# Am I imagining things or are there a ton of zombie threads being resurrected around here lately? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 22, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985 "2013-05-22T03:42:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/21 "2013-05-22T16:15:50Z")
Most new posters make a single post and then disappear. A small proportion of them stick around and make a meaningful, positive contribution to the board. Some of them even make a meaningful, positive contribution in their one and only post. Even if one stipulated that single-post posters were a problem somehow (how?), there’s no real way to filter them out without also filtering out the ones that will stick around. Do that, and the Board dies a slow death over the next few years. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/22 "2013-05-22T16:35:01Z")
I haven’t noticed any particular increase in GQ. These kinds of threads popping up is a constant background. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/23 "2013-05-22T16:40:53Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > I’d give the newbe a break if they actually bothered to hang around. But the majority of the zombie revivals are made by one hit wonders that never show up again. Many of them have similar posting styles. > > I picture some dweeb sitting in his mom’s basement congratulating his self for amassing 62 socks over two months. +Infinity! ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/24 "2013-05-22T17:58:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Am I a bad person for hoping the post date on the OP would be 2001? You made me smile. So, no, you’re not a bad person. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/25 "2013-05-22T19:30:47Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Some boards have a delay between account creation and initiation of posting privileges. That would keep new people from joining. > [@Musicat](#): > > If you’re new to the board (or any boards), there’s a lot to learn, and the reflex of checking the date doesn’t come naturally. Heck, some boards haven’t been around long enough to have zombies. I think he’s talking about the people complaining about zombie threads, not the people posting to old threads. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/26 "2013-05-22T21:53:38Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I think he’s talking about the people complaining about zombie threads, not the people posting to old threads. How about the people complaining about the zombie thread complainers? Can I complain about that? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/27 "2013-05-22T21:55:00Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > How about the people complaining about the zombie thread complainers? Can I complain about that? Why not? That would give _me_ something to complain about. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/28 "2013-05-22T22:11:05Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > That would keep new people from joining. It’s not like this is a novel, untested practice; it’s been implemented successfully before. It might filter out a few drive-by posters. Hardly a bad thing. A 6 hour activation period might do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/29 "2013-05-22T22:18:41Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > It’s not like this is a novel, untested practice; it’s been implemented successfully before. It might filter out a few drive-by posters. Hardly a bad thing. A 6 hour activation period might do the trick. This board is becoming a retirement community with an overly-involved Home Owners’ Association. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/30 "2013-05-22T22:22:44Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > This board is becoming a retirement community with an overly-involved Home Owners’ Association. Hey! You’re standing on my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/31 "2013-05-23T01:45:01Z")
I think someone should catalog all the threads that ask why there are so many zombie threads. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/32 "2013-05-23T16:03:03Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > It’s not like this is a novel, untested practice; it’s been implemented successfully before. It might filter out a few drive-by posters. Hardly a bad thing. A 6 hour activation period might do the trick. If there had been a 6 hour activation period when I signed up, I might never have returned. I have similar problems with one blog site I read. They want an email address and then send a confirmation email _and_ you have to reply to that to activate your posting ability. It’s too much hassle. I’ll just ignore comments and think my replies really loudly. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/33 "2013-05-24T07:26:59Z")
