Zombie threada

[RhubarbRhubarbRhubarbRhubarb]

Am I the only one who finds these fecking annoying? I know I’m probably not, based on the responses when someone resurrects an ancient thread.

Why are these so easy to add to? Could they not just be closed for more comments after a certain length of time? I’ve seen this on other sites. Why doesn’t it happen here? I’m sure there’s a good reason, I just don’t know what it is!

*threads

I agree with you. Drives me mad when you start reading a thread only to realise part way in its years old. I always then scroll to the end and see why it has been resurrected. It is usually someone commenting as if it is an active thread. Weird. I don’t know how or why people do it.

I think people google a question; like, I don’t know “what are the real benefits of breastfeeding?” or “do people like the name Orlando?”, an ancient mumsnet thread will come up, the person can easily log in with google or Facebook and add to the thread. I remember ages before I ever thought about joining MN, I read loads of old threads when they popped up on google. If they were closed for additional comments, people could still read but not comment.

We had this conversation only a few days ago. It starts as being about thread deletions but zombie threads are discussed further down and some sensible comments were made. Here it is www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/3262434-AIBU-to-wish-mumsnet-didnt-delete-the-whole-thread?msgid=78381943

Ah thanks @alpaca. So they’re asking the “big bosses” at MNHQ about it?

Yes @Rhubarb... but it looks like I wouldn't hold your breath!

They have been ‘asking’ for a very long time. We keep getting told they will get back to us - never happens

To be fair this is not always delibrate - sometimes it is, but not always.

There are two pages I have found where the trending box is out of date and can be by several years, no one who sees threads in a box called trending is going to be checking dates.

One of these pages is the "getting started" page - people using such a page would be new to MN and unaware that the trending box is anything but, the other page is the non advanced search (which are also not returned in date order). I've reported these errors repeatedly to MNHQ and nothing has been done and I've been reporting them for years. Fixing those pages would help alleviate some zombie threads being reactivated, yet correcting these pages has not happened.

I've done it by accident myself.

I think it’s almost always by accident. But it’s still annoying. I’m annoyed at the system, not the person who inadvertently adds to an ancient thread.

I really hate them. It then sometimes confuses me too and I’m there adding to the thread not realising how old it is. I haven’t actually resurrected one myself, but I have commented. It’s very confusing and easy to mistake an old thread for a current one. Other sites close threads. I just don’t get why MN don’t 🤷‍♀️.

Really hate zombie threads I mean!

Some of my favourite threads are resurrected zombie threads

But there’s a classics board for the best old threads. When people inadvertently reopen an old one, it just ends up with people getting confused and lobbing insults at some poster who said something a bit goady in 2006 or something. It’s so boring and confusing all at once as the 2006 poster is probably long gone, so just some confused person ranting at nobody. But if that’s what floats your boat... .

I think for some threads, it's ok especially if it's a niche subject. But I don't know why they just don't delete or lock AIBU threads after 6 months.

Aibu and also baby names can get confusing I think.

I’ve seen so many baby name threads where someone asked about a name years ago and someone says oh no, not that name, it’s a bit ugly. Then someone googles the name and accidentally resurrects it saying, “how dare you say the name X is ugly? That’s my ds’s / dh’s / dad’s name and he’s wonderful I tell you! WONDERFUL”! Then they only get more hurtful comments when other posters pop on to say “oh sorry I don’t like it either”. That’s no good for anyone.

I guess things like sports, where it’s just people looking for advice which won’t change and which is relevant for lots of different people in different circumstances, that could be useful.

Things like relationships, where it’s very specific to a couple, I don’t really see the merit in keeping them open forever.

Chat threads disappear eventually don’t they? Maybe I should just stick to the chat boards.

Not all sites close threads, none of the others I post on do and, they don't have the same problem.

It's not difficult, MN need to show dates on searches and fix those pages which show old threads in trending/discussions of the day as well as putting up a warning a thread is old at the top of each page and the point where a new post is written.

Doing that would go a very long way to fixing the problem. It's not even as if the glitches happen and all the threads are from the same day it's completely random.

Locking old threads would just put people off posting because they'd be clicking on threads that were locked not understanding why, especially it happening on "getting started".

If you're going to have boxes with "discussion of the day" and "trending" it's vital all threads in it are current on every page across the site, the fact it's a big site when you have people telling you, repeatedly, of pages where it repeatedly happens instead of complaining it's just x or y page so it doesn't matter on such a big site (as has happened when I've mentioned it) is, frankly, a little lazy.

I've been a webmaster, hence notifying if I find glitches (and this isn't a glitch that I'm referring to when it happens every time - it's an error) I get times when it happens elsewhere randomly as well. I would just fix it and move on, no way would I let a page called "getting started" new users are directed to use be generating out if date threads in discussions of the day/trending.