'Similar threads' Dredging up Old Threads

[aart]

Yes, it has increased old threads coming up...but that problem existed before too.
'Similar threads' can be good for researching.
And you can't 'administer integrity' to keep people from 'incorrectly using' forums.

 

[casportpony]

Maybe setting threads to lock after they have been inactive for a period of time? 6 months to a year?

You all might find this thread helpful:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/locking-threads-after-a-year.1312658/

 

[Kusanar]

You all might find this thread helpful:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/locking-threads-after-a-year.1312658/

At least they haven't done that to BYH yet... probably going to spend more time there and less here. Less zombies is always better.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

At least they haven't done that to BYH yet... probably going to spend more time there and less here. Less zombies is always better.

If it is relevant, and people are having a current discussion.. its not a zombie thread. Now something for sale.. that would not be relevant, and a zombie thread.. but so what??

 

[Kusanar]

If it is relevant, and people are having a current discussion.. its not a zombie thread. Now something for sale.. that would not be relevant, and a zombie thread.. but so what??

Yes, I agree, but when NO ONE has touched the thread in over a year, it is not a current discussion and it is a zombie when someone randomly decides to post to it. I'm not saying if a thread is over a year old it should be closed while it is still active, but when no one has so much as bumped the thread in over a year it's not active.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Maybe setting threads to lock after they have been inactive for a period of time? 6 months to a year? Then people could still READ them and get the information from them but couldn't zombify them and expect responses that they just won't get.

Thanks for the feedback, we'll continue to listen and take it into consideration as we evaluate the pros and cons!

I didn't respond because they seemed combative and I didn't have the energy to be nice so I just didn't say anything but I may have been the only person to have seen those posts.

That's a great example of how non-relevant and/or threads with issues will naturally "die off" on their own, while some other "old" threads may continue to be extremely helpful and relevant

This is similar to the reason why we (and most forums) don't lock old threads. A forum is an organic system that ebbs and flows in tons of ways.... and members bumping old threads because they are of interest, relevant, etc. is also very organic and can be beneficial to the community.

So, as in your example above, that thread will follow a natural course of people stumbling on the old thread and either:

1. Thinking, "Ugh, this is not something I want to read / engage with... that's annoying. I guess I'll just skip by it."
2. Saying, "Wow, there is a log of useful, fun, interesting, etc. information in this thread! I'm really glad it was bumped. In fact, I'd like to thank those that posted the info... and maybe even add some more information that is useful, fun, interesting, etc. etc. etc."

In our experience (and that of thousands of other forums out there) the pros of the latter outweigh the cons of the former.

 

[shaila]

I've seen other forums set up a warning on dead threads at the reply box. Someone can reply if they really want to, but have to confirm they understand the thread is old.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

I've seen other forums set up a warning on dead threads at the reply box. Someone can reply if they really want to, but have to confirm they understand the thread is old.

View attachment 2523306

Oh, interesting! That could be something worth looking into adding!

Will you PM me the link to where that is shown?

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Yes, I agree, but when NO ONE has touched the thread in over a year, it is not a current discussion and it is a zombie when someone randomly decides to post to it. I'm not saying if a thread is over a year old it should be closed while it is still active, but when no one has so much as bumped the thread in over a year it's not active.

As soon as someone responds to a post that is relevant, its active. If the topic is about policies of oil regimes in the 1970s, it's a zombie thread. If it's about chickens, it's relevant.

 

[wf1992]

This is a new thing, right? Sometimes I just don't notice stuff...

I find the suggestions at the bottom a more natural place to click than going back up to the 'new posts' on the side. I've gotten sucked into them a few times lately. For me personally, I'd find 'new posts' more useful at the bottom, and 'similar threads' a tab after 'active threads'.

Definitely support that old thread warning at the bottom before responding. And appreciate the work people put into designing improvements for everyone