Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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 - what's wrong with them?

35 replies

hipstercat · 30/05/2019 17:58

My random wondering of the day... Why is it always pointed out with annoyance if someone posts to a zombie thread? Is this part of some kind of internet etiquette I'm unaware of? Why is this bad?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 31/05/2019 14:19

I love the carpet fitter one and it's annual revival. Grin It must be time.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 31/05/2019 14:48

It does depend on what the thread is about surely? In most cases the issues in them remain relevant for years. What would be the problem if this thread gets resurrected in 2026? Isn't part of the advantage of discussion forums to serve as a repository of knowledge? Seeing what people have already said in the past on the issue can be very useful, rather than reinventing the wheel!

GraceMarks · 31/05/2019 15:00

In the case of the "Why do men like stockings and suspenders" thread that gets resurrected every year or so, it's because it gets filled up with slavering wank fantasies from men who only ever post on the Sex topic. That feels a bit icky.

The baby name zombie threads can be annoying when the child whose name was being decided will now be starting at secondary school.

I don't mind general discussion topics being resurrected, but ones where somebody was asking for advice about a specific situation several years ago are annoying.

PCohle · 31/05/2019 15:04

I don't mind general discussion topics being resurrected, but ones where somebody was asking for advice about a specific situation several years ago are annoying.

This is exactly what I was going to say. If it's a thread about flapjack recipes then who the hell cares if it's old. If it's someone asking for advice about a work problem that actually must have been resolved 5 years ago then it's irritating.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 31/05/2019 15:18

I agree OP, i was on one just the other day when the conversation had got into full swing again, all of us fully aware it was a zombie thread, then up pops some idiot going "zombie zombie zombie" as if we're fucking morons. Superior moo honestly, did she think her useless interjection would make us all go, "oh no, i'll just leave this conversation in full swing because of this"?. And I told her that, and mumsnet deleted my comment.

Was that the child modelling thread?

Sparklingbrook · 31/05/2019 19:12

There was one resurrected the other day about expensive cars. The poster that resurrected it got deleted. They also sent me a PM. Confused

freshstartnewme · 31/05/2019 19:18

Omg that buggy one is hilarious Grin

KellyW88 · 01/06/2019 11:42

I’ve been caught out once or twice by not checking the OP date on a bumped thread, so I don’t mind when people point out it’s a zombie thread. The way which some people do it is rather condescending but I shrug it off generally - much more in life to worry about than commenting on an old post by mistake.

Sebeya · 01/06/2019 11:50

I think there's a massive difference between a thread where the OP's question is clearly very specific and time limited (e.g. "would you go to A and E with this injury to my child") and more general questions ("anyone with experience in holidaying in Cornwall?").

Still, there does seem to be a black and white etiquette here on MN about this.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page