One of **OpalCat** ’s old threads just got resurrected, [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16319476#post16319476). ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/34 "2013-05-24T08:20:59Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > I’d give the newbe a break if they actually bothered to hang around. But the majority of the zombie revivals are made by one hit wonders that never show up again. Maybe that’s just a response to the barrage of snark and bad jokes they receive. It’s not exactly a warm welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/35 "2013-05-24T08:25:42Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I think someone should catalog all the threads that ask why there are so many zombie threads. Here ya go. In chronological order: [How on earth do Zombie Threads get reopened?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=485049) ( **Hazle Weatherfield** 09-25-2008 ) [How Old is a Zombie Thread?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=549971) ( **MitzeKatze** 01-29-2010 ) [zombie newbie querie](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=568353) ( **shijinn** 06-24-2010 ) [What’s with all the zombie threads recently?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=590971) ( **Ximenean** 12-29-2010 ) [some way to mark Zombie threads?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=595929) ( **Sigene** 02-04-2011 ) [How do ZOMBIE threads happen?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=599906) ( **Hampshire** 03-08-2011 ) [Zombie threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=626907) ( **Stink Fish Pot** 10-06-2011 ) [Hey Tom–I like what you did there](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=640278) ( **Fenris** 01-30-2012 ) [He likes the idea that a mod added a note at the bottom of the OP indicating that it’s a zombie, and showing the post # at which it was resurrected.] [What’s with all of the zombie threads lately?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=643163) ( **tdn** 02-24-2012 ) [Zombie threads, can anything be done?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=658295) ( **kanicbird** 07-12-2012 ) [Why don’t zombie threads get locked automatically?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=677128) ( **EmilyG** 12-29-2012 ) [A thought with regard to zombie threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=686646) ( **TBG** 03-29-2013 ) [Am I imagining things or are there a ton of zombie threads being resurrected around here lately?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=691640) ( **Cubsfan** 05-21-2013 ) ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/36 "2013-05-24T08:28:44Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Here ya go. In chronological order: > > [How on earth do Zombie Threads get reopened?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=485049) ( **Hazle Weatherfield** 09-25-2008 ) > > [How Old is a Zombie Thread?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=549971) ( **MitzeKatze** 01-29-2010 ) > > [zombie newbie querie](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=568353) ( **shijinn** 06-24-2010 ) > > [What’s with all the zombie threads recently?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=590971) ( **Ximenean** 12-29-2010 ) > > [some way to mark Zombie threads?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=595929) ( **Sigene** 02-04-2011 ) > > [How do ZOMBIE threads happen?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=599906) ( **Hampshire** 03-08-2011 ) > > [Zombie threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=626907) ( **Stink Fish Pot** 10-06-2011 ) > > [Hey Tom–I like what you did there](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=640278) ( **Fenris** 01-30-2012 ) > [He likes the idea that a mod added a note at the bottom of the OP indicating that it’s a zombie, and showing the post # at which it was resurrected.] > > [What’s with all of the zombie threads lately?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=643163) ( **tdn** 02-24-2012 ) > > [Zombie threads, can anything be done?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=658295) ( **kanicbird** 07-12-2012 ) > > [Why don’t zombie threads get locked automatically?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=677128) ( **EmilyG** 12-29-2012 ) > > [A thought with regard to zombie threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=686646) ( **TBG** 03-29-2013 ) > > [Am I imagining things or are there a ton of zombie threads being resurrected around here lately?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=691640) ( **Cubsfan** 05-21-2013 ) I really want to reply to every one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@The\_Dord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dord)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/37 "2013-05-24T08:36:20Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Yes, this question gets asked several times a year. > > Right. People may sign up just to make one post, but we’d prefer they can actually make it. A delay wouldn’t solve this problem anyway. > > That was five years ago, and we think it’s been a positive even if there are some more zombie threads. If they were going to post more than once in the Zombie’d thread, It would be less of a problem. I’m not personally troubled with Zombie Threads, they’re like a message board version of a Rickroll. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/38 "2013-05-24T12:20:32Z")
Nicely done, **Senegoid**! ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/39 "2013-05-24T12:54:59Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Moved MPSIMS –\> IMHO. > > May and June is when the school year ends, and there’s a large group of people who suddenly have time on their hands. Teachers always were a damn menace. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985/40 "2013-05-24T14:06:34Z")
I noticed yesterday when I went to the SD Homepage (there’s a link at the very bottom of this page) on the right side there’s a list of archived SD columns that are clickable links. A LOT of the names of the columns were the same as current zombie threads here. So, I suspect there is some connection between the reanimation of threads here and the list of archived SD columns there. Or it could just be some sort of government conspiracy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-imagining-things-or-are-there-a-ton-of-zombie-threads-being-resurrected-around-here-lately/658985.md?page=3)