Zombie Thread alert banner

[OnTheBenchOfDoom]

Could there be a banner at the top of the thread like the MNHQ have commented but in a different colour? Maybe a year after the OP was created? Or if it hasn't been commented on for x number of months?

It would mean you don't have to scroll all the way to the bottom to see the zombie thread alert. Also if someone has posted knowing it is a zombie thread it is not immediately obvious following that.

I know the obvious answer is to look at the date on the OP and you would think after 14 years I would have learned, alas, I have not.

I cannot be alone in this.

Zombie threads are often raised by spammers.

Add year/month of post to the start of the title

Eg
2021-Jan. Zombie Thread alert banner26

@grapewine

Why can't threads be locked for new comments when they're a year old or something? So many of these zombie threads around lately.

Agreed. It's getting ridiculous. There are easy fixes to this, if MNHQ actually wanted to stop the zombie thread resurgence. Although I expect we'll bear it in mind means nothing will actually change.

@MNHQ I know it probably isn't high on your priorities list but it is incredibly frustrating to read a thread and want to comment and engage only to realise that the woman in question was wondering about vet school in June of last year.

The prevalence of zombie threads is either more prolific than usual or maybe we are just noticing it more because of lockdown. But it is an issue and so easy to miss the OP's thread date.

I think my banner idea is a really good one.

At the top, just like your MNHQ one but a different colour.

@MNHQ can I second what OP has asked above?

It is worse than ever - there have been some from 2007 this week.

Not spammers, just posters asking for an update after 14 years!!!

Hi @OnTheBenchOfDoom @SparkysMagicPiano thanks for your suggestions and we'll take on board the feedback to make that messaging stand out more. We do include a zombie thread warning before people post, but people still post.

Thanks again for the comments.

@soniamumsnet but that lovely drawing you did of the zombie simply does not deter people from posting.

A banner, how hard can it be? Just a banner. I feel like Olaf, just knock.

Maybe I could get a chant going "banner, banner, banner" I can't do a march as we are in lockdown. If I wave a bottle of gin would it help? Look I love MN, you have, as a collective, kept me sane and happy all these years. At the moment though this is frustrating with zombie threads everywhere.

@grapewine

Why can't threads be locked for new comments when they're a year old or something? So many of these zombie threads around lately.

Nooooo

It's lovely to get updates from the OP, they'd get lost if they started a new thread.

@soniamumsnet

How about any OP (not last post) a year or so old making the thread title a different colour? (Lurid green for Zombies)

Please don't make them unable to be updated!

@soniamumsnet

Hi *@OnTheBenchOfDoom* *@SparkysMagicPiano* thanks for your suggestions and we'll take on board the feedback to make that messaging stand out more. We do include a zombie thread warning before people post, but people still post.

Thanks again for the comments.

@soniamumsnet. But as others have pointed out, that doesn't work after one poster has posted AND even if it stayed, that's a too late to stop you reading through hundreds of posts before you get a message in the posting box.

I usually realise by recognising an old poster name, get excited that they're back, only to discover it's an older thread. So disappointing.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3110001-Neighbor-complaint-people-using-his-drive-to-turn

And another...

@CharityDingle

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3110001-Neighbor-complaint-people-using-his-drive-to-turn

And another...

Yep, the current Zombie warning just isn't working. Also as others have said it's pointless, as once the thread has been posted on it disappears. Unfortuntaely I really can't see MN doing anything more to stop it. I guess more people posting = a good thing for them, despite the threads being ancient.

You could also stop them appearing in Trending Now

I agree with a previous suggestion of locking them from comments from anyone but the OP after 6 months or a year.

There's simply no purpose to allow threads to be continously resurrected by anyone who does a quick google search and as has been pointed out numerous times the zombie banner is useless as the minute they are resurrected it vanishes.

I agree with a previous suggestion of locking them from comments from anyone but the OP after 6 months or a year

Yes, this would work.

Here's another one from today:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2800513-Interfering-mil

Yes I think the zombie notice worked when it was added but changes to the way replying works have made it obsolete.

Also it unzombies after about two posts, which isn't enough. It should only unzombify after say 10. That's enough for a couple of people to respond and then one it two posters to point out it's ancient history and the original commenter/s to post an embarrassed but humorous response.

Whereas if there are more than 10 new posts, it's probably been resurrected for a reason.

I don't think old posts should lock. There are occasionally good reasons to bump an old thread.

Agree with Bertie. It’s really nice when classic threads get reanimated by someone so they can reach a new audience. However I do think there should be a better way of highlighting that they’re old threads so you know as soon as you start looking at it.

When does a thread become a Zombie?

I was just looking at something that's a year old & there was no warning!

I think it's the length of time since the last post.
I don't think we should lock threads after a certain amount of time - some of them intentionally roll on, and some are resurrected by the OP to update.

HOWEVER, I agree that some BIG POINTERS TO THE DATE might be useful on the OP after, say, a year, or a 'heads up' banner. As per the OP, I should be able to look at the date, but even if I do then sometimes I forget it's 2021...!

I'm curious - why can't the date be in larger type with the year in bold?