# Resurrecting dead topics? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 18, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resurrecting-dead-topics/959758 "2022-02-18T21:52:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resurrecting-dead-topics/959758/1 "2022-02-18T21:52:18Z")
Are there any issues with commenting on old topics? I know that some people hate them. I’ve been caught by surprise elsewhere when I replied to a topic someone resurrected and said pretty much the same thing that I said three or four years previously. I’ve never had a problem with them, though. So is it forbidden? Frowned upon? Discouraged? Encouraged? Doesn’t matter? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resurrecting-dead-topics/959758/2 "2022-02-18T21:56:43Z")
If it is useful information, a related anecdote or the like it is fine. If it is to respond to someone in an argumentized way from many years ago it is discouraged. If responding to someone banned or suspended, very much discouraged. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resurrecting-dead-topics/959758/3 "2022-02-18T21:58:07Z")
My understanding is that it’s cool to zombie a thread if you are adding new and relevant information. Raising a fifteen-year-old thread just to say That’s stupid is what is frowned upon. I am not aware of any warnings or suspensions over doing that, though. ETA: Ninjaed! ---
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resurrecting-dead-topics/959758/4 "2022-02-18T22:47:43Z")
Thanks. I have seen a couple of threads that I thought interesting and thought that might join in on. On another board that I occasionally post on, there is a general rule that one should not start a new thread when there is an existing thread already on the topic. So whenever I thought about starting a new thread, if I looked, I could usually already find a thread on the topic and so I replied to the existing thread even if it was ten or more years old. After a little while, I was told to not take that particular rule so seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resurrecting-dead-topics/959758/5 "2022-02-19T00:19:28Z")
You can always create a new thread and link to the old one if you want to talk about the subject, and people can always click your link if they want more info. You can also branch off a new topic from the old one (click the chain icon at the bottom of a post, probably either the last or first one, and click “+ New Topic”). That will show that your new thread is a continuing of the old one, without resurrecting it. And if someone goes to the old thread, they’ll see a caption and link that there is a newer thread. (These are just alternatives to bringing back an old thread if it is uncomfortable to you, or you are worried about whether or not it’s appropriate.) ---
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resurrecting-dead-topics/959758/6 "2022-02-19T01:01:08Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > You can always create a new thread and link to the old one if you want to talk about the subject, and people can always click your link if they want more info. Thanks. I would not have thought about that. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resurrecting-dead-topics/959758/7 "2022-02-19T15:48:21Z")
I don’t know, I love old threads. I read and read and laugh or cry as needed. I’ve finally gotten able to recognize the older posters names and the timeliness of the subject. It took longer than I thought☺️. But, yeah opening an old thread just to gripe seems over the top. (Note to self: try not to do that Beck, try not to do that…) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resurrecting-dead-topics/959758/8 "2022-02-19T16:07:33Z")
Didn’t we used to have a sticky thread in ATMB explaining (among other things) what “zombie threads” are, and what the general policy towards them here is? I could have sworn I remembered such a thread, but I can’t find it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resurrecting-dead-topics/959758/9 "2022-02-19T16:11:55Z")
The old Zombie policy ended a long time ago. The new one is in the rules somewhere. But I’m not sure where. It is close to what I posted above though.