# How long does it take you to notice you're reading a zombie thread?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-you-to-notice-youre-reading-a-zombie-thread/733602>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 5, 2015, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-you-to-notice-youre-reading-a-zombie-thread/733602 "2015-10-05T12:24:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-you-to-notice-youre-reading-a-zombie-thread/733602/61 "2015-10-20T15:16:18Z")

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It is kinda fun to see if I’ve had a change of heart on any given topic, or a new insight.

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**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-you-to-notice-youre-reading-a-zombie-thread/733602/62 "2015-10-20T22:50:30Z")

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> [@bump](#):
>
> …and anachronistic commentary usually clue me in…

I will read old threads where the obvious way to find out the information is to go to YouTube or Wikipedia. And then I’ll realise they didn’t exist back then, and will feel weird on how quickly they became ubiquitous and indispensable.

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**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-you-to-notice-youre-reading-a-zombie-thread/733602/63 "2015-10-20T23:46:52Z")

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> [@WhyNot](#):
>
> Depends on how many “banned” I see under usernames (and of course how high up those posts are, but usually they seem to be within the first 5-6 posts.) Banned posters are usually my first clue, followed by dead posters.

Yup. That’s my tip-off.

> [@WordMan](#):
>
> … I assume some % are 'bot-generated based on some algorithm set up to find threads like ours, but am not sure. Given how significant the % of internet traffic is supposed to now be computer-based, that is my working assumption.

Pretty much 100% of internet traffic is computer-based, I would imagine. 😃

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