MN pleeeeease consider CLOSING OLD THREADS...

[Userguaranteed]

...and only reopen if the OP requests it.

Posters are exhuming threads from ages ago and asking for updates, posting advice, etc. The recent one was from 2012!

I often look at dates now because I've been sucked into zombie threads many times in the past but sometimes I forget, especially if the thread hasn't got too many replies.

Can MN close zombie threads from say a year? There's nothing more to be said - let it go [in Elsa's voice].

I get that, but if you started a post because your cat got put down in 2015 and you were sad about it, you really don't need to click on it again in 2021 even if you got a notification

I can see both sides. Especially in the case of an upsetting event for the poster.

But for every other life issue, scenario, info etc. the open threads are super useful. So many other forums lock posts and when you search rather than finding a couple of regularly added-to posts you get 100s of posts about the same thing with varying opinions and no resolution.

On balance I am for open threads. There is always the option to remove a post by the OP if they contact MN.

Personally I don't want to see them locked as sometimes a resurrection can be worthwhile.

What I'd rather see is the thread change to a specific colour that signals that it's been inactive for 6 months prior to the poster who resurrected it.

We can all set colour preferences on settings so I can't see it being a huge issue to pick a bright green for example that override your preferences on a zombie thread so it's really easy to see and then determine if it's worthwhile posting - which sometimes it might be.

@RogueMNerHidesUnderBigHat

I get that, but if you started a post because your cat got put down in 2015 and you were sad about it, you really don't need to click on it again in 2021 even if you got a notification

It was trending though so hard to miss!

I think a lot of us just want the warning to remain even if someone does post on it after whatever length of time.

Or that the OP has a warning/is a different colour.

Or that they are locked & only Op can resurrect/update.

The people who are wanting them locked down are adding strength to their argument by suggesting they cause hurt and suffering.
If a thread is likely to upset you, don't click on it

May cause distress to the original poster, not me. Not "adding strength" to anything, it happens and everyone who cares can see it. I wouldn't use something like that to "add strength" to a request to lock old threads or add something permanent to them to show they're old if my only concern was being "embarrassed".

I suspect most people who don't like a zombie are annoyed at the time wasted or embarrassed that they've posted outdated advice.

Annoyed at time wasted reading comments and planning to post, yes (This is 90% what happens to me because I often read comments before posting). Embarrassed? No. If I posted, I would only still be annoyed that I did unless it's relevant. Why would I be embarrassed on a forum full of anonymous strangers?

I don't mind reading old threads if they're entertaining by the way - I just want to know they're old threads, not current ones because they're on Active.

@RogueMNerHidesUnderBigHat

I get that, but if you started a post because your cat got put down in 2015 and you were sad about it, you really don't need to click on it again in 2021 even if you got a notification

Don't think you do because this post is very insensitive and shows a rather weird entitlement. So in this example, the OP can fuck off and not read their own post ("even if they got a notification") if it's too upsetting to them because everyone else has the right to resurrect and merrily post away on an old thread about their dead cat. Yet everyone else can't just fuck off and not exhume an old thread about a dead cat by posting on it for their own entertainment? They can't just read the thread and walk away without posting their pearls of wisdom?

I love a zombie thread.

You love reading resurrected threads where, say, someone"s cat was put down after a distressing time? Really? Where a thread is likely to cause distress with people not bothering to read it all, tagging the OP and thus filling up the notifications with her thread title? You love all that? Have a think about that.

There have been so many Zombie threads in Trending/Active recently and in most cases they haven't been funny or amusing, they've been about someone's real-life (presumably; assuming not troll) problems which are almost certainly resolved or irrelevant now. When a thread is trending it's not unreasonable to expect it to be a recent one, and if it's a topic on which someone feels they can give advice, it's easy to waste time reading dozens or more replies before spotting the date.

Locking threads from further posts from all but the OP while keeping the thread visible to read would be ideal (although I agree that there's no reason an OP couldn't start a new thread and link to the old one, since so many people only seem to read the first post before wading in), but at the very least a banner like that which says 'MNHQ have commented...' but in a different colour, which also shows up on the app, would be a vast improvement.

but at the very least a banner like that which says 'MNHQ have commented...' but in a different colour, which also shows up on the app, would be a vast improvement.

Well I still agree, sigh.

But please MNHQ could you explain why you really really don't see it this way?

Of course its easy to be hoodwinked into replying to a years old thread. Especially when it shows up as trending. Really annoying.

I ageee!

Is this an old thread? I didn't check

This thread hasn't been resurrected yet though I have seen some threads about zombies later get turned into zombie threads

Oh , I love the resurrected zombie threads - especially when OP comes back 10 years later to update (eg carpet thread, husband not telling OP about his day off from work spent at home)

I like having the option to pick up conversations from the past because people, not just the OP, may come back and add to it. There was one recently that was 3 years old and some posters had updated with really helpful info. It's up to you to as the reader look at the date and not bother if you don't want to.

One other advantage of closing old threads would be to stop all the bloody spammers resurrecting them!

Thing is, there are more than enough threads for people to comment on. Why would you want to comment on one that's years old? Especially if there's the potential to upset the original OP?

Exactly. I think a lot of old threads are resurrected by mischief makers. Especially relationship type ones.

The few times I have seen a genuine OP return with an update I find they tend to start a new thread and link the old one. Anyone with some brain cells can see that's a better option than ressurecting an old thread and hoping for people to read all the way to the update.

Yet another Zombie thread from 2018 I was duped into replying to. It really is too annoying.

@soniamumsnet

Hi - just dropping in to say thanks for the feedback. Where possible we post when a 'zombie' thread has been resurrected, but we're happy to take your comments on board.

There needs to be a very clear indication at the top of a post that this is a zombie post that doesn't disappear after the first 'new' post. That way posters have the option of scrolling to the end to see if it is worth investing time and effort in reading and posting.

@Viviennemary

Yet another Zombie thread from 2018 I was duped into replying to. It really is too annoying.

Same here although I didn't actually respond, I just wasted time reading 90% of it before clocking the date.

It's probably the 4th or 5th I've clicked on in the last 2 days. It's getting tiresome.

@soniamumsnet

Hi - just dropping in to say thanks for the feedback. Where possible we post when a 'zombie' thread has been resurrected, but we're happy to take your comments on board.

And how does that help? That sounds snarky, but seriously, do you have anything to suggest that people who boost an old thread take any notice of your post?

I had thought this a few weeks back - the only person who should be able to revive an old thread is the OP. So yes, maybe lock threads 6 months (12?) after the OP last posts, and make it so they can and only they can revive it again.

Of course MN don't have an issue with zombie threads, though, as every click generates income

Agree , just close them after 6 months from the last post. Just make sure they are linkable so if someone wants to refer to the post they can link it in a new thread

Especially if there's the potential to upset the original OP?

Ive seen awful miscarriage threads bumped after 2 years , totally inappropriate

That sort of ressurecting is surely malicious, very nasty.