# Why don't zombie threads get locked automatically? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 29, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505 "2012-12-29T19:24:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/1 "2012-12-29T19:24:38Z")
Or to be precise, why don’t older threads get locked automatically? Lately, there seems to be an unusually high number of people just joining the board to post in very old threads. Why don’t years-old threads lock automatically (or have someone lock them), like I see on other message boards? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/2 "2012-12-29T19:41:16Z")
You should have resurrected one of the dozen (at least) previous threads on this topic in this forum. Just search for “zombie”. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/3 "2012-12-29T20:46:23Z")
Because somebody reopens a thread which was a good one, and popular, and something new has come up which makes it pertinent again. Say, the jury comes back with a verdict on a big case and the thread hasn’t been updated in six months. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/4 "2012-12-29T21:08:23Z")
There was also a discussion here in which it became clear: There was no general agreement on the definition of what constitutes a “zombie” thread. It was more complicated than simply how long since the last post. There was also argument about how old a thread should be (from the date of the OP), and various other criteria that people tried to suggest. The question was not about locking old threads, but simply displaying them in some way to make it really obvious, so people wouldn’t resurrect them accidentally. The idea was simply to display the date of the thread (date of OP? date of last post?) is large red bold-face, or something like that. And there wasn’t any general agreement on even that. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/5 "2012-12-29T21:23:55Z")
I don’t even know how to find really old threads. Not that I really go looking for them. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/6 "2012-12-29T21:27:03Z")
In General Questions, and other forums, sometimes people may post pertinent new information to even very old threads. And sometimes when they are revived other posters will add additional new information. In general, I will close a zombie thread in GQ mainly when the new post is pointless or adds no new information. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/7 "2012-12-29T22:05:18Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I don’t even know how to find really old threads. Not that I really go looking for them. Just search for something fairly specific which interests you, like “Gilligan” or “Reinheitsgebot”, then scroll down a few pages and you’re in zombie-land. I’m thinking a lot of these zombies are caused by first-time posters who found the thread on a Google search and have no idea where they are. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/8 "2012-12-29T22:10:56Z")
Or, even simpler, don’t lock them at all. Personally, I have far more often been annoyed by having a zombie thread locked on me (sometimes during the time I took to craft a reply to some old or new post in it), than by it not being locked… In fact, I have _never_ been annoyed by a thread not being locked. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/9 "2012-12-29T22:37:57Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I don’t even know how to find really old threads. Not that I really go looking for them. I expect that, when newbies open zombie threads, they have come across said thread by doing a google search in which the Dope thread was high on the results list. They then click that link, read a little, and decide to reply. I used to oppose zombie threads, and while I still find them vaguely irritating I no longer think they should be banned. It’s not friendly to possible new subscribers to automatically chastise them for not knowing the board culture. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/10 "2012-12-29T23:26:07Z")
I’m not saying zombie threads should be banned or anything. I guess my only beef with them is when I accidentally post in a really old thread that someone else has resurrected, making me look perhaps slightly stupid. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/11 "2012-12-30T00:02:15Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m not saying zombie threads should be banned or anything. > I guess my only beef with them is when I accidentally post in a really old thread that someone else has resurrected, making me look perhaps slightly stupid. That’s all. “Doctor, Doctor! It hoits when I do xxx.” “So, don’t do xxx.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/12 "2012-12-30T00:31:13Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m not saying zombie threads should be banned or anything. > I guess my only beef with them is when I accidentally post in a really old thread that someone else has resurrected, making me look perhaps slightly stupid. That’s all. It doesn’t make anybody look stupid. As for searching for old threads, just hit the “search” tab and the hit “advanced” and you’re in. Here is the list of threads on this subject for the last 2 years: [Zombie Thread Discussion in ATMB.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=8983813) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/13 "2012-12-30T01:04:40Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > “Doctor, Doctor! It hoits when I do xxx.” > > “So, don’t do xxx.” “But xxx is where all the money is.” ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/14 "2012-12-30T14:02:42Z")
We disallow zombie threads in some forums (like the Pit), where no good can come of resurrected hurtful stuff that had faded out years ago. In other situations, we basically look at whether the resurrection has (or could) provide something new. The best solution is to read at least some of the prior posts, and make a habit of noticing the date. And don’t worry about it, we’ve all posted to zombie threads, so there’s no reason for embarrassment. (Anyone saying “Nyah, nyah, you posted to a zombie thread” will suffer the curse of themselves posting to a zombie thread within a few weeks.) ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/15 "2012-12-30T14:10:46Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > We disallow zombie threads in some forums (like the Pit), where no good can come of resurrected hurtful stuff that had faded out years ago. In other situations, we basically look at whether the resurrection has (or could) provide something new. I never knew that zombie threads in the Pit were outlawed. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t link to a zombie thread where someone made a real goose of themselves, does it? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/16 "2012-12-30T14:41:50Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I guess my only beef with them is when I accidentally post in a really old thread that someone else has resurrected, making me look perhaps slightly stupid. That’s all. Posting in an old thread doesn’t necessarily make one look stupid. What one _says_ in that post, however, we’ll that’s another matter. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/17 "2012-12-30T15:00:39Z")
I don’t mind zombies. Rarely is there a thread where the entire discussion is irrelevant. Even if the OP isn’t around, the resulting discussion can still be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/18 "2012-12-30T16:43:10Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m not saying zombie threads should be banned or anything. > I guess my only beef with them is when I accidentally post in a really old thread that someone else has resurrected, making me look perhaps slightly stupid. That’s all. Why would you look stupid for posting in an active thread? You would only look stupid for what you say, not that you posted in a thread someone else revived. But you could, you know, look at the post date of the OP and maybe a few other post dates before you replied. If you’re really worried about it. ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/19 "2012-12-30T17:05:22Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > Or to be precise, why don’t older threads get locked automatically?.. Get over it. > [@filmore](#): > > I don’t mind zombies. Rarely is there a thread where the entire discussion is irrelevant. Even if the OP isn’t around, the resulting discussion can still be interesting. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/20 "2012-12-30T17:16:44Z")
> [@colonial](#): > > Get over it. I was only asking because on some other boards, older threads get locked automatically. I wasn’t complaining about it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505.md?page=2)