Closing old threads

[LeftCoastLady 441]

I've noticed there have been a number of older threads (over a year old and beyond) that have started to pop up again. I'm guessing people are searching for a specific item and the search results point them to the thread. Granted, the information may still be valid, but there's also the risk of something no longer being relevant, process has changed, etc.

Would it make sense to close threads if they're dormant after a specific period of time? For example, if a topic hasn't had a new post in the past six months, it would be closed/archived.

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Few reasons why not (though these are all mere guesses):

1) It's less work to leave them open and close them if they are re-opened. There are so few threads that suffer from necroposting out of the tens of thousands of topics open on VJ.

2) Very occasionally the OP will come back with an update after a lengthy period of time.

3) Totally OMGWTFWOWSERS bonkers batsh!t-crazy threads that get revived are fun to read.

[LeftCoastLady 441]

Few reasons why not (though these are all mere guesses):

1) It's less work to leave them open and close them if they are re-opened. There are so few threads that suffer from necroposting out of the tens of thousands of topics open on VJ.

2) Very occasionally the OP will come back with an update after a lengthy period of time.

3) Totally OMGWTFWOWSERS bonkers batsh!t-crazy threads that get revived are fun to read.

Re: #1, actually, the software this forum runs on has an archiving feature that allows you to set the rules across the board, so it doesn't have to be someone going into every thread to lock it down. People can still read the thread, but won't be able to add posts.

Re: #2, but how often does that happen? In most cases, the zombie threads are process-based questions (e.g. in the K-1 and AOS forums).

Re: #3, perhaps, but I don't frequent the off-topic or politics & religion forums, so that doesn't have much interest to me. *shrugs*

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

In my experience on the boards, the craziest stuff happens in the regionals and K1.

Edit: fixx0red for autocorrect weirdness.

Edited May 11, 2012 by Honey Crumpet

[photomile 101]

Actually there have been a few pop up for me that I haven't searched for that are over three years old. Methinks the SQL database got a tad confused or it might need some cleanup done!

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

You think it's bad now? Back before VJ 2.0 was rolled out a few years back, there used to be "related links" to similar threads at the bottom of each topic. These links could be ridiculously out of date, and there was MUCH more chronic necroposting.

Which is just another way of saying: get off mah, lawn whippersnappers! Back in my day, VJ was steampowered, and we had to walk 3 miles to access it.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

You think it's bad now? Back before VJ 2.0 was rolled out a few years back, there used to be "related links" to similar threads at the bottom of each topic. These links could be ridiculously out of date, and there was MUCH more chronic necroposting.

Which is just another way of saying: get off mah, lawn whippersnappers! Back in my day, VJ was steampowered, and we had to walk 3 miles to access it.

I bet this server is connected to a coal power plant and therefore is still steam powered.

[Pooky 3,348]

I bet this server is connected to a coal power plant and therefore is still steam powered.

Nah, looking at some of our posters, the server has to be running on wind power.

[Darnell 8,478]

OP - here's what ya do -

1. at the new post - click 'report' and ask the mod team to fork/split at that post, to make a new topic .

2. repeat #1

[Kathryn41 3,205]

It seems that we do go in phases with a bunch of older posts being revived unnecessarily. I've thought of several reasons - people use the search feature and don't look at the date of the material that is retrieved, so inadvertently continue the thread as if it is current; most people doing this are newcomers to the site and still unfamiliar with how VJ works. Instead of posting their own topic, they feel 'safer' and less public by adding their post into someone else's who sounds similar, not realizing that things can change over the years since the first post was posted; people are just not familiar enough with the immigration process so latch onto something that sounds like it might be relevant not realizing that it isn't relevant and it is out of date.

I don't think it would be a great idea to close all old threads when they reach a certain date. While it is a nuisance to have to split off a new post from an old topic, and while it does sometimes add up to a number of threads, it isn't like it happens every day. If we get 10 a month that is a lot. There are also times when the new post -even if it is to an old thread - is exactly on topic and is a valid continuation of the original thread, whether as an update by someone involved in the original thread - or a re-occurance of the exact same situation. Generally these are not threads that are specific to individual's circumstances but more generic in nature.

As Darnell said, report the revival of ancient threads to the moderation team using the report button - and if you wish, 'POLITELY' ask if the poster realizes that this thread is XXX years old and the situation has changed since this was started. You could also suggest that if they are posting their own new circumstances or situation they would get far more useful responses by starting their own thread instead.

Edited May 12, 2012 by Kathryn41