Prevent bumping old threads?

[lordsmurf]

Afterdawn does something like this.
If you're a Newbie or Junior Member, you're not able to make replies to old posts.

As annoying as the rule might sound, this measure has been added because new users, who typically landed to one of our forums' threads from search engines, simply posted new replies to discussion threads that didn't have anything to do with their message whatsoever. Thus, we've made it impossible for new users to post threads that are deemed "dead" and are stored mostly for reference purposes only.

We do apologize for the inconvenience this might have caused if you were planning to offer your help, etc to a question posted more than 60 days ago. Then again, as the question is that old, it is highly likely that user has already found his/her answer from our forums or from our guide section anyway.

You can return to the original thread by clicking here.

[Supreme2k]

I've seen this implemented years ago, but i thought that the idea has been brought up and rejected a while back (or I may be recalling another forum).

[guns1inger]

Isn't this just an extension of the recent grave digging discussion ( http://forum.videohelp.com/topic364939.html ). It seems a few people believe it is a necessary thing to do.

Me ? I rather hit the grave digger with their own shovel and fill in the hole again.

[AlanHK]

I don't think it's happening enough to warrant an automatic block. sometimes adding to an old thread is fine -- I've gone back to old thread I'd posted in years ago to update.

It's mostly newbies and/or spammers who cause problems, and they're as likely to post in old as new thread. their messes will have to be dealt with regardless.

However, a warning that "the last post in this thread was X days ago; consider starting a new thread"., when X is over, say 60 days might be useful. Then people can't claim they just didn't notice the dates.

[redwudz]

I don't see it as a big problem.

Some I split off to a new topic. Some I warn. Others I ignore if they contribute to the old thread.

We do ask them to use the 'search' function, and that's how they find those old threads.

And there is no explicit rule against digging up old topics, though we do discourage it, as the information may be out of date and the original posters long gone.

[PuzZLeR]

Well I do agree that some Newbies can be very annoying - jumping on for a quickie and disregard the dates, times, etc, and asking something like "how do I play this file I downloaded from ...". Sometimes it's not totally even on topic. In music forums it's worse as they reply to topics about some stupid song they want.

Boy, these mooches remind me of those guys that would drop in to a pub for the first time, not mingle or get to know anyone, only order water instead of paying for a drink, and all night hit on, and annoy, the females (even the regulars).

But it's not so straight forward.

There is that newbie that did do an honest search, and would want to post to an old thread to sincerely ask for, or provide, help instead of starting a new topic and be victimized for "not using the search function". This would be Ok.

[PuzZLeR]

Hey Redwudz, didn't realize your post came slightly before mine, hence a common point about the search function.

[hech54]

I personally never understood the apparent "outrage" over posting in old threads. If it was done knowingly....so what.. If it was done by accident...accidents happen.....so what.

[Nitemare]

I have accidentally posted in old threads and been politely chastised for it. I am neither a newbie or a spammer. One in particular was a "discussion" thread, not outdated techiques or tools.

It's the one area of this site where I've found the regulars (although I am a regular also) to be a little rude. I've never understood the big deal either.

I find old threads by searching for topics. I'm for the warning, against the block, and against having my fingers slapped for an honest boo-boo. In the case of a discussion, there's no cause for it at all.

If I'm trying to rekindle a discussion that you've no interest in then stay out of the thread. Don't come on there and try to make an @$$ out of me. It's rude and in some cases it happens from someone who hasn't been around as long as I have!

It's the only area in this otherwise awesome forum where the otherwise awesome regulars can be occasional jerks.

[PuzZLeR]

Personally, I don't think it's an issue of bumping old threads - this can be done with good reason by a newbie or, of course, a regular.

I think it's an issue of stupid newbie posts in general - who just so happen to do it with alot of older threads.

Unfortunately, this is something an automated system, such as something simplistic like a newbie ban on old threads, just can't regulate.

[AlanHK]

I personally never understood the apparent "outrage" over posting in old threads. If it was done knowingly....so what.. If it was done by accident...accidents happen.....so what.

I wouldn't say "outrage". But if you default subscribe to threads you've posted in, as I do, you get a notification email for every new post in it. So in that case one might be a little less tolerant of irrelevant comments.


And a few weeks ago I had a particularly obnoxious example http://forum.videohelp.com/topic311094.html#1937958 of someone bumping a thread after 3 years just to abuse me, for some reason I never understood.

