# Zombies and the FAQ **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 14, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-and-the-faq/606251 "2011-12-14T23:54:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-and-the-faq/606251/1 "2011-12-14T23:54:49Z")
This has been in the FAQ since 2006; over 5 years. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7697100#post7697100](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7697100#post7697100) > [@](#): > > 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. **Ellen Cherry** points out: > [@What words do you misspell every single time you type them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-misspell-every-single-time-you-type-them/520561/83): > > Zombies are no longer just automatically closed, and this one isn’t all that old. Thank you for the thread report, but your interpretation of its effect isn’t particularly accurate. If you have a question about moderation or moderator decisions, please ask in ATMB. Upon checking the ATMB threads I discover this is correct. I would like to request that the FAQ be updated to align the current policy with the stated FAQ to avoid further confusion between the stated policy (FAQ) and the threads in ATMB (hard to find). ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-and-the-faq/606251/2 "2011-12-15T00:20:41Z")
It would help if you linked to the thread where **Ellen Cherry** said that, for context, but just going by what’s in your OP, I don’t see the conflict. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-and-the-faq/606251/3 "2011-12-15T00:45:14Z")
If you click on the blue button inside the quote it will take you to her post which you can then read in context. The 2006 FAQ reflects the no zombies rule. The zombies rule has now been modified. Ergo, the FAQ should be modified. Are you saying that the rule that applied during the “no zombie” days still applies, word for word, unchanged in the new “zombies are allowed” days? Ultimately it’s the administrations choice, but I simply cannot see how a rule that said “NO” in 2006 can now be read to say “OK” in 2011. It’s not hard. Update the FAQ. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-and-the-faq/606251/4 "2011-12-15T02:07:26Z")
The rule you quoted doesn’t say zombie threads are forbidden, though. It lays out some reasons why bumping zombie threads can be a bad idea, and then points out some specific exceptions to those reasons, and it finishes up with this: > [@CK Dexter Haven](#): > > - 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. So I’m not clear what language you think needs to be changed. The rule, as it currently stands, reflects both the policy of the moderation staff in general, and the specific content of the post you cited from **Ellen Cherry**. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-and-the-faq/606251/5 "2011-12-15T02:16:52Z")
OK. Thanks for considering the request. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-and-the-faq/606251/6 "2011-12-15T02:30:07Z")
Someone – oh wait, that would be me – is supposed to write an update of the zombie policy. It’s on my to-do list. Unfortunately, there’s a huge number of other things on my to-do list as well. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombies-and-the-faq/606251/7 "2011-12-15T06:39:27Z")
Thank you too **twickster**. An update, even just an update that says the rule is still in play, unchanged from when it was posted 5 years ago, would be most excellent.