# What's Better - Resurrect a Zombie Thread or Start a New One? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 18, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119 "2016-05-18T21:35:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/1 "2016-05-18T21:35:18Z")
This may be common knowledge around here, but I couldn’t find anything about it in the Registration Agreement. I was thinking about making some comments about Wal-Mart’s practice of asking to see your receipt when leaving the store. However, I see that there have been prior threads about this topic in [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=380159)and [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=533831). The 2009 thread has been closed, so obviously, resurrecting that one is not an option. But, hypothetically, what would be the accepted practice around here, for this topic or any other? Should I start a new thread, or add comments to one that has been sitting idle for a number of years? Or does it matter? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/2 "2016-05-18T21:48:11Z")
I have seen a very few threads where it made sense to resurrect. Where the subject was very specific. Say, an appeals case going to the Supreme Court. There, the existing thread is precisely-themed enough to be worth re-opening. But as a general case…nah, open a new thread. Take it de novo. For one thing, don’t expect us to go back and read 75 messages, many of which are from 2011. ---
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/3 "2016-05-18T21:52:32Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I have seen a very few threads where it made sense to resurrect. Where the subject was very specific. Say, an appeals case going to the Supreme Court. There, the existing thread is precisely-themed enough to be worth re-opening. > > But as a general case…nah, open a new thread. Take it de novo. > > For one thing, don’t expect us to go back and read 75 messages, many of which are from 2011. The reason I asked is that I sometimes see comments in threads to the effect that ‘there is already a thread on this.’ I was just unsure as to where the cut-off might be for such things. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/4 "2016-05-18T22:38:10Z")
From the [FAQ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=384745) > [@FAQ - Guidelines and Etiquette on the SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faq-guidelines-and-etiquette-on-the-sdmb/369402/4): > > Please be cautious about resurrecting old threads (that is, posting to a thread where the prior post was many months or years ago.) These are called “zombie” threads, and we are uncomfortable about them for a number of reasons, including(but not limited to) that such threads:[ul] > > [li]Might open old wounds. If there were hard feelings and high emotions long ago, and they’ve been quieted down, why stir them up again?[/li][li]Revisit issues long dead (e.g., some rant by a poster who has since been banned or left)[/li][li]Can be unfair. The people who posted long ago may not be around to respond to your comments, or may have forgot that they even posted there.[/li][li]Can cause confusion (e.g., some public/newsworthy event that happened long ago but seeing an old thread title might imply it was new or recurring – a thread from Sept 2001 titled, “NYC attacked!” for instance.) [/li][li]Really old threads don’t show the names of posters. They got dropped when we migrated to VB, we didn’t know why then and we still don’t, but it’s pretty much irrelevant now.[/li][/ul] > So, rather than post to an old thread, you might want to start a new thread with a link to the prior discussion, and some comments in your opening post explaining what that old thread was about. > > Now, with that as overview, there is a difference in approach in the different forums. > > - In _Comments on Cecil’s Columns, Comments on Staff Reports, Games Room, General Questions,_ and _Straight Dope Chicago_: We’re less concerned about resurrected threads. The reasons we dislike zombie threads don’t usually apply. We’ll generally leave such threads open, unless there is some compelling reason for taking moderator action, > > - In the other forums, and especially _the Pit_: moderators may choose to leave the thread open or to close it. Frankly, if it’s a long thread and the mod doesn’t want to read all the way through to see if whether there are problems, the mod will probably think it’s better to err on the side of closing. > > (Note that “thank you for answering my question” is just plain good manners, and acceptable. However, reviving an old thread just to say “I agree” is considered bad form. If you’re going to resurrect an old discussion, at least add some value.) ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/5 "2016-05-18T22:45:56Z")
> [@NeonMadman](#): > > The reason I asked is that I sometimes see comments in threads to the effect that ‘there is already a thread on this.’ I was just unsure as to where the cut-off might be for such things. If it’s a current and active thread, then, yeah, that’s a valid reminder. But if it’s an old one…I would still say it’s better to start a new one. (I also dislike it when people post, “We’ve already discussed this ten times.” Well, tough noogies: now it’s eleven. Yes, the horse has been beaten to death…but if it were a rule that you can’t start up a well-worn topic…what the hell would we have here to talk about?) (And I’ll bet a pickle that all of this has been said before!) ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/6 "2016-05-18T23:02:11Z")
I’ve heard it recommended to start a new one rather than zombify an old one, but if the old one is relevant or you want to reiterate/address something said in the old one, just link it in your OP. This also eliminates the whole “we’ve discussed this a zillion times before” by acknowledging you’ve seen that but have more to say in current context. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/7 "2016-05-18T23:11:26Z")
why not just do like game faqs does and say if no one puts anything in a thread it just locks after a few days ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/8 "2016-05-18T23:49:48Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > why not just do like game faqs does and say if no one puts anything in a thread it just locks after a few days Because it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/9 "2016-05-19T01:05:31Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > why not just do like game faqs does and say if no one puts anything in a thread it just locks after a few days Because it’s not that kind of forum. We’ve had people post new and relevant information to a thread after it had been dormant for more than 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/10 "2016-05-19T10:22:31Z")
Hows about [this current thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=792351)? CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/11 "2016-05-19T12:15:26Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Hows about [this current thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=792351)? > > CMC fnord! What about it? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/12 "2016-05-19T13:01:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What about it? Seems like exactly the kind of thread the OP was looking for, the more general question notwithstanding. IOW Just attempting to be helpful. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/13 "2016-05-19T13:07:38Z")
What you can do is start a new thread and reference the old one in your OP. Then, if appropriate, a mod can merge the two threads. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/14 "2016-05-19T15:25:35Z")
My own personal opinion is that if it is a general topic then it is better to open a new thread. Some of the same ground may be covered again but those making the original point may not be around. Something like [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=633384) it makes sense to bump to add an update. ---
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/15 "2016-05-19T16:31:17Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Seems like exactly the kind of thread the OP was looking for, the more general question notwithstanding. > > IOW Just attempting to be helpful. > > CMC fnord! Yes, it is. Thanks for the link; that thread didn’t come up when I searched the subject, for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/16 "2016-05-19T16:32:52Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > From the [FAQ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=384745) Thanks, **Colibri**. I obviously somehow missed the FAQ in looking for info on this question. Someday, I’ll figure out where all the nooks and crannies are. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/17 "2016-05-19T16:45:48Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Seems like exactly the kind of thread the OP was looking for, the more general question notwithstanding. > > IOW Just attempting to be helpful. > > CMC fnord! And now that I look at that thread, I find that, not only had I seen it before, I had even posted in it. Wow. I knew I was getting old, but this is ridiculous! :o ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/18 "2016-05-19T17:57:52Z")
But then nobody would be able to make fun of zombie threads! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/19 "2016-05-20T01:58:33Z")
How about if a thread is about Haitian voodoo? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119/20 "2016-05-20T12:45:35Z")
> [@NeonMadman](#): > > Someday, I’ll figure out where all the nooks and crannies are. 🆒 They’re behind the crooks and nannies. Regards, Shodan [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-better-resurrect-a-zombie-thread-or-start-a-new-one/755119.md?page=2)