How do these things happen? Example:
This thread started and ended in 2004. Now, for some reason, someone revives it in 2017. Was he searching the Dope for Invisible Fence threads and felt the need put his 2 cents in all these years later? This isn’t really pit-worthy but since that’s where the example zombie lives, I’ll post here.
The level of Fucktardary in that thread, from both '04 and now, is off the charts.
QFT
Some topics are timeless.
Someone once suggested that if anyone tried to post to a zombie thread, there should be a pop up box that says “Just how did you find this thread, anyway?”
People google random shit, find a SDMB thread from the Macarena era, and are just motivated and/or drunk enough to register for an account and contribute something stupid.
Like this one, where I guess someone just happened to google the same random UPC code the OP needed: Is there a way to do reverse lookup on UPC codes, to find what it was? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board
Just like a fine watch!
I don’t mind zombie threads. I’ve revived a few threads I started years ago where I asked a question and nobody had the answer, and then years later I found the answer. This board is tied to google, and if anyone googles that question they’ll find my thread with the answer in it. Other than that I don’t really revive zombie threads.
Since the OP of that thread was a new user, I googled hate invisible fence and we’re the fifth link. I wager the majority of our zombie threads are first-time posters who googled their pet peeve or crusade and found us. Yay!
altho ive never revived a zombie, i have often been the majority of the way thru them before i noticed when it was actually written. so i can def understand responding to a thread that you’re not aware is centuries old!
mc
Sometimes I run across an interesting article, think of sharing it on Straight Dope–but first do a search to see if it has been discussed before–and if so update the thread. For example several months ago I came across an article about a “Radioactive Boyscout” who had died. I did a search and found he had been discussed here back in 2003. So I updated the thread. Someone else found a more recent article in the last week or so and again updated the thread.
Other times I just start a new thread.
Usually my first clue that I should look at the date is seeing the word BANNED.
All day today, the fucking ads at the bottom of the SDMB (yeah, I’ve tried every goddamn adblocker I can, none seem to work) have fucking CAT PICTURES!
But I won’t zombie the thread again. 
I’ve never understood why people don’t understand how people find old threads. When I’m searching for something (on Google), more often than not, I end up changing the search settings to only look back X days/weeks/years specifically because I’m getting forum results from so long ago. Sometimes it’s not a big deal, sometimes the information is irrelevant at this point. But finding old threads or old articles isn’t a big deal and it’s not that hard to read one without realizing how old it is, especially if you don’t usually post to message boards.
I’ve also never understood the rage against bumping an old thread or why everyone feels the need to trip over themselves to be the first to post a zombie joke…but that’s just me.
Sometimes I don’t realize it is a zombie until I see the zombie joke. I’d consider it a public service.
I still get a lot of PMs regarding a thread I posted years ago about having transcranial magnetic stimulation - a relatively new, not terribly common treatment for medication-resistant depression. It’s a little disconcerting to realize you are in the Google Machine for all of eternity. I assume that thread is a common hit for TMS-related searches.
The electric fence thread made me sad because I thought **Phlosphr **had returned.
This is what I really don’t understand. This is actually one of the things I really appreciate about the SDMB; if you bump a years-old thread people will comment on it but it usually isn’t going to get locked and such.
Some message boards I’ve been on have really strict rules about bumping old threads, going so far as to give you a warning for bumping an old thread with an otherwise perfectly good and relevant post, and I cannot for the life of me understand why. Some of them I’ve been told, essentially, ‘well, start a new thread, post a link to the old one, and say what you wanted’ which leaves me boggling; why not just bump the old one?
FYI, Zombie threads did once get locked on SDMB. I don’t remember when the rule changed, but I think the new way of doing things is more sensible. I’ve never understood people’s irritation with it, although it can be a bit disconcerting until you realize the thread is old.
How about instead of relying on stupid jokes, you used your braaaaaaaains!!! instead?