# Minor gripe re the closing of "Weird stuff you habitually do for no reason", re zombies. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 13, 2010, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508 "2010-07-13T07:09:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/1 "2010-07-13T07:09:10Z")
This thread was a resurrected zombie: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=498860&page=3](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=498860&page=3) But, unlike most zombie threads, this one had some life in it. A full page was added and it showed no signs of stopping. I know it’s the rules to treat our zombie brethren this way, but in this case was it really necessary? Like I said, not a big deal. My panties are untwisted… just felt the urge to lodge a small complaint. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/2 "2010-07-13T07:12:31Z")
I felt exactly the same way, **Auto**. I even opened up the PM thingie and started typing a message before I said “meh” and closed the window. I think that thread is a perfect example of a zombie that should be allowed to live on. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/3 "2010-07-13T07:22:49Z")
_Hi-5_ ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/4 "2010-07-13T07:35:59Z")
In closing the thread the moderator said: [QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus] I’m going to close this, but please feel free to start a new thread and link to the old one if you want to continue this. [/quote] Seems like a reasonable solution to the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/5 "2010-07-13T07:37:43Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > [this]Seems like a reasonable solution to the problem. Yeah, but it’s a pain and in the ass and it totally breaks the flow of the thread. In this case it’s a solution to an unnecessary problem. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/6 "2010-07-13T08:47:19Z")
The mods might as well close **this** thread and tell us to open a new one. The point is that the closure was unnecessary. It wasn’t one random post- an entire new discussion a page and a third deep was underway. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/7 "2010-07-13T09:27:09Z")
Oh c’mon **Melon** , don’t be leavin’ me hangin! ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/8 "2010-07-13T09:38:23Z")
Down to my knees. Down to my knees. Edit: I’m talking about my penis. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/9 "2010-07-13T15:26:34Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > In closing the thread the moderator said: > > \<\< Originally Posted by Spectre of Pithecanthropus > I’m going to close this, but please feel free to start a new thread and link to the old one if you want to continue this.\>\> > > Seems like a reasonable solution to the problem. Usually but here I am going to go to the “let it live” side. There is a cross/double standard here that confused me at first and may throw other yearlings. Ask a something more like a question and you get a few mild shots and a link to a past thread that answered it. Find something interesting more like a discussion and add to it and it gets locked as a zombie. Add to this that some newbies are very hesitant to start threads (or at linking to past threads) and it becomes a tough call. I believe the person who called this one from the grave was a newbie and it _did_ seem to get more interest so ----------- Maybe a clearer definition (or examples) up in the FAQ sticky about when its OK to start the same thread again and when not? ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/10 "2010-07-13T17:33:42Z")
The whole closing of zombie threads is pointless to me. It doesn’t matter if the thread had it’s run, and maybe nobody in it is still around, but someone found it interesting enough to add to it. Or heck, why not just have the mod or admin split the thread off into a new one starting with the resurrection post? vBulletin can do that. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/11 "2010-07-13T18:55:23Z")
During the eighteen months when the original thread was lying dormant, some of the posters who originally replied might have stopped doing those weird things habitually, and started doing other weird things instead. Why not encourage people to reply to a new thread? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/12 "2010-07-13T19:13:43Z")
Why not let the posters who originally replied pop back in and say “Hey! I remember that I used to do that! I don’t any more.” or “Man, I _still_ can’t stop doing that!”? More posting is good, right? \< broken record \> Don’t close threads that aren’t truly contentious/totally nasty. Let old threads be resuscitated! \< /broken record 😉 😃 \> ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/13 "2010-07-13T19:39:50Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Yeah, but it’s a pain and in the ass (sic) Nonsense, my dear chap! Easy as pie. [Weird stuff you do habitually for no reason (sequel)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=570704) ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/14 "2010-07-14T17:32:02Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Why not let the posters who originally replied pop back in and say “Hey! I remember that I used to do that! I don’t any more.” or “Man, I _still_ can’t stop doing that!”? More posting is good, right? > > \< broken record \> > Don’t close threads that aren’t truly contentious/totally nasty. Let old threads be resuscitated! > \< /broken record 😉 😃 \> I was in the process of multiquoting posts when I ran across my previous post where I quoted the same posts and then realized it was a zombie. So I still do those weird things. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-gripe-re-the-closing-of-weird-stuff-you-habitually-do-for-no-reason-re-zombies/546508/15 "2010-07-14T18:15:29Z")
I don’t understand the closing of zombie threads, either. Twickster especially has a habit of sticking strictly to reading dates and closing them even when there is more added to it. “Start a new thread”. I know they say it’s because older posters can’t respond, but what’s the big deal about that? Unless one is attacking the older poster, if you don’t get a response the world burns down? Or you just move on with your life. Meh.