As per here. I could see six months, but 2 1/2? Maybe a little old, but hardly back-from-the-dead.
It’s been reopened.
Two months is typically the cutoff for zombie threads, but we try to be flexible about it.
Two months is ridiculous.
Now now, Q.E.D., there’s no need to be shy.
Seriously though - I’m not sure how much we could change the rule without causing any risk of problems, but what do Dopers think is a fair no-zombie period?
I had understood that it depended on the forum and on the content of the bumping post.
Um, you don’t actually mean that THINKING should be involved, do you?? :eek: :eek: :eek:
What will they propose next? Rational thought?? 
About half a year seems reasonable. Within that time period, you’re not going to have too many posters who have subsequently gone AWOL, which as I recall is one of the reasons for the zombie rule in the first place. Four months seems a bit short to me but still reasonable. Two months seems short.
Just IMHO, of course
Edited to add: Or, what they said.
It really is a judgment call depending on how fast things move in a particular forum.
In some areas 2-1/2 months is not a long time at all; in other places, it’s an eternity.
Up to the mod that encounters the thread. I trust their judgment. It can always be appealed, you know, nothing in this is forever and we can be persuaded with rational thought and reasoning.
Which I think is a good idea TD. Different fora, different timeframe.
But this raises a question. When a movie (tv-series) is released on DVD, what’s the proper way to do it? Dig up the original thread from the theatrical release or start a new thread? I guess the same could be asked about books and paperback editions.
I would think there’s usually enough of a lag between theatrical release or first viewing on TV and appearance on DVD that a new thread would be necessary, though perhaps referencing what has gone before if appropriate. Again, varies, depending on circumstances.
I’d like to being more attention to basing it on content: I think it’s absolutely crucial to include that as one of the primary criteria. In the example thread given, the bumping post would have been awkward even if the thread had only been dormant for a month, much less two and a half. Conversely, I can imagine a few cases where a new post adds enough to the thread that the dormancy period would be moot.
The “guideline” in this FAQ post by C K Dexter Haven says 3 months.
The above guideline in the FAQs continues. . .
As others have said, the rules are different in different fora. But Skip and Cajun Man told me it’s been three months in MPSIMS, and we’ve decided to try extending the guideline to six months.