# Am I unique in wishing zombie threads were still disallowed? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 14, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386 "2011-04-14T17:39:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/61 "2011-04-19T13:58:35Z")
I admire your work ethic, Whyzers. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/62 "2011-04-19T14:15:31Z")
Anything for the Dope, **Ellen**. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/63 "2011-04-19T14:26:18Z")
Initially I was indifferent. Now I find them annoying and wish theyā€™d go away. I think it detracts from the currentness of the board, myself. The zombie jokes are now all lame, it was funny the first couple of times, now, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/64 "2011-04-19T14:46:56Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Whilst Iā€™m not in favour of actively discouraging new members, I would like to see something put in place so that posters are **either** advised that the thread theyā€™re opening is really old. Orā€¦? And zombie jokes are lame. Especially just a chant of ā€œbrainsā€¦ā€ in the thread. I do agree that if we donā€™t want newbies to post to them, either close them or have some kind of pre-post warning about how old they are. Otherwise, shut up about it and let them post. ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/65 "2011-04-20T00:16:58Z")
I donā€™t mind zombie threads though I almost always forget to look at the date and get suckered inā€¦until the first zombie joke and I facepalm. I like zombie jokes; as someone upthread said it is a way to point out the zombieness of the thread without sounding officious. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/66 "2011-04-20T08:23:39Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Orā€¦? Well, Itā€™s been mentioned before that some sort of delay between first registering and being able to post could be implemented. I wouldnā€™t be opposed to this, but that usually means everyone else is. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/67 "2011-04-20T13:01:47Z")
Vegetarian zombie: GRAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNS!!! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/68 "2011-04-20T13:24:58Z")
Frankly, while I find them annoying I feel more sorry for the poster who re-opens them. They are (generally) posting in good faith without realizing that the OP they are responding to is way out of date (a technical question) or the issue is long resolved (some emotional scenario years old). It must feel kind of foolish to them to realize that they were essentially talking to an empty room. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/69 "2011-04-20T13:55:06Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Frankly, while I find them annoying I feel more sorry for the poster who re-opens them. They are (generally) posting in good faith without realizing that the OP they are responding to is way out of date (a technical question) or the issue is long resolved (some emotional scenario years old). > > It must feel kind of foolish to them to realize that they were essentially talking to an empty room. Except they almost always seem to be one-and-done, they never come back. (Not counting spammers) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/70 "2011-04-20T14:00:53Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Except they almost always seem to be one-and-done, they never come back. (Not counting spammers) If I was embarrassed and the further replies were jokes about braaaaains that I didnā€™t understand, or worse, I \*understood \*that Iā€™d made a board faux pas, I donā€™t think Iā€™d be back, either. Most first posters donā€™t have all that thick a skin, and can feel ganged up on and unwelcome by the reception zombie threads usually get. Maybe (not as a rule, just a convention), we should start replying to zombie threads with a ā€œThis thread is really old, and the person youā€™re replying to hasnā€™t posted here in a year, so we call this a ā€œzombieā€ thread. Not a big deal, and welcome to the board! Hereā€™s what I thinkā€¦ā€ before we start the braaaaaain jokes. Yā€™know, kind of how we gently inform posters commenting on a column that a link is appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/71 "2011-04-20T14:10:31Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Maybe (not as a rule, just a convention), we should start replying to zombie threads with a ā€œThis thread is really old, and the person youā€™re replying to hasnā€™t posted here in a year, so we call this a ā€œzombieā€ thread. Not a big deal, and welcome to the board! Hereā€™s what I thinkā€¦ā€ before we start the braaaaaain jokes. > > Yā€™know, kind of how we gently inform posters commenting on a column that a link is appreciated. I think this would be the right way to handle it. Just make it a standard. **WhyNot** in 2012! (You donā€™t mind being a write-in candidate, do you?) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/72 "2011-04-20T14:40:03Z")
