# Suggestion for detecting a resurrected old thread **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 26, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432 "2003-06-26T02:14:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/1 "2003-06-26T02:14:52Z")
Rcently there has been some discussion about resurrecting dead threads. I myself was guilty of this once a couple weeks ago. I thought my reasoning was valid, but I can see everyone’s point. Here’s my suggestion: is there a way for vBulletin to enable an icon such that when you mouse over it reveals the original OP date? Or a way to have the “envelope” icon appear differently, say, after a designated amount of time has passed? In [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171605) example, the title was vaguely familiar but the only way I could tell for sure that it was an old thread was to open it. If I could tell it was old just by looking at some icon or mousing over some icon, I wouldn’t have to open it - server time not affected, irritation non-existant, etc etc. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/2 "2003-06-26T02:42:50Z")
Is that really any less difficult that actually _looking_ at the original OP date, which is right there in plain view? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/3 "2003-06-26T02:44:13Z")
To clarify: no one is saying you can’t _read_ old threads. They just prefer you not post to them. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/4 "2003-06-26T03:36:12Z")
I think **dooku** means finding a way _not_ to have to open the old thread at all to realise it is an oldie, **Q.E.D.**. To look at the OP date would mean opening the thread – it’s not obvious from the forum page. ---
**Author:** ![skyzoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@skyzoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skyzoo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/5 "2003-06-26T03:41:35Z")
Oh. (Thou of 4669 and 1749 postertease!) Is there a way the sky can fly wackbards? 🙂 I love these questions and answers here, elsewise, I have little way of finding out the _“How to”'s_ and can only pray to (Humble) Tuba Diver that me mistrakes are chalked up to unexperienced, and hope for _mercy_ !😉 Og! Fergive us our tres passes!(posts?) ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/6 "2003-06-26T03:47:10Z")
There’s also having a look at the FAQs here, **skyzoo** , if you have a problem. [Guidelines](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=106617) and [Technical Issues.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=103503) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/7 "2003-06-26T03:52:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ice Wolf \* > \*\*I think **dooku** means finding a way _not_ to have to open the old thread at all to realise it is an oldie, **Q.E.D.**. To look at the OP date would mean opening the thread – it’s not obvious from the forum page. \*\* OK, fine. But my point stands: why would you care if a thread was an oldie or not before you opened it? If the thread title interested you, are you going to pass on opening it just because it’s old? The powers-that-be have stated that rather than ressurecting an old thread that interested you, you ought to simply start a new thread with yoaur comments and a link back to the old thread. So why care when the OP was before you open it? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/8 "2003-06-26T04:04:48Z")
Just as a WAG: maybe so you know it’s an old thread, therefore don’t open it, read it all the way through, get an idea, do a post, _then_ realise it’s an old one that’s been brought back from the dead? Has happened. I agree, **Q.E.D.** , the OP date is right there beside the OP. But – in amongst a bunch of up-to-date threads, few really go looking for the date. ---
**Author:** ![skyzoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@skyzoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skyzoo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/9 "2003-06-26T04:07:13Z")
Thanks, **Ice Wolf** , I have studied the FAQ’s and needed these, …🙂 & I feel so humbled at all the wit of yours and others that, perhaps - I am slower… Until you posted these links, I was still toe—dipping… I hope to make it past the “newbie stage” into the “something to offer stage” like yourself. That’s all!.. meanwhile, I enjoy simply reading yours and others posts! But also would enjoy replying occassionally intelligent-like:smack: othern! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/10 "2003-06-26T04:10:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ice Wolf \* > \*\*Just as a WAG: maybe so you know it’s an old thread, therefore don’t open it, read it all the way through, get an idea, do a post, _then_ realise it’s an old one that’s been brought back from the dead? > > Has happened. I agree, **Q.E.D.** , the OP date is right there beside the OP. But – in amongst a bunch of up-to-date threads, few really go looking for the date. \*\* Well, if no one looks at the dates that are _in_ the thread, I doubt they’ll be looking _before_ they open it either. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/11 "2003-06-26T04:11:40Z")
Oh, and **skyzoo** , you’re doing just fine 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/12 "2003-06-26T04:15:36Z")
Heh. Yes, correct, **Q.E.D.** , I don’t think a new hover function would help all that much either for that very reason, but it is a valid suggestion for the staff here. And **skyzoo** – you’re going great. Just relax, read more than you post for a bit, get the feel of the place. Great to have you around! (Cool username, BTW!) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/13 "2003-06-26T04:27:28Z")
Also when you hover over a thread you are given the threadid before you open it. If it’s many thousands less than the current threads, it’s old. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/14 "2003-06-26T04:52:44Z")
Threadid 172000 is about 3 months ago which is the standard for “old thread”. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/15 "2003-06-27T20:27:50Z")
**Ice Wolf** has made my point much better than I did, apparently. Yes, I was referring to not having to open a thread to find out if it’s old, then accidentally posting to it w/o realizing that it was old. I hadn’t thought of **don’t ask** ’s suggestion, which makes perfect sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/16 "2003-06-27T20:35:09Z")
One more thing I forgot to mention: Although the OP has the original date, I always go to first unread post, which is typically three pages later on a page with all new posts, so I wouldn’t know how old the thread was before posting. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-for-detecting-a-resurrected-old-thread/184432/17 "2003-06-27T21:56:13Z")
Also, it’s rare for a thread to get 5 pages long in one day (yes, there are always exceptions), so another good way to ‘guess’ at a thread’s age is, if it has 175 posts and you haven’t seen it before right now, it’s most likely a ressurected thread. Of course, this only works for daily users (like most of the real high post count Dopers), but it’s a system I’ve grown into. The Trek threads are a different story. Reruns tend to ressurect an old episode thread.