# De "Googling' the board **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 30, 2012, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560 "2012-12-30T10:27:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/1 "2012-12-30T10:27:22Z")
Has any thought been given to “Degoogling” the board? (IOW-not make it searchable on Google) IMO, that would zombie resurrections, and “drive-bys”. And yes, I know I’m anal about “zombies”. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/2 "2012-12-30T11:35:06Z")
Yes, let’s make this board even MORE inaccessible to others! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/3 "2012-12-30T12:49:56Z")
Meh; zombies and drive-bys are trivial. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/4 "2012-12-30T13:02:20Z")
I honestly don’t get why everyone is so uptight about zombie threads. So what if some newcomer posts to a thread that’s 4 years old. Who cares? If you don’t like it, don’t post to it. If you don’t realize it and post to it anyways, it’s not going to bother anyone, no one’s going to make fun of you. If it doesn’t bother you…well, you can’t say it doesn’t bother you since you started a thread about it. I just wish the mods would stop locking the zombie threads since they specifically said they were ‘ok’ a few years back and yet it seems like they still get locked once in a while. I think, when it comes to the zombie thread thing, we’re at the point where the complainers are more of an annoyance then the actual ‘problem’. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more threads about zombie threads then actual zombie threads. Personally, I’d like to see a nice balance. There’s another VB board that uses, what I assume is, a hack to ward off people bringing up old threads. If you try to bump a thread that’s more then X days old, it warns you about how old it is and makes you click a check box before hitting submit. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/5 "2012-12-30T13:04:13Z")
Google makes the Board much better; the SDMB search function works for some things, but I’ve often had to use Google to find something on Board. Why would we want to reduce the accessibility of the Board?!? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/6 "2012-12-30T13:06:54Z")
For instance, see this sticky by **Twickster** explaining how Google searches work in some cases where the SDMB’s own search function doesn’t: [A note about Cafe Society searches](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=594577). ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/7 "2012-12-30T14:48:49Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Has any thought been given to “Degoogling” the board? (IOW-not make it searchable on Google) IMO, that would zombie resurrections, and “drive-bys”. And yes, I know I’m anal about “zombies”. [No](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=586090) [kidding](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=656280). But I’m glad you’re no longer mad at NotOK for jerking us around about umkay’s health.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/8 "2012-12-30T17:18:06Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Has any thought been given to “Degoogling” the board? No. We want more people to find the board and find subjects that interest them, and it helps Dopers search the board more easily. The inconvenience of an occasional zombie thread does not come anywhere close to outweighing those benefits. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/9 "2012-12-30T18:11:09Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I just wish the mods would stop locking the zombie threads since they specifically said they were ‘ok’ a few years back and yet it seems like they still get locked once in a while. They are OK and we have pretty much stopped locking them. However, when a zombie in Great Debates pops up where the original thread was filled with vitriol and the responding new poster is liable to inflame those arguments again, we do tend to close those. We also consider closing threads where there was a lot of vitriol and the new poster responds to a now absent, (or now-banned), poster. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/10 "2012-12-30T18:31:25Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Has any thought been given to “Degoogling” the board? (IOW-not make it searchable on Google) IMO, that would zombie resurrections, and “drive-bys”. And yes, I know I’m anal about “zombies”. “You have a pimple, eh? Off with your head, then!” ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/11 "2012-12-30T20:22:42Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I honestly don’t get why everyone is so uptight about zombie threads. So what if some newcomer posts to a thread that’s 4 years old. Who cares? > If you don’t like it, don’t post to it. > If you don’t realize it and post to it anyways, it’s not going to bother anyone, no one’s going to make fun of you. > If it doesn’t bother you…well, you can’t say it doesn’t bother you since you started a thread about it. > > I just wish the mods would stop locking the zombie threads since they specifically said they were ‘ok’ a few years back and yet it seems like they still get locked once in a while. > > I think, when it comes to the zombie thread thing, we’re at the point where the complainers are more of an annoyance then the actual ‘problem’. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more threads about zombie threads then actual zombie threads. > > Personally, I’d like to see a nice balance. There’s another VB board that uses, what I assume is, a hack to ward off people bringing up old threads. If you try to bump a thread that’s more then X days old, it warns you about how old it is and makes you click a check box before hitting submit. I wouldn’t have a problem with asking a poster,“are you _sure_ you want to post this?” In fact, I like this in general, not just for re-animation. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/12 "2012-12-30T20:26:54Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > For instance, see this sticky by **Twickster** explaining how Google searches work in some cases where the SDMB’s own search function doesn’t: [A note about Cafe Society searches](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=594577). So, the “zombie problem” is due to a flaw in software? Is this flaw resolvable? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/13 "2012-12-30T20:56:30Z")
From a revenue perspective, deGoogling would effectively kill new growth of this for-profit enterprise. You’ll need a far more compelling argument to take cash out of pockets than minor annoyance. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/14 "2012-12-30T23:28:10Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I honestly don’t get why everyone is so uptight about zombie threads. Me neither. What’s the big deal? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/15 "2012-12-31T00:02:24Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Me neither. What’s the big deal? [From the other current zombie complaint thread.]From the other zombie complaint currently running:]([http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15843415&postcount=10](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15843415&postcount=10)) > [@](#): > > . . . [When] I accidentally post in a really old thread that someone else has resurrected, making me look perhaps slightly stupid. I guess a small, but very loud, minority feels like a sucker. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/16 "2012-12-31T00:27:27Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > So, the “zombie problem” is due to a flaw in software? Is this flaw resolvable? It is not a flaw or a problem, it is a feature, and an excellent one too. It is a very good thing both for the Dope and the web as a whole that we are indexed by Google. Quite apart from the value of attracting new members and “guests” to view the advertising, old Dope threads are a unique, and very valuable informational resource. Please don’t fuck it up with your absurd hangup about harmless (and often amusing and informative) zombie threads! ---
**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:** [December 31, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/17 "2012-12-31T00:36:31Z")
> [@](#): > > So, the “zombie problem” is due to a flaw in software? Is this flaw resolvable? Not only is it resolvable, but it has been resolved, and the resolution also added value to the boards in a number of other ways. It was really simple, too: All they had to do was let Google index the boards. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/18 "2012-12-31T00:48:51Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > From the other zombie complaint currently running:. I specifically said that my thread wasn’t a “complaint.” And I don’t consider myself a “small minority” nor “loud.” ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/19 "2012-12-31T00:57:49Z")
I agree the occasional zombie is not a big deal. Since we started allowing them more I’ve tried to make a habit of checking the dates. I miss a few but meh… ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560/20 "2012-12-31T00:59:34Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Not only is it resolvable, but it has been resolved, and the resolution also added value to the boards in a number of other ways. It was really simple, too: All they had to do was let Google index the boards. UMM, unless that’s a massive _whoosh_, indexing the board **created** the zombie problem. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-googling-the-board/645560.md?page=2)