Locking old threads

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Dear MNHQ - I know this discussion has been had before but is it worth considering locking threads after a certain period of time, say a year or so, so that they don't suddenly appear in Active and prompt a bunch of new posters to reply to an OP that is several years old?

There's one on defibrillators that is 3.5 years old, that has just been reanimated by someone who works with defibrillators - I suspect a bot has trawled websites looking for "active" threads, which this one would appear to be as it's not locked out, and the poster has therefore posted on it.

What do you think about locking out zombie threads?

I'm pretty sure there is a Zombie warning on the mobile site, but it only appears on the first 2 posts?

Locking old Threads is a good idea - perhaps just with a friendly note that on this forum they are very welcome to start a new thread on the subject, and here's how?

Id guess that some Zombie Threads are reanimated because in some forums it is bad netiquette to start a new thread on a topic when one already exists.

I think locking after so long is a great idea. Keep the threads as old one are often useful.

Yes lock them, I've asked on here many times. And give the option for Op to email HQ to unlock to update.

"Id guess that some Zombie Threads are reanimated because in some forums it is bad netiquette to start a new thread on a topic when one already exists."

This is very true - just like other forums (fora?) have differing attitudes to swearing, text-speak, choice of slang etc, plus have other funny little habits.

Underlying question - do users want to keep MN roughly as it is?

If so, then tweaking the zombie warning might be a way to do it. If I ruled MN, I'd keep the current version for threads up to 1 year since last post. Then have a permanent zombie, or change of colour for older zombies.

Id guess that some Zombie Threads are reanimated because in some forums it is bad netiquette to start a new thread on a topic when one already exists.

That's true, but presumably even there it is good form to take the discussion on from the point it's reached. Not pile in to tell an OP who agreed she was unreasonable 3 years ago that she's BVVVVVVU!!!!!

Nobody would say 'OMG not this again we had this 5 years ago' if a new thread was started.

I would scrap AIBU after 90 days the same as Chat.

What's the issue ?

Yes please to locking threads

If needs be then new thread with link to locked one.

How about at least locking old AIBU threads? Because those are the ones that attract the most vitriol, the posters who only read the OP and jump in with their "YABU!! ", when the OP has often realised that they were BU years previously.

I don't think I've seen a re-animated thread outside of AIBU that's been unpleasant; but some of the AIBU ones are baaad.

I really don't like seeing OPs being continually kicked.

Yes please.
Definitely AIBU.

Also, I spend most of my MN time at Relationships.
We often see sex worker threads revived years after the OP is long gone, usually someone mansplaining telling us about "men's needs" and promoting a certain website. On the divorce/break up/heartbreak threads we get the 'spell caster' spammers picking up threads years after the last post. In both of these scenarios they're then reported to HQ which takes time for them to read and delete as necessary.
In either of these cases, if OP wants to come back with an update they can always start a new thread and link to their original.

I can only think of Post natal clubs that might want to post on the same thread a year later. A thread about individual circumstances can be linked on a new thread.

I also think AIBU should be deleted after a while. Maybe after a month of no comments.

Music to my ears this suggestion - in fact, I'd go further and go for active culling after a certain time. Anyone like to calculate the rough number of actual words on AIBU alone if - say - you wanted to do an Advanced Search? (3395 pages x 50 threads per page x Y posts per thread x Z words per post?)

If I was Tech, culling would be on my wish list for Xmas for sure. I doubt theres the slightest real chance of getting Advanced Search on the App until someone has sorted out this one. Even maintaining it on the main site must be horrendously difficult and that's apart from the problems of having old threads with wrong information knocking around.

Maybe MNHQ should be thinking about a policy for locking/culling than ways to deal with an increasing load of words.

I agree with AIBU being deleted after a while too.
Some old threads, like pregnancy, DIY, parenting etc are worth keeping as the answers can be valuable to other people. However most of AIBU is personal and not worth keeping.

YES, YES, YES to highlighting OP posts being automatic. This would a Very Good Thing.

My concern about deleting AIBU threads is that evidence of goady behaviour would also be deleted.

Deleting AIBU completely is quite an appealing idea though...

It is, Maryz - and imagine what it would be like in - say - 5 or 10 years if it went unchecked. (I'm amazed Advanced Search works at all in fact.) I see no option but for MNHQ, at some point, to bite the bullet and slim things down; and, at least, doing it early would, arguably, give us the opportunity for some input into whatever decision was made.

IPity

There would be no need to throw things into the rubbish bin in their entirety. I assume that even if threads were deleted from the publicly accessible site, that MNHQ might still wish access to them for ........evidential purposes. After all, how many people really need to use AS past something like a 6 month limit, for example.

PS - I think your fingers ran out of steam halfway through the process,Maryz. I'm sure Tech will have some figures for you though.

Can I bring this up again?

There is a thread in Property where the op is asking about road noise.
It has suddenly been revived after being dormant since 2011!
Now people are replying, I suspect the op has long ago made her choice about buying the house or not.

YY Pipbin, probably not helped by being made discussion of the day.

I want to know whether she bought the house or not.

Hi all - we are still here, reading and taking all your suggestions on board. We'll continue to discuss what we think is best, but please do keep the suggestions coming. Thanks all.

I agree about locking threads, or indeed deleting them after a certain length of time, as is the case with the Chat threads.
I admit though sometimes I am amused sometimes when a thread is reactivated, and posters start giving advice, or indeed, piling on to tell the OP how unreasonable they are, long after the original issue has presumably been solved.