Should old threads be automatically locked to prevent confusion?

[Aufbauwerk 2045]

My suggestion is that it could be useful to clarify the policy on replying to older threads. I know this has been discussed in the past, but I have not found any recent discussions. As a newer member I find this issue a bit confusing.

My impression was that if a thread is not locked, it is fair game for a reply. Some threads may be a bit older, but still useful.

Would it be technically possible and/or advisable to automatically lock an older thread to which there has been no reply within a given time period? Then we could assume that any unlocked thread is fair game.

Thanks.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Any unlocked thread is fair game. I'll be doing a mass lock shortly to get up to date.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Updated the locks. All are fair game.

 

[phinds]

Just out of curiosity Greg, how old did a thread have to be before you locked it?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Just out of curiosity Greg, how old did a thread have to be before you locked it?

1 year old

 

[berkeman]

Updated the locks..

Hey, my key to the Mentor lounge doesn't work anymore!

 

[Drakkith]

Hey, my key to the Mentor lounge doesn't work anymore!

Odd, my key to the Mentor hot tub doesn't work either...

 

[Evo]

I've got the new keys, it'll cost you.

 

[berkeman]

I've got the new keys, it'll cost you.

Pick me! Pick me!

 

[Evo]

Pick me! Pick me!

OOOh, you found a chocolate kitteh! You may have all of the keys!

 

[berkeman]

Thank you Evo. You're the best.

I always wondered what the strange noise was coming from the locked Mentor Janitor Closet, now I can check it out.

Holy Colossus Batman!

 

[Comeback City]

1 year old

Threads that started a year ago or threads in which conversation ended a year ago?

 

[berkeman]

Threads that started a year ago or threads in which conversation ended a year ago?

Last post was over 1 year ago.

Most threads last a month at the most. Very long threads can go longer with relevance. Normal threads that get necroposted are problematical, depending on the subject and how OP-centric the thread is. Does that make sense?

 

[Comeback City]

Last post was over 1 year ago.

Most threads last a month at the most. Very long threads can go longer with relevance. Normal threads that get necroposted are problematical, depending on the subject and how OP-centric the thread is. Does that make sense?

Indeed it does

 

[jtbell]

I've seen people post in old threads knowing full well what they're doing, and even acknowledging it: "I know this is an old thread, but here's some new information..." And that post may very well be a valid contribution to the thread, viewed by itself.

The problem is that when the thread gets bumped back up to the top of the list, a lot of people read it from the beginning without realizing that it's actually (say) five years old, and some of them post responses directly to those old posts, without realizing that the people who made them may not be here any more, or have long since "moved on" in other ways. I've seen people suggesting universities to someone who was a high school junior or senior years ago and was probably about to finish university (or already finished) when the thread was revived.

 

[Rive]

I've seen people post in old threads knowing full well what they're doing, and even acknowledging it: "I know this is an old thread, but here's some new information..." And that post may very well be a valid contribution to the thread, viewed by itself.

Some other thematic forums has a custom that in case somebody has a worthy follow-up for an old/ locked thread he can contact the staff for permission to post it.
Then the thread immediately got locked again.

 

[jtbell]

I think we've done that here, too, although we don't state it explicitly as a policy in our rules.

 

[Drakkith]

Indeed. If anyone has something that think would make a good post, they can always contact a mentor and ask about adding in their post, no matter how old the thread is.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

fyi, no reply threads are open no matter the age

 

[Drakkith]

fyi, no reply threads are open no matter the age

What are "no-reply-threads"?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

What are "no-reply-threads"?

Threads with no replies

 

[phinds]

What are "no-reply-threads"?

Darn, and here I thought English was your native language. Well, I guess that's too much to expect of someone who grew up speaking Texan.

 

[Drakkith]

Threads with no replies

Well, that certainly makes sense.
Isn't it amazing how much of a difference rearranging a few words can make sometimes?

Darn, and here I thought English was your native language. Well, I guess that's too much to expect of someone who grew up speaking Texan.

Sir, I'll have you know that we have the utmost highest standards when it comes to linguistics.

 

[phinds]

Sir, I'll have you know that we have the utmost highest standards when it comes to linguistics.

Well, yeah, you would SAY that. I take it as a Texas Tall Tail.

 

[Drakkith]

Well, yeah, you would SAY that. I take it as a Texas Tall Tail.

*Tale.

And you're making fun of my language...

 

[phinds]

*Tale.

And you're making fun of my language...

No, I was making fun of your tail.

 

[epenguin]

Phew that's a relief. I thought for a moment that no reply threads are open.

 

[mfb]

This thread has replies. I closed it.

/s[/size]

 

[Intrastellar]

Sir, I'll have you know that we have the utmost highest standards when it comes to linguistics.

Is that up there with the bestest standards, or is it even gooder ?