Why do people keep reviving threads from years ago?

[tectonicplates]

Why are we seeing so many zombie threads from years ago being revived, and the person who does it just makes a comment as if the conversation only took place yesterday? Not even an "I know this thread is really old, but..."

I think some people just google stuff then when the MN links come up on google they click and post not realising how old the threads are.

"There's nothing new under the sun". Agree with PP, people have googled an issue and found the thread.

Also the search function on the app is absolutely rubbish, I have tried searching for recent threads that I'd not book marked and first links are nothing like what I've searched for

Because people get told off for asking something that has been asked before so they search before they post and don’t always realise the thread is years old

There was one the other day that was 10 years old !!!. I can only think they Googled something and an old thread came up.

Sometimes it's what appears to be a bot that posts initially, then it turns up on the front page of threads and because of that people assume it's a new thread. I've done that about a million times. Once I even read my way down a zombie thread like that, got to one particular answer that I thought was very sensible and insightful and then checked the name and realise it was me from 4 years before

Isn't there a warning? I am sure there's something along the lines of 'this thread hasn't been posted on for ages why not start a new one?'

i get the impression that on other sites it's the done thing, to do it rather than start a new one?

The carpet fitter thread gets revived annually.

@Parbor came to say the same thing. People aren’t allowed to ask the same thing twice here

My favourite was a thread that was 9 years old. When the reviver was challenged, her excuse was 'well, I wanted to know what happened'.

I do think a lot of it is Google. For example, you might Google something your 3 month old did to see if it’s normal and then come up with a thread and jubilantly say oh, thank goodness, my 3 month old does this too! Except it’s from 2008

I don’t know why people get so wound up about it, to be honest. I find it pretty amusing when you realise the posters adorable baby is now a teenager with an attitude.

@Welcometonowhere

I do think a lot of it is Google. For example, you might Google something your 3 month old did to see if it’s normal and then come up with a thread and jubilantly say oh, thank goodness, my 3 month old does this too! Except it’s from 2008

I don’t know why people get so wound up about it, to be honest. I find it pretty amusing when you realise the posters adorable baby is now a teenager with an attitude.

It's weird that it's always the really long threads that get revived, never ones with about three posts. This leads to posters not being arsed to read it all and just replying to the OP offering advice. Or having a go at the OP. Who is long gone generally.

861 messages spanning eight years.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1451929-Help-Carpet-fitter-has-just-stormed-out-AIBU?pg=1

I have often searched MN for certain topics and they bring up really old ones but the dates are clear to see on them so I just read without posting

I remember when a zombie thread exposed a regular poster as a troll as her posts in the zombie thread bore no resemblance to the life she was currently posting

The best one has to be the lady who replied to herself with advice about what buggy was best to buy.... 4 years on

I also do the nodding sagely at someone’s advice on a zombie thread and then realise it was a post by me!

I think if a really long thread pops up in Trending which you have never noticed before then it's likely to be a Zombie.

This is another reason that I find MN a really poor forum overall. On other forums I’m on, threads get closed automatically after a period of time (180 days usually) or there’s an automatic memo that pops up “This thread hasn’t been posted on in a while” at the end of the thread.

Then of course there are all the other issues...lack of an edit function, mods allowing their personal feelings to dictate which racist, LGBT phobic and anti religion posts stay up rather than a blanket ban on any posters who stir up hatred of any kind...but now I’m getting off topic!

@ProudAuntie76

This is another reason that I find MN a really poor forum overall. On other forums I’m on, threads get closed automatically after a period of time (180 days usually) or there’s an automatic memo that pops up “This thread hasn’t been posted on in a while” at the end of the thread.

Then of course there are all the other issues...lack of an edit function, mods allowing their personal feelings to dictate which racist, LGBT phobic and anti religion posts stay up rather than a blanket ban on any posters who stir up hatred of any kind...but now I’m getting off topic!

This is the message that appears on here when you go to post on a Zombie thread-

Heads up - this thread has not been posted on for over a year.
Why not start a new thread instead?

@Sparklingbrook

That appears on some zombie threads, but it seems to be a bit hit and miss.

I have asked MNHQ before if they could make any threads over a year old appear in a different colour (or something else that provides a clue).

What makes me laugh the most is that not only have people not bothered to read the thread or even just the OPs posts, but they haven't spotted that the 6 posts immediately above theirs are shouting ZOMBIE.

This one was enjoyable for its updated replies!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2817116-Horrified-watching-my-aunt-prepare-todays-lunch?pg=12

Well, no-one is forced to read any threads, regardless of their vintage. I suppose sometimes it could be interesting to resurrect an old discussion as the topic is still very relevant. Of course inane gaff and streams, nah, rivers of consciousness should be left well alone. There's only so much bandwidth...

@ineedaholidaynow

I remember when a zombie thread exposed a regular poster as a troll as her posts in the zombie thread bore no resemblance to the life she was currently posting

That must have been quite strange!

I’ve literally just done this within the last 5 minutes .. I googled what to serve with tartlet and an old thread came up . I was going to revive it instead of starting another just to see if there were other suggestions but I’ve gone with herby new potatoes and salad 🥗
Why start another when there was already one there I could have revived . I’m a keen recycler

@HaveANiceFuckingDay

I’ve literally just done this within the last 5 minutes .. I googled what to serve with tartlet and an old thread came up . I was going to revive it instead of starting another just to see if there were other suggestions but I’ve gone with herby new potatoes and salad 🥗 Why start another when there was already one there I could have revived . I’m a keen recycler

I don't think you can really go wrong if you revive a thread about cooking/recipes. Unless 'herby new potatoes and salad' is very '2012' and there's something more 'modern' to have with tartlets in 2020.

But weirdly I have never seen a recipe thread revived. just very long controversial ones. Mmm.