[Supreme2k]

We do ask them to use the 'search' function, and that's how they find those old threads.

But we usually suggest that because their question has been answered several times and needs no further posting.

the information may be out of date and the original posters long gone.

Exactly...except change "may" to "is always", especially when it's a "Is there any way to (do this thing)?" Then, there's was a convoluted work-around, but Now there are five easy, specific software solutions. This especially pertains to ripping ("why won't dvddecrypter/dvdshrink rip Tuesday release disc (on Monday)?"


Just like you don't gather old encyclopedias and add "the British don't rule India any more" or "The United States has 50 states, not 48", you create a new one to showcase new information.

I'm surprised AlanHK's gravedigging troll didn't at least get a warning.

[gll99]

.

I personally never understood the apparent "outrage" over posting in old threads. If it was done knowingly....so what.. If it was done by accident...accidents happen.....so what.

I wouldn't say "outrage". But if you default subscribe to threads you've posted in, as I do, you get a notification email for every new post in it. So in that case one might be a little less tolerant of irrelevant comments.


And a few weeks ago I had a particularly obnoxious example http://forum.videohelp.com/topic311094.html#1937958 of someone bumping a thread after 3 years just to abuse me, for some reason I never understood.

I don't think that would justify making another rule. Making a blanket rule on thread resurrecting would only give the few who have given themselves a license to bash an excuse to pile on. The current rules are sufficient to handle the occasional case and when the rules fail click the "Report this post" tag.. If he so chooses the reviewing mod could suggest starting a new thread if it's appropriate and lock the old one. I don't know if mods can just delete the comment and lock the thread returning it to its pristine status if it's not appropriate but that might be another optoin available to them.

As far as that thread is concerned, under current rules although very late he did provide useful information which may not help the op but certainly might be valuable for anyone researching the problem

btw) I know it's not my place but IMO, he should have been visibly warned and carded for his comments directed at you but not just because he resurrected the thread nor for the answer he gave. Again the current rules should have taken care of that.

[olyteddy]

I kind of like some of the Zombie threads. Let's you see how far we've come and what tools are still working for us.

[redwudz]

I don't know if mods can just delete the comment and lock the thread returning it to its pristine status if it's not appropriate but that might be another optoin available to them.

If I split the post off the thread to a new topic, the thread is returned to the original state. But we don't normally lock a thread just because of someone 'grave digging'. We don't delete posts, just move them.

Just about every post ever made to this forum is still on the servers. And that's a scary thought. We were all newbies once.

[disturbed1]

However, a warning that "the last post in this thread was X days ago; consider starting a new thread"., when X is over, say 60 days might be useful. Then people can't claim they just didn't notice the dates.

That's a nice idea. DSLReports has this feature and has saved me many times.

[Supreme2k]

Case in point

Why did the guy even care about VCD then? No feedback in 2 years, and people are still keeping it going. He may be dead or have found the title on DVD by now.

Hell, I'm sure that we would even condone this guy getting it off a torrent by this point

[usually_quiet]

I don't find gravedigging to be all that annoying for the most part, but sometimes it's not unkind to point out a possible mistake. In that spirit, I replied to "Case in point's" post.

[AlanHK]

.

I personally never understood the apparent "outrage" over posting in old threads. If it was done knowingly....so what.. If it was done by accident...accidents happen.....so what.

I wouldn't say "outrage". But if you default subscribe to threads you've posted in, as I do, you get a notification email for every new post in it. So in that case one might be a little less tolerant of irrelevant comments.


And a few weeks ago I had a particularly obnoxious example http://forum.videohelp.com/topic311094.html#1937958 of someone bumping a thread after 3 years just to abuse me, for some reason I never understood.

I don't think that would justify making another rule.

I didn't say it did. See my previous post.
I was just explaining why it can be annoying, and so why you might get a less tolerant reaction to a pointless post. It's a bit like being woken up in the middle of the night by a phone ringing, only to find it's a wrong number.

I try to ignore them and click on the "unsubscribe" button if it looks like it could continue.

[smartel]

sometimes newbees have to go through lots of old threads , just to get the info in ...
they have old equipment or into old technology (vcrs , old pc , old cards etc)
and an old thread with a newer bump gives them new insight

this thread is 2 1/2 years old .. is it too old ?

i just read a newer thread talking about bumping old ones (or refreshing)
i searched before starting a new one , it's still the same subject

just my 2 cents

[guns1inger]

Oh, the irony