Iā€™m on board with WhyNot. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/73 "2011-04-20T14:51:24Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I think this would be the right way to handle it. Just make it a standard. > > **WhyNot** in 2012! (You donā€™t mind being a write-in candidate, do you?) Do I get a spot on the ticket for being the touchy-feely, sensitive Doper who inspired it? šŸ™‚ ---
**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:** [April 20, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/74 "2011-04-20T15:42:11Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > If I was embarrassed and the further replies were jokes about braaaaains that I didnā€™t understand, or worse, I \*understood \*that Iā€™d made a board faux pas, I donā€™t think Iā€™d be back, either. Most first posters donā€™t have all that thick a skin, and can feel ganged up on and unwelcome by the reception zombie threads usually get. > > Maybe (not as a rule, just a convention), we should start replying to zombie threads with a ā€œThis thread is really old, and the person youā€™re replying to hasnā€™t posted here in a year, so we call this a ā€œzombieā€ thread. Not a big deal, and welcome to the board! Hereā€™s what I thinkā€¦ā€ before we start the braaaaaain jokes. > > Yā€™know, kind of how we gently inform posters commenting on a column that a link is appreciated. As a moderator, I agree with this. While I donā€™t particularly mind the zombie jokes, I donā€™t think posts that include only remarks like ā€œbraaainsssā€ are particularly helpful. They will mystify the newbie who raised it, as well as any other newbies who happen along. So if you want to make a joke, please let the poster know what itā€™s all about. Otherwise you are just playing to the in crowd at the expense of the newbies. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/75 "2011-04-20T15:42:51Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Do I get a spot on the ticket for being the touchy-feely, sensitive Doper who inspired it? > > šŸ™‚ How are you at grass-roots campaign organization? šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/76 "2011-04-20T15:43:49Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > How are you at grass-roots campaign organization? šŸ˜‰ I like bad coffee and stale donuts. Good, Iā€™d say! ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/77 "2011-04-20T22:07:31Z")
Iā€™m voting for **WhyNot**. That was a great suggestion. Oh, and by the wayā€¦ > [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Vegetarian zombie: GRAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNS!!! Zombie Plumber: DRAAAAAAAIIIIIIIINNNNNNS!!! ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/78 "2011-04-21T04:15:26Z")
I donā€™t like them, sometimes I see them on the top and think ā€œoh, this is a cool discussion.ā€ Then I see about 5 BANNED statuses and go ā€œwaitā€¦ā€ Then I look around and say ā€œI donā€™t recognize some of these peopleā€¦ā€ Then I look at the post date and itā€™s inevitably something like 2002. Most of the time the people are absent from the board to contribute, especially when I want to engage their points directly. If this doesnā€™t convince TPTB, I know that in many forum softwares, zombie threads wreak absolute havok on the database, this is why many forums lock threads x months old, because when thereā€™s a large gap between posts it starts to cause crashes and long search times. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/79 "2011-04-21T12:42:44Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Maybe (not as a rule, just a convention), we should start replying to zombie threads with a ā€œThis thread is really old, and the person youā€™re replying to hasnā€™t posted here in a year, so we call this a ā€œzombieā€ thread. Not a big deal, and welcome to the board! Hereā€™s what I thinkā€¦ā€ before we start the braaaaaain jokes. > > Yā€™know, kind of how we gently inform posters commenting on a column that a link is appreciated. I donā€™t think thatā€™s adequate. I try to remember to look at the dates now, because zombies are cropping up more and more annoyingly, but if I forget and go through 15 posts before I get to the first ā€œbrainsā€ joke I get pretty peeved. Iā€™d be just as peeved if I managed to get through a page or two before getting to the ā€œpolite messageā€. I even reported a zombie thread not long ago because I was so mad. The thread was entirely too old to have been resurrected and the response that revived it was, frankly, pointlessly stupid. Also, itā€™s a little disconcerting when a zombie is old enough that you see a deceased and sadly missed posterā€™s name on page two. I would prefer a pop-up or warning window that recommends the person start a new thread. The new ā€œlet the zombies liveā€ policy is simply not working with new visitors stumbling across very old threads via Google. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386/80 "2011-04-21T12:53:56Z")
Thanks for the support, yā€™all! šŸ˜ƒ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-unique-in-wishing-zombie-threads-were-still-disallowed/578386.md?page=5)