Zombie threads

[BoneyBackJefferson]

I know that its been said before but could you at least put the zombie thread alert back on the top and bottom of these threads.

Or lock them unless requested by the OP.

Agree

Agree. X1000

Hi folks. We know this is something that comes up regularly and we need a better solution. The good news is we are going to make some changes to improve the zombie thread issue. The bad news is you'll have to bear with us a bit longer we're afraid - there are a few more urgent jobs which take precedence to crack on with first. We'll let you know as soon as we're close though - thanks for your patience thus far.

Yup

I don't see a problem with zombie threads tbh. There is no problem known to man, so an old thread with, say, BF problems, has as many solutions helpful to a new mother today as it did 2 years ago!

No problem NEW to man

Why are all these zombie threads being bumped and taking over the forum? Anyone know what's going on?

In theory you're right Dodgy. But in practice a) 99% of revivifications are by spammers and b) people don't realise they're Zombie threads so they just reply specifically to the OP - who is long gone.

What could a spammer gain from reviving an old thread though, especially if it could be helpful for someone else later down the road?

Noooooo, some of the zombie threads are far funnier than current threads - leave them as they are!

Nobody's saying we should delete them - just stop people reviving them willy nilly.

It's fine if people want to revive an old thread, and it's everyone's choice if they want to post on it.

Its just it makes life easier all round to highlight it's 13 years old (for example) so people are aware and can at least make an informed choice knowing that!

I tend to mainly engage with the OP of a thread, e.g. To give my FWIW opinion or support. That's mainly why people post esp in AIBU, they want current opinion. I personally feel it's bad form (and feels spammy) to resurrect a thread for no reason.

I hate it when you read a long thread, decode your reply and then realise that actually no one cares because it was 4 years ago!

What could a spammer gain from reviving an old thread though, especially if it could be helpful for someone else later down the road

They don't do it to help anyone. Often their post is of little relevance to anyone, but because it will be deactivated, other posters then add their opinion not realising it's 10 years old or whatever.

From time to time you'll get a spammer who will revive multiple threads in quick succession, adding a spurious message, a dodgy link etc. I've seen it happen - they do it to sabotage.

Sorry because it has reactivated the thread ...

From time to time you'll get a spammer who will revive multiple threads in quick succession, adding a spurious message, a dodgy link etc. I've seen it happen - they do it to sabotage.

Unfortunately a poster with the username Ava7Susan has done this across the entire relationship board. The posts have been hidden so I don't know what they say. However, because the boards are organised in order of the thread with the most recent post (even when that post has been deleted/hidden), the first page of the relationship board is almost entirely composed of zombie threads.