How Old is a Zombie Thread?

[MitzeKatze]

I have a quick question about the resurrecting of zombie threads. How old is too old?

I refrain from posting to threads found on searches that have gone for a week or more with no posts, and generally only use the “new posts” function for reading these forums at all. But I saw today that this thread has been resurrected from October (last post previous to today was Oct. 20, 2009 and the thread itself is similar to this one that was just started yesterday.

So should the first one have been resurrected instead of the new one started or should I be posting to both or either?

[Arnold_Winkelried]

Sticky thread in ATMB: FAQ - Guidelines and Etiquette on the SDMB

Post in that thread:
Don’t resurrect old threads

If you start a thread, and after a while think you would like more comments on it, you may be tempted to “bump” the thread by adding a post to make the thread reappear back at the top of the forum list. We strongly discourage this practice, but since the boards are so busy sometimes a single “bump” will bring about good results.
[ul][li]Wait until a suitable time has elapsed (at least, until your thread is no longer visible on the first page of the forum)[/li][li]Bump your thread only once[/li][li]Do not make a habit of always bumping each of your threads[/li][li]When you bump your thread, it is preferrable to include additional information relevant to the original post, which may encourage others to respond[/li][li]Posting a thank you to those who responded to your question is not considered a “bump”[/li][/ul]
What if I want to continue / add to the discussion on a topic that was mentioned in an old thread?

Generally, we prefer you start a new thread with a link to the old thread. Often, an old thread includes statements from posters who are no longer members, and so cannot reply. It’s therefore “unfair” to re-open old discussions; such practice is usually called a “zombie thread.” (A general guideline for “old” would be a thread older than three months.) However, the rules on reviving old threads are different for the different forums. In General Questions, Comments on Cecil’s Columns, Comments on Staff Reports, and Cafe Society, it is acceptable to revive an old thread if you have some substantive comment to add. (Note that “thank you for answering my question” is just plain good manners, and acceptable. However, reviving an old thread just to say “I agree” is considered bad form.)

[picunurse]

I think it also depends on the forum. I know that Cafe Society is a bit more lenient. I was told by a Mod in MPSIMS that 6 months is the cut off for that forum. I think that may be flexible, depending on the subject.

[MitzeKatze]

@Arnold_Winkelried

Sticky thread in ATMB: FAQ - Guidelines and Etiquette on the SDMB

Thanks, I knew I had read about it somewhere, but couldn’t think of where.

Since it was a silly question and easily answered, mods, if you wanna lock this up, that is fine with me.

[twickster]

Post to the new thread; flag the old thread (use the ! in a triangle button for “report this post”) so the mods can lock it.

“How old is too old” actually varies somewhat from forum to forum – most forums use a three-month cutoff – we’ll go up to six months in MPSIMS or Cafe Society, depending on the topic.

ETA: I’ve locked the zombie in this particular instance, so take the first line of my post as a “how-to” for the future.

[MitzeKatze]

@twickster

Post to the new thread; flag the old thread (use the ! in a triangle button for “report this post”) so the mods can lock it.

Thanks, I wondered if it should be reported. I am still very much afraid of the “report this post” button because I worry that I will just be bugging the mods for no good reason.

[C_K_Dexter_Haven]

@MitzeKatze

Thanks, I wondered if it should be reported. I am still very much afraid of the “report this post” button because I worry that I will just be bugging the mods for no good reason.

Fear not and worry not! We’d prefer to got dozens of reports that we investigate and decide need no action, rather than miss one that does (I’m not sure if that sentence parses, but I think you know what I mean.)

If you’re in doubt, report it, and let us decide.

If you don’t report it, then we can’t decide.

[ToeJam]

We just had a great example of a Zombie Thread from Cafe Society (from almost 4 years ago, being allowed to live) but then also shot down in the moment of it’s rebirth.

I was just reading along, didn’t realize it was a zombie, and then was so happy to see it was going to be okay by Marley and it could relive… and then BANG! Shot down once again…
Bummer.

[Irishman]

There’s nothing to keep you from starting a new thread on ominous quotes, and linking to the old one as a “starting place”.

“In the spirit of this old thread that I love, let’s continue…”

[twickster]

@ToeJam

We just had a great example of a Zombie Thread from Cafe Society (from almost 4 years ago, being allowed to live) but then also shot down in the moment of it’s rebirth.

I was just reading along, didn’t realize it was a zombie, and then was so happy to see it was going to be okay by Marley and it could relive… and then BANG! Shot down once again…
Bummer.

It’s open again now. (I’d been skimming backwards looking at timestamps, not poster names, to see how old it was, so I missed Marley’s decision to leave it open.)