

It would also be nice if chronological order applied, seeing as things get updated now and again and the most recent is more likely to be useful.

And also if, in the past, someone had created a thread about finding school trousers that actually cover all your dc's behind rather than allowing the builder's bum issue. But they didn't Sad

Want the moon onna stick, I do.

TheMildManneredMilitant · 15/01/2017 14:10

I hate zombie threads too. Nothing worse than realising you have just read through 25 pages of cat poo drama and it isn't even current. Because if it was current then obviously that's ok and would totally not make me question why I seem to get my kicks from reading about cat poo in other people's gardens.

Topseyt · 15/01/2017 14:13

I can never really get as worked up about the zombie thread issue as some seem to.

I was used to forums where you were expected to check back over previously covered topics before posting anew. MN has so far been the anomaly for me.

If you start a new thread on a commonly discussed topic you are berated because it has been done to death. If you resurrect an old thread then you are slated for that too.

It sometimes seems to me that people think they should get brownie points or even a medal for being the first to shout "ZOMBIE THREAD". Very embarrassing and off-putting for someone who may have just googled for advice on a problem, and it must come across to new members as unfriendly and cliquey.

Anyway, some "zombie threads" can be classics, and interesting despite their age.

Sparklingbrook · 15/01/2017 14:32

I do warn others if it's a zombie thread to save them reading the whole thing, or not reading the whole thing and answering the now long gone OP.

But there's always Hide Thread if I CBA.

I think it must be time for the carpet fitter one again actually. Grin

If I was a newbie I may bump an ancient thread but start with 'I know this is an old thread but I have a similar issue.....'

specialsubject · 15/01/2017 14:36

it is usually a spammer posting on any vaguely relevant thread. Even when the spammer is reported, the thread is still bumped. MN could easily stop this by locking threads over a certain age.

BTW I've never been able to get the search function to work so I don't use it.

ForalltheSaints · 15/01/2017 14:38

I often wondered whether it was to see if they could get something mentioned in the paper that supported the Blackshirts.

Now who is going to revive the beaker thread or the one about rear entry in Center Parts?

Sparklingbrook · 15/01/2017 14:40

It's been a whole 2 months since the carpet thread was last bumped. Shock

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1451929-Help-Carpet-fitter-has-just-stormed-out-AIBU?pg=11

HotchPotchLollipop · 15/01/2017 15:57

Alorsmum yes. Most people were like WTF but there were one or two who seemed to imply there was something offensive about someone waving their arms around like a T Rex and I was "Ok, is this one of these crazy PC things that a few people find offensive that I have never heard of?" (I admit I am not very up with trends regarding what is offensive or not to say these days. I try to respect people and nolt to set out to deliberately offend but the trends of what is ok to say or do or not keeps changing. ..) T'was weird indeed.

EatSpamAmandaLamb · 15/01/2017 16:00

Really want to bookmark this thread and leave a reply in 2024. Grin

OverTheGardenGate · 15/01/2017 16:19

Ive done it twice by accident. I've seen a thread then lost it and searched it and thought I'd found it but I'd found an old similar one. Then posted on it and had some snippy responses, realised what I'd done, felt pretty stupid and embarrassed, and a bit surprised at how scathing the comments were. Name changed so it wasn't held against me, repeated once. I am more careful now I understand how easily it can be done.

VintagePerfumista · 15/01/2017 16:24

Yet again, way to go to alienate new members.

Hardly any other forums work like MN with the rolling Active conversations. When I joined 12 years ago, I came over from a forum that had specific "boards". Over here, I automatically looked for topic areas that would interest me, and I'm sure was "guilty" of the heinous MN crime of resurrecting a zombie thread by daring to post on it.

As others have said, does it actually matter?

HotchPotchLollipop · 15/01/2017 16:25

EatSpamAmandaLamb go for it! I dare you! Wink

HotchPotchLollipop · 15/01/2017 16:27

Exactly VintagePerfumista . I really don't see why people on MN get so het up about it. Hardly crime of the century, is it? Confused

CointreauVersial · 15/01/2017 16:33

As specialsubject says, it's usually a spammer posting something which then gets removed, but the thread has then been bumped to the top of Active Conversations and the next poster doesn't notice.

But I'm another one saying what's the problem?

Obviously it's a bit pointless to offer advice to the OP who has probably forgotten she ever started a thread, but if there's useful information in it, then why not resurrect?

Sparklingbrook · 15/01/2017 16:34

This thread might be quite useful to newbies. Some people have explained why they don't care about old threads and some why they do.

Rufus27 · 15/01/2017 16:35

Think it depends on the context. If it's a one off situational thread, especially a wwyd, it's annoying to reply then realise it's a zombie thread.
However, I have found a number of zombie threads really useful - ones to do with certain medication or products, for example. Ocassionally the OP comes on to do an update, which can be useful as well.

As to why people do it, I guess it's mainly by accident. Only this week I googled for advice on baby bottles' teats and was directed to a mumsnet thread which answered my exact query, despite being years old. It was only knackeredness which stopped me posting for more info before I realised the date. Had I have posted, it certainly wouldn't have been deliberate.

Perhaps, after a certain time, the background colour of threads could be altered as to avoid 'accidental' resurrection?

DesolateWaist · 15/01/2017 16:36

I think the difference between MN and other places is that MN threads tend to be about something the OP is experiencing there and then, and needs support there and then. So granted something like 'my neighbour has put his rubbish is my bin' or school applications might come up all the time the information needed is different each time.

Yes it doesn't really matter but it can be rather pointless to read a thread about someone not sure about buying a certain house only to find that the damn thing is 5 years old.

I think it should be made more obvious in the OP. For example have the OP highlighted in a different colour or have Zombie Thread attached to the title of any thread brought back 6 months after the last post.

Mari50 · 15/01/2017 16:39

I imagine they are googling for advice and the thread is one of the results, I've done this when looking for advice although I wouldn't post as it's obvious it's not current so no point. I also committed the heinous crime of commenting on a zombie post a few months ago before I realised how old it was. The shame.

mrsBeverleygoldberg · 15/01/2017 16:41

I've commented on a zombie thread that was in active without realising. I was so embarrassed.

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 15/01/2017 16:52

I was the one screaming "ZOMBIE!!!" last night. I wouldn't normally, but it was someone spamming the education board and I didn't want people spending ages writing a sensible response to the OP, rather than responding to the bump iyswim.

Sparklingbrook · 15/01/2017 17:00

YY the people shouting ZOMBIE tend to do it more as a public service announcement. They could post 'don't bother reading this it's ancient and the Reception aged child in the OP is now 14 so the OP no longer needs your help'. But just stating 'Zombie' is quicker.

Trainspotting1984 · 15/01/2017 17:19

"I think the difference between MN and other places is that MN threads tend to be about something the OP is experiencing there and then, and needs support there and then. So granted something like 'my neighbour has put his rubbish is my bin' or school applications might come up all the time the information needed is different each time. "

All forums work like this though don't they?

I think MN tends to have a lot of
Inexperienced forums users who have maybe only ever used this platform (like FB) so get more het up about it than they probably should

DesolateWaist · 15/01/2017 17:30

All forums work like this though don't they?

No. The other forum I tend to go to discusses historical events and therefore nowt much tends to need to be answered at exactly that moment. There is much discussion about things which will remain exactly the same whether they are being discussed now or 15 years ago.
I get very cross on there if I start a thread about something only to be told off and informed that there is already an existing thread on it from 2001 and why didn't I look.

Trainspotting1984 · 15/01/2017 17:32

Yes but that's a very specific subject matter. Generally chat forums work like that