Old threads

[JaneJeffer]

Why won't you lock threads after they have been dormant for ages? So many keep reappearing.

I posted on an old thread by accident recently. It came up as a related thread to another one I had just posted on. It was only after submitting the post that I realised it was last posted on over a year ago. I expect that happens a lot.

Yeah IMO, threads should automatically lock, with no ability to post further messages when it's been 6 months since the first post. (Not since the last post, because people could just keep bumping it back up every few months with just 1 post, and keep it alive for many years......)

Ah but then nobody would get to see the carpet fitter thread - it gets resurrected every few months. The OP now has a child in school and is divorced but it's so funny seeing the latest reply.

This one www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/1451929-Help-Carpet-fitter-has-just-stormed-out-AIBU

It tells you when you try and post that it's an old thread. I think they should be able to be revived if wanted - there are plenty of longrunning ones that would get locked under your proposal.

It only tells the person who revives it

Much easier to ask mods to reopen the odd thread that people want to revive though.

Zombie threads are so annoying.

Maybe the message should show itself for a while. There was a suggestion some time ago of colour-coding the page or posts, so messages from a long time ago woul have a different colour edging or something!

But why not just train yourself to look at the date of the last message?

I would prefer to keep the long-running threads.

But why not just train yourself to look at the date of the last message?
I'm talking about other people reviving them and then they appear in threads I'm on when it's completely out of date.

But then you wouldn't get gems like this:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/752184-hauck-stroller-pound-25-Asda

Man I'm actually on that thread! March 2012 (nc obvs) it's a classic

You can use "threads I'm watching" instead. You don't have to post on a thread to watch it, and you can manage which threads you have on your watch list and remove them if you aren't interested any more.

If everyone did this it would have the added bonus of stopping the "." "placemarking" posts as well!

Edit - you can remove threads from "threads I'm on" too!

Yes @StumbleInTheDebris I know I can hide them but I don't want to have to go back and hide every thread I've ever been on!

And if it's one I posted on previously it's not the same as threads I'm watching anyway

So just decide what threads you are interested in watching, and use Threads I'm Watching, and don't look at TIO.... I'm not sure I see the issue, but then people use MN lists in all different ways!

Omg that’s hilarious 🤣😂. That’s actually made my morning. Hahahaha.

people use MN lists in all different ways!
Indeed

Morning @JaneJeffer. Thanks for posting. This is something that comes up from time to time and we've discussed at MNHQ in the past so you definitely aren't the only one to express this opinion and there are pros and cons that mean we'll never be able to please everyone unfortunately.

Whenever it's been discussed in the past we've come to the conclusion that on balance there's more to be lost than gained in locking threads past a certain date and threads are often usefully revived.

Of course, there are also times when old threads are revived by accident or for other nefarious purposes. If you come across a thread where there's obvious confusion about the dates or it's otherwise clear that it would be better left in the past, do hit the report button and if necessary we can close a thread to new posts in those instances. In general though, we think it's best that threads remain 'postable' for as long as possible. We will pass your thoughts upwards though.

Thanks again.

Ok thanks @HebeMumsnet