# 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:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**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 30, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/21 "2012-12-30T17:29:47Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I was only asking because on some other boards, older threads get locked automatically. I wasn’t complaining about it. The basic difference is that the original purpose of this board was to answer questions and provide information. New information that pertains to older questions may come to light, so it’s good if people are able to provide it easily. So we generally allow revival of old threads in the more informational forums, like General Questions, Comments, Cafe Society, and the Game Room, as long as new information is being contributed. In the more conversational forums, like MPSIMS, IMHO, the Pit, etc., the discussion may hinge more on the personalities involved. In older threads many of the participants may no longer be posting here, so threads in these forums are more likely to be locked. [QUOTE=Cicero] However, that doesn’t mean we can’t link to a zombie thread where someone made a real goose of themselves, does it? [/QUOTE] That’s permitted. In any forum, it’s generally preferable to start a new thread and link to a previous one rather than bumping a zombie. ---
**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, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/22 "2012-12-30T17:51:29Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > 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. Or if you posted essentially the same comment that somebody else posted. 🙂 ---
**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, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/23 "2012-12-30T17:58:05Z")
What was that sound? I keep hearing something, but I can’t make it out. 😉 ---
**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, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/24 "2012-12-30T18:53:53Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > What was that sound? I keep hearing something, but I can’t make it out. 😉 I think I heard a sound too. It sounded faintly as though someone was calling out “braaaiiiiinnns…” ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/25 "2012-12-30T19:14:21Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > What was that sound? I keep hearing something, but I can’t make it out. 😉 We upgraded our HD TV sound system this past week with a real A/V receiver and 5.1 sound. Now that sound I hear goes whooooooooshhhhhhhhh!!! all the way around the room. Thank my lucky stars we didn’t get a 7.2 receiver. Dodged a bullet on that one. 😃 ---
**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 31, 2012, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/26 "2012-12-31T01:37:04Z")
For the record, people, I’m not complaining. I was just wondering something. ---
**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 31, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/27 "2012-12-31T01:51:12Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I think I heard a sound too. It sounded faintly as though someone was calling out “braaaiiiiinnns…” OMG! Even this thread is a zombie complaining about zombie threads! How meta! It was started … lemme see … _yesterday_ ferchrissakes! In terms of modern cyber speeds, that’s, like, _ages_ ago! Okay, **EmilyG** isn’t complaining. I know. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/28 "2012-12-31T01:57:21Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > 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. So now common sense is part of a board’s culture? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/29 "2012-12-31T02:08:52Z")
> [@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… But what if something comes along to remind us how much we hate somebody? There’s as much benefit to renewing old hatreds as renewing old friendships. Otherwise, discrimination! Because FREEDOM! ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/30 "2012-12-31T03:30:12Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > So now common sense is part of a board’s culture? :dubious: How is it “common sense” not to post to old threads? You do know that there are boards out there where you will get roundly blasted for posting a new thread on a topic that’s already been discussed, where it’s expected that anything to be added to specific topic be added to the thread already in progress, and where people are just as hostile to noobs who start new threads “when it’s all been done before over here”, don’t you? This board’s culture is not the only board culture out there. Some people are used to the rules on other boards. Some people have never “done” message boards before, and are unaware of the etiquette. I don’t know why you’ve got your bladder so knotted over zombie threads when you’ve yet to outline a single argument as to why they’re “wrong” to post to. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/31 "2012-12-31T03:50:55Z")
If you’re using Firefox or Chrome, there’s a way to mark threads so that you can see their zombies before being taken in by an old rant. > **[Zombies, again](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=598635)** > > I happened across this thread this morning, and didn’t realize it was a zombie until I noticed a banned user posting in it. Something about ‘BANNED’ appearing under the user’s name catches my attention a lot better than the date of post. I know I’m... ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/32 "2012-12-31T11:58:58Z")
Yeah, that’s gibberish to me. I have made it a habit to read OP post dates is all. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505/33 "2012-12-31T16:45:57Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > (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.) Romero’s Law? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-zombie-threads-get-locked-automatically/645505.md?page=1)