Dead Threads and Necro Posting ?

[JimmyHAD]

When I first came around to shaving forums I didn't know much. I read the current threads but also did keyword searches. Inevitably I came up with threads that were years old. I don't recall that I posted a reply or question in those old threads but I know that I frequently linked to them in other posts in current threads and still do.

So recently a person did their first post in a five year old thread. According to the poster's profile they are a barber and the topic of the thread had to do the barbering and whether straight razors are still legal in most states for barbers to use. I expect they did a keyword search for barber and found the thread interesting and wanted to add their 2 cents.

So what I don't understand is why I continually see old timers frowning upon new people who pull up these archived threads and refer to the threads as dead, or zombie threads ? For the new person the threads haven't been seen and the topics may not be being discussed currently. There is a lot of gold to be mined in SRP's archives. I have over 100 subscribed threads and refer to them on many topics.

So what do y'all think about this ? Please explain to me what is wrong with "dead" threads being resurrected ? Inquiring minds and all that.

[BrickBag]

They most likely are dead for a reason(problem solved, best answer to general question found). Also, as we as a group are acquiring more knowledge on sr shaving, some threads become obsolete or too long to understand(in which case there should be a nice article about it on the wiki, but I digress). I think it is a good idea to close(lock) threads without new replies in 3 months.

[nun2sharp]

It does seem shameful to me that on the one hand we encourage people to search threads, refer to the wiki and so on, then when they resurrect a dead thread someone will leave a discouraging remark about it being years old.

[heirkb]

It does seem shameful to me that on the one hand we encourage people to search threads, refer to the wiki and so on, then when they resurrect a dead thread someone will leave a discouraging remark about it being years old.

I agree with this. Also, if there's someone who wants to talk about the topic, then it's not really a dead topic anymore. If you close down old threads or frown upon people posting in them, the person would need to start a new thread to have their questions answered. Why have a bunch of threads on the same topic?

[hoglahoo]

So what do y'all think about this ? Please explain to me what is wrong with "dead" threads being resurrected ?

I don't think there's anything wrong with it. But it may be helpful to inform someone who appears to not realize that the people they are replying to left the discussion and/or the forum years ago so as not to leave them hanging. This does not mean the necroposter is bad or should be vilified - I think necroposting by the unaware is just sort of an internet faux pas. I've done it accidentally, and do it on purpose sometimes when I want to see if there is any renewed interest in a particular line of discussion, no big deal to me

If I send a message to someone though, assuming the thread is still active based on a necro, I may be embarrassed to get a reply asking me what in blazes am I talking about

[JimmyHAD]

I am a member of a gun forum where they close threads after so much time passes. Of course the thread is still accessible but you cannot post in it. That isn't a bad idea. If the person wants to bring up the topic again they can link to the older thread within the new post.
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An example of great info to be mined is found in Lynn Abrams On Honing here in the SRP Wiki. That is a compilation I made of edited quotes from Lynn on the topic. Would be a shame to see all of that great information lost in cyberspace. This "dead" thread here is another in my subscribed threads that I frequently link to. There is gold in them there hills.

[Slartibartfast]

The majority of necroposting you see is spammers or hoglahoo. Then once the thread is bumped unsuspecting members start posting.

Locking old threads could be construed to be against the spirit of SRP.

[BrickBag]

Exactly the point I was trying to make jimmy! The wiki should contain all the knowledge of discussions ended(there is a definitive answer to the posed question.). Additions or new insights require new discussions.

[JimmyHAD]

The majority of necroposting you see is spammers or hoglahoo.

Tell it like it is Ben !!!

[HNSB]

People just like to complain. They'll get on somebody's case for bumping an old thread, and also get on their case for posting something in a new thread that's already been covered on an old thread.

It's the nature of internet bulletin boards.