Zombie threads

[Nothingyet]

Are there more now than there used to be?
Who restarts them? Is it usually someone doing it for a laugh?
Does reviving an old thread ever serve a useful purpose?

Yes, definitely.
No idea, could be for a laugh but more likely a new poster who doesn't get MN's 'unwritten rules'.
No. I don't think so. They just tend to irritate long time members and never add anything useful to a thread.

MNHQ could help with this if they wanted to, but it's fairly clear they don't.

I think a lot come from Google searches; new posters have searched for something specific and have found the thread, then post on it.

It doesn’t make any commercial sense for MN to stop it. They are getting traffic from it.

Personally I think unless a thread is moved to classics it should be deleted after no updates/ posts after 6 months.

I think it would make sense to lock them.

I get why threads dont get deleted, especially if MN are happy to continue paying to host indefinite numbers of threads, but I dont understand why they dont either lock them after a while (with the OP having an option to contact them to unlock a thread if they have updates etc) or have an archive system.

It would take no time at all to set up archives where any post that hasn't been updated in X amount of time is moved to the archive files. That way they are still there for reference/to generate traffic from searches but anyone posting in a zombie thread will only "reanimate" it in a space intended for old threads

I have no idea why people get so pissy about zombie threads.

@ShesMadeATwatOfMePam

I have no idea why people get so pissy about zombie threads.

Because you can read pages and pages of stuff without clocking the date and then realised the small toddler someone was asking advice about is now of the age were they are starting uni.

I don't mind the chat/non-time sensitive ones coming back. But ones where the poster is asking for specific advice... If the original post is two years old you've got to assume they would have sorted the issue out in someway by now.

I certainly hope MN don't delete old threads. Occasionally I do a Google search for something specific, and old threads come up. I'm always struck by the difference in tone by these old threads in comparison to most of the ones we get today. They seem, in general, to be funnier, friendlier, more uplifting, somehow. A lot of threads now make me quite concerned for our society - not because of the subject matter, but because of how posters relate to each other.

There are several reasons why this may be so: Mumsnet was a smaller and more intimate space ten years ago; most people have had a difficult year and this will affect the way they interact online; and perhaps the subjects I search for tend to attract a jollier group of people than average. Still, I value the bonkers posts and the supportive nature of old Mumsnet threads, so I don't mind when a zombie thread comes back to life.

I’ve seen several lately which were posted on by spammers. MNHQ delete the spam but by then the thread is appearing on the first page in its category so people read and respond without realising.

@ShesMadeATwatOfMePam

I have no idea why people get so pissy about zombie threads.

Me neither. I know people say, ‘Oh, but I got invested in it and it turns out it was all six years ago!’, but it’s all anonymous anyway; if you get so invested that it actively angers you to find out it’s out of date, you’re probably giving MN too much time (and yes, I’m aware I’m giving MN time right now!)

What does make me laugh though is that, when a zombie thread is resurrected, at least 15 people will feel obliged to post ‘Arrggh, zombie thread! FFS 🤬’ or something similar - thereby ensuring the thread stays active and at the top of the pile! If you hate zombies that much, let them die!

It's irritating if your don't realise it's a zombie until near the end.

The best one was someone asking for opinions on a pram - the OP of the thread answered her own question a couple of years later. Appropriately her name was Echo.

if you get so invested that it actively angers you to find out it’s out of date, you’re probably giving MN too much time (and yes, I’m aware I’m giving MN time right now!)

Or you read a post and spend time/effort formulating a response to try and help or support someone in good faith - sometimes on sensitive subjects and sharing personal stories - only to find out that it is a decade old and had been resurrected by someone saying "lol I agree, YABU"

If threads that have not been posted in for more than 6months/a year were moved to an "archive" or automatically locked then they would still be available to read but would not keep reappearing on the front page just because someone googled a random thing and needed to add their opinion on a decade old thread asking for help on dealing with chicken pox

it's nice when the OP comes back to post an update or outcome.

People get told off on MN for starting a thread about something that has already been posted about, so they probably search to see if the can find a thread, then post on it, not realising it's a zombie.

Shame that people do it rather than face the wrath of the rolling eyes and 'this again' comments.

Spammers and trolls tend to reactivate zombie threads. They are always pages long (nobody ever seems to resurrect a short zombie thread ). Then newcomers to it don’t bother reading the thread because it’s TLDR and respond to the OP from ten years ago. That’s why it’s tiresome.
Anyone mentioned the single time it was a bit funny when someone replied to their own ancient thread about a pushchair or something yet?

I don't mind them. At least you may get a resolution!

I haven't spent much time on other forums but I am aware mumsnet seems to have a very quick thread turn over. I don't really understand why there's this issue with so called zombie threads. I get it if someone is asking for specific advice about a situation. But loads of the time it's just chat or sharing experience. So actually it's quite useful rather than starting something new.

There is one about the carpet fitter that resurfaces every year. It's due a resurrection soon I think.

The OP has come back to say the toddler is now a teen and she's divorced and moved house but it'll still reappear with a helpful insight.

I understand it can be frustrating when the moment has passed so to speak but there’s a thread ongoing in AIBU about regretting a good deed where some posters are really excised about it being a zombie thread.

There’s no time sensitivity and the thread is relevant regardless of when posts were submitted.

I also love it when an OP comes back to update.

There is a thing in the message box of old threads that says “This thread has not been posted on in over a year, why not start a new thread?” But it is the same wording whether the thread is one year old or 14 years old. Maybe MNHQ could do something about that?

If they deleted or locked threads after a certain amount of time inactive, we would never have got that woman who answered her own question three years later.

@CounsellorTroi

There is a thing in the message box of old threads that says “This thread has not been posted on in over a year, why not start a new thread?” But it is the same wording whether the thread is one year old or 14 years old. Maybe MNHQ could do something about that?

That message is only visible the first time somebody posts on an old thread.

When, as is often the case, the thread is resurrected by a spammer the message doesn't appear to any subsequent posters.

I have reported a couple of zombies which have been re-activated by spammers recently and MN have deleted the spam and locked the thread. This is progress (albeit very small!).

@Orchidflower1

Personally I think unless a thread is moved to classics it should be deleted after no updates/ posts after 6 months.

They should lock threads after no updates in 3 months and delete after 6 months.

There’s an old thread that I love and watch which is very personal to me. It’s been somewhere for posters to share similar experiences and feelings. Every so often someone new finds the post and adds to it. For me it’s good to know that a) the post is a support to new people who are searching online for someone like them and b) I then know that there are more people who have the same feelings.

@grapewine actually I think you’re right.

I believe it’s because of the search/ google/ clicks revenue that the iron heart of MN won’t though. It’s not a hard task and my cynical head can’t think of another reason why they wouldn’t.