Trending has old threads

[NumberTheory]

I know we’ve had trolls deliberately resurrecting zombie threads but I almost did one myself just now when I clicked on a trending post that piqued my interest. It was only because I’d posted on it when it was first up that I realised it was old.

Thread title: To not want to drive my friends car
There have been no new posts on it since June.

Probably because if the shit recommender links at the bottom of threads linking to threads from 2 years ago....

No bloody idea what they are up to, why would anyone want links to threads about rhe sane thing but older? It just rehashes the same conversations over months later whilst new threads are being pushed down. Weird that they think people want this- it's been discussed so much recently but they insist!

www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/4678030-what-is-this-you-might-also-like-clutter?page=3&reply=121567288

Its due to this stupid new pointless feature.

Is there anything wrong with resurrecting old threads?

It’s a complete waste of time to read it and respond without realising it’s an old thread. What’s the point?

Good point that it means that new threads will have less responses as they are pushed down the list.

Yes but it might be a topic that hasn't been picked up for a while that new people find interesting even if the OP has disappeared.

Yep. It's the new 'you might also like this' feature, which is driving up the number of zombie threads in active/trending.

Hello all - based on your feedback we’re making some changes so that older threads are less likely to be shown. We’re also adding in more controls for sensitive topics and, after that, we’ll tweak it again so that older threads are less likely to appear in Trending.

Yes because people don't read the date, harp on repeating the same advice that the OP was given 3 months ago to a situation that has been long resolved.

Wouldn't you rather help/chat/ debate with current issues?

@YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet This is ridiculous - as I type, 3 out of the first 5 threads under "trending" are old threads, to which nothing anyone can add now is of any use, as the problem is long gone and the OP has not updated, so there is absolutely no reason for these threads to be trending.
In other news, that annoying MN manage consent pop-up is STILL occurring on every single page.

Perhaps an algorithm could fix that? Ie sort ‘threads of interest’ by date last active and the op last posted, including any name changes by the op, so based on their account rather than current username.

Or - here's a radical idea - just ditch it altogether.

Yes. I will write you a fuller response when this thread reappears in two years' time. I'm sure you will be agog to hear my thoughts at that point in your life!

Hi OP

We're in the process of discussing this but just to copy over our previous response -

'This feature is primarily meant for those searching for information - if the first thread they land on doesn't entirely answer their question, they get suggestions for others that might. It's very much a work in progress - over time we'll be able to tweak it to make it more accurate - so telling us where you think it's not quite right is much appreciated. We have underweighted older threads in the algorithm but if it causes any problems with zombie threads, again, this is something that can be easily adjusted.'

We'll be replying more over on this one, if you want to share your thoughts on there.

I disagree, some posts are not time specific, so a new MNer might pick up on something that hasn't been mentioned before and/or find the subject helpful. Also, some users only dip in and out of MN and might have a helpful view.

so telling us where you think it's not quite right is much appreciated

That is not exactly right is it?

It has been made crystal clear by hundreds of posters that this 'feature' is not fit for purpose and needs to go completely, yet it is falling on deaf ears.

I think this, if it is a subject you want to talk about, and you find a thread on it, why not carry on from that ??
I don't see why people need to get all uppity about it, just move on if you don't want to post on it.
I seen one that was old, but once resurrected a conversation carried on about the subject, then a poster was posted ZOMBIE and the. ITS A ZOMBIE THREAD, just what's the point

I agree these people who write ZOMBIE thread need to get a life.

Well the biggest problem with old threads, especially long ones is the conversation has often moved on from the OP and new posters often come along and answer the OP again, not with insightful new info, but a re hash of everything that's already been said. It's boring.

Imagine you posted a thread about bleeding in early pregnancy a year ago. Other people added their experiences. You had a miscarriage as a result of the bleeding.

Then suddenly, because of this feature, people start posting on your year-old thread, and you get 20 new notifications.

Don’t you think that might be a little bit upsetting?

People post about a lot of very personal and harrowing stuff on here, and raking it up after the fact does nobody any good. It’s such a crass thing and unnecessary.

We have removed this feature from those topics, so this shouldn't happen going forward.

Is there a reason that the feature isn't on THIS board, site stuff? There's no list of similar threads on here, is it a sensitive topic?

But people post subjects outside of topics all the time. The number of posters who put something like this straight into AIBU because they know it gets the most traffic is huge.

came to report the same issue with old discussions coming up under 'trending'.

Example - last post was on 20/08/2022 19:18.
www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4611761-to-be-absolutely-furious-about-this-and-drop-dss-off-at-her-house-anyway?page=38