For the 9th time - zombie threads

[BIWI]

There's obviously a reason why people don't realise threads are zombie threads - partly it's because the warning posted by MNHQ only applies to the first person who posts on a thread. Thereafter, it's down to posters replying to that first person.

But even if people then go on to post 'this is a zombie' thread, it gets ignored - highlighting just how many people don't bother to read anything other than the OP.

I know it's been asked about before on here, but nothing ever seems to get done - you say you'll pass it on to the tech team, or will raise it at your next meeting (or whatever), but still it carries on.

Is there a reason why nothing has changed?

(I know some posters don't care, but there are a lot of us for whom this is really irritating, so I'm asking for me and all of those )

I agree op and think that some sort of colour coding would be good, or a complete change in colour/ style for the "new" posts, plus the "heads up" message being kept (modified) for the first 25 or so new posts.

I think a lot of zombies are resurrected by people finding them from google, those people wouldn’t necessarily know that a different colour meant zombie, or even notice it was a different colour

True, but the irritation is mostly about people that post after the resurrecting post, who won't see the "heads up" message on the text box.

@MagentaRocks

There have been suggestions before that MNHQ will look at but don't. One suggestion I and others made was a traffic light system. The posts change to a green background up to 6 months old, orange 6 to 12 months and red for over 12 months.

What about the threads that are genuinely running for over those period of times?

What about the threads that are genuinely running for over those period of times?

Time should be since last post rather than first, obviously.

It's especially irritating when the 'new' poster just spouts something that's already been said loads of times in the thread cancel the cheque.

I'll try out any solution tbh, I find it so bloody irritating.

@ErrolTheDragon

What about the threads that are genuinely running for over those period of times?

Time should be since last post rather than first, obviously.

I agree with this. And I am definitely fed up of Zombie posts. It's one of the worst things about MN TBH, very offputting. It seems like it would be a relatively simple fix but MNHQ don't want to do it for some reason. Outdated site architecture maybe?

I think the problem is compounded by the fact that you can open a thread, completely ignore the date and the fact that there are hundreds of posts and scroll down page 1 to the "add your message here" box.

If you had to get to the end of the thread before a message box was available then it might mean that people notice that the most recent posts all refer to it being a zombie thread or not, as many posters barely read the OP let alone any subsequent posts

I genuinely can’t understand why people get worked up about zombie threads.

It’s a discussion site. So the issue of the zombie thread may be something that resonates with a poster and so the discussion takes off again.

I wish they would put back the little zombie figure. That's was when MNHQ had a sense of humour.

I genuinely can’t understand why people get worked up about zombie threads

I genuinely don't want any advice from people who just read the OP, don't take note of the date and have such little interest in what anyone else thinks that they can't even be bothered to look for any updates from the OP or even glance at the most recent posts.

@Oftenithinkaboutit

I genuinely can’t understand why people get worked up about zombie threads.

It’s a discussion site. So the issue of the zombie thread may be something that resonates with a poster and so the discussion takes off again.

But lots of us do

Particularly when it's resurrecting a thread where the OP has very likely already resolved their issue!

@Oftenithinkaboutit

I genuinely can’t understand why people get worked up about zombie threads.

It’s a discussion site. So the issue of the zombie thread may be something that resonates with a poster and so the discussion takes off again.

I'm not worked up, I'm irritated. For example there was a recent thread where the op talked about her 1yo. Years later she resurrected it to talk about her now-3yo. Tons of ppl responded to the op with baby advice etc which was wasting space and time for anyone trying to read it as it was completely irrelevant. And hard to distinguish which posts were about the current situation and which were about the baby situation from years ago.

So it hugely derailed from, and confused, any actual discussion.

Of course the discussion can pick up after a length of time but you'd want it to acknowledge the current point. Things have usually changed massively from the op. Hundreds of new "ltb" posts don't help.

But if you don’t like them
Can’t you just…. Move to another thread?

‘It makes posters look ridiculous?’ Really? I mean I really don’t think it does. Who really cares. I imagine most posters here who do, have a lot of time on their hands or not very much to worry about.

@WithMyEncyclopedia just don’t read it then!

Exactly

I’ve got a lot from zombie threads in the past.

The issue being discussed is often still relevant to some irrespective of how long ago first posted

Threads don’t appeal to me. I click, read, close

Why can’t you do the same?

Someone may already have mentioned this, but have you thought about some sort of warning system on zombie threads?

(Sorry, couldn’t resist. I’ll get my coat…)

@Oftenithinkaboutit

But if you don’t like them Can’t you just…. Move to another thread?

The annoyance is when you spent a lot of time reading through the thread without realising the dates and then it becomes clear that you've wasted your time.

The other annoyance is when people search for a keyword (this happens a lot on Education threads where people search for a school name) and then they add a post to every single thread regardless of when it was originally posted asking how the OP's experiences, thereby filling up the board with old threads.

I agree that threads should be locked if not posted on for a certain time. If the OP wishes to add an update, they can always start a new post and link to their old thread.

Perhaps just read the date if bothered
It is on the opening banner of the OP!

[quote Hopeisallineed]@WithMyEncyclopedia just don’t read it then![/quote]
Just don't read what?

Zombie threads are frequently resurrected on the Sleep Board.

The issue is only with lazy posters who've not bothered to read the OP accurately enough to notice the date.

There are some threads (one in particular) that are ancient but it is usefully bumped for reference to new posters. I wouldn't want to lose that ability.

I don't see a problem with new posters asking "how did this turn out?". Often the old OP of the zombie thread does come back to answer. Or a new poster reads, uses and posts on a zombie thread saying that the advise is helpful.

On the sleep board the ability to look back at older problems is really valuable, because issues with baby sleep are universal and the same problems are solved year after year after year.

So IMO the answer to this would come from highlighting the date posted (for posters who don't bother to look properly), rather than suggesting new posters don't post on zombie threads. You then get the option to open a thread, see it's a zombie and leave. Or open a thread, see If it's a zombie and still scroll to the bottom while knowing it's a zombie.

Zombie threads are frequently resurrected on the Sleep Board.

The issue is only with lazy posters who've not bothered to read the OP accurately enough to notice the date.

Lazy.

More perhaps… sleep deprived?

I don't think anybody would want threads to be deleted though @FATEdestiny. So the good advice would still be available.

So IMO the answer to this would come from highlighting the date posted (for posters who don't bother to look properly), rather than suggesting new posters don't post on zombie threads. You then get the option to open a thread, see it's a zombie and leave. Or open a thread, see If it's a zombie and still scroll to the bottom while knowing it's a zombie.

Yes, this thread is about suggesting how it can be made completely clear to all posters that the op was a very long time ago. Not that they shouldn't post on it. The colour coding is the best idea imo.

Any thoughts from MNHQ?

I like zombie threads, they add to the variety of posts, which are getting a bit samey of late.