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 )

Oh I can see it on the tablet app but you must pull it down to see the date pop up.

So it does. Well, it had never occurred to me to pull down like that, there didn't seem to be any need to so I'd say that fails the 'discoverability' criteria of interface design. And wtf not just always have the date there anyway?

Yeah it's odd isn't it? I've learned the hard way!

Without zombie threads, we would never have had Echo, who posted asking for advice about a pram and no one replied but then.... she replied to herself years later saying how she thought the pram was great, not realising she was replying to herself. It was funny.

I find them very annoying indeed. But this has been discussed before. No reason why a thread cant be locked after a certain amount of time has passed sincd the last post.

@ImUninsultable

Without zombie threads, we would never have had Echo, who posted asking for advice about a pram and no one replied but then.... she replied to herself years later saying how she thought the pram was great, not realising she was replying to herself. It was funny.

That gets mentioned every time a thread about sorting Zombie threads comes up. As if that's a reason for not sorting them out.

Carpet fitter thread is finally dead. Thank goodness for that.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1451929-Help-Carpet-fitter-has-just-stormed-out-AIBU?pg=1

Zombie threads can be interesting. I don't see the harm. As for OP not replying, well that happens on all types of threads.

Wow. That thread is in Year 5 at is the milk monitor for its class!

I'm still puzzled as to why nobody ever resurrects a Zombie thread that has a couple of posts on it. They are always pages long.

I also think that if the poster resurrecting it turns out to be a troll and their post deleted (which happens a lot), the Zombie warning should start again

[quote Sparklingbrook]Carpet fitter thread is finally dead. Thank goodness for that.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1451929-Help-Carpet-fitter-has-just-stormed-out-AIBU?pg=1[/quote]
6 and a half YEARS ago someone posted on that thread:

TheEfficiencyMovement Sun 01-Feb-15 00:28:05

...and this is why the current MNHQ policy of removing the zombie thread warning after a few new posts on a zombie thread DOESNT WORK.

The zombie thread needs to remain on all old threads even if they are revived and the warning should be at the top and bottom of the thread.

Hth

cough cough......

@ImUninsultable

Without zombie threads, we would never have had Echo, who posted asking for advice about a pram and no one replied but then.... she replied to herself years later saying how she thought the pram was great, not realising she was replying to herself. It was funny.

This was the only time in history that a Zombie thread was entertaining and it was spectacularly so.

Mostly they're irritating and sometimes upsetting. I still don't think people want to have people coming back years later asking for updates on their trauma like they've missed several episodes of Eastenders and want an update. Or a spammer has resurrected something for no good reason.

@PinkStink

I care too. It's really irritating. It makes posters look ridiculous.

I also think there should be a point in which a thread could be closed. Carpet fitter anyone?

I've seen 2 recently where the poster resolved a situation but the pile on continues. It's horrible and reinforces the reputation of vipers on here.

Hahaha ha.

it makes posters look ridiculous???

No. Posters make themselves look ridiculous.

And I have been that poster, and I was mortified.

But unlike you, I only blamed myself (what with it being my own fault) and didn't seek to put that responsibility onto someone else.

I might get caught put again.

But mostly I take responsibility for my own actions.

BTW, the carpet fitters thread fills me with joy 💕💕💕💕

The best zombie thread I have seen on here was in the Small Pets section. Someone had posted asking about keeping the hamster in her three year old's bedroom. Someone revived it A DECADE later with their sage advice, only for the OP to return with the rather unsurprising update that both the hamster and her son's toddler self were long gone!

@MichaelMumsnet - I recently posted on a six year old thread having googled an experience I was having with my baby and the OP and others from back then replied with lovely reassuring responses. It was a heart sing moment.

Please don't just automatically lock them.

@Rogue1001 that's what I said

But @Flittingaboutagain that thread will still be there, for you (and anyone else), to read! So you can still get all the heart singing moments you need.

And there's always the opportunity to start a new thread ...

I think starting a new thread rather than reviving a years old thread is the way to go.
Who knows what advice may have changed in that time. Plus it will avoid the scenario where everyone starts replying to the OP again, not the person that bumped it by posting their situation.

@BIWI

But *@Flittingaboutagain* that thread will still be there, for you (and anyone else), to read! So you can still get all the heart singing moments you need.

And there's always the opportunity to start a new thread ...

What if she didn’t want to start a thread? This thread struck her as having been responded thoughtful and helpfully. It drew back those same posters and helped her.

Starting a new thread may not have done that for her.

Starting a new thread may not have done that for her

It probably would have. If there were lots of replies on the Zombie thread, why wouldn't people reply on the new one?

Another alternative would be to PM the OP of the Zombie thread to see if they are still around.

I imagine some don’t want the attention of being the OP.

Tagging on to a thread that resonates is something they feel more comfortable with. And I get that.

I'd have thought the best solution there would be to start a new thread but include a link to the one which was helpful.

@Oftenithinkaboutit

I imagine some don’t want the attention of being the OP.

Tagging on to a thread that resonates is something they feel more comfortable with. And I get that.

The original OP may not want that 'attention' either at a later date.

@ErrolTheDragon

I'd have thought the best solution there would be to start a new thread but include a link to the one which was helpful.

The original OP may not want that 'attention' either at a later date.

If you start a thread, that really is something that you should be willing to accept surely.

If you suspect something you don’t want to come back to you, post on 30 days. Job done

@Oftenithinkaboutit

*The original OP may not want that 'attention' either at a later date.*

If you start a thread, that really is something that you should be willing to accept surely.

If you suspect something you don’t want to come back to you, post on 30 days. Job done

I don't agree. If you want to discuss a particular topic then it obviously makes sense to do it on the relevant board. Given that the norm on MN is to not resuscitate 'zombie' threads, there's no reason an OP should be expecting it to resurface years later.

'Hijacking' other people's threads is - rightly IMO - generally considered poor form on MN.