Re-weaving the forum fabric with old threads

[Sir Nelson]

A simple poll, based on the current goings on in this General LEGO forum, möre or less.

[Sir Zeppelin]

If it's a cool non castle MOC, or something that's really interesting that newer members might not have seen yet (or older members may have missed), than yes. On the other hand, there's certian situations when it's not okay. Brining up old threads is a tricky area... one which must be navigated with caution.

[Bruce N H]

On principal, I had to vote for 'This poll is flawed,' but, yes, thread necromancy should be done quite sparingly.

Bruce

[Mörs]

Nay.

1. Some threads simply never age (or, at least, they have not... yet): e.g., the discussion of the 2004 colour changes, and dillemas associated with it that a lot of us must have faced. I, for one was in a semi-dark age when that happened, and only found out about the colour change in late 2008, I believe. I think most of the people here still have more of the old grey bricks than they have bley ones.
2. Some threads are like wine: with old age, they become better. I mean mostly reviews; it's great to re-review a set from a new, fresh perspective, and compare it with people's perceptions of it from several years earlier. There are other instances, too: sometimes there might have been an old dispute that was never resolved, and can only be resolved by people "from the future", so to speak. Besides, it's always fun to sort of travel back in time, and see what people's perceptions and opinions were back then.

Just my two cents. Maybe for a moderator it is annoying (apparently), but I'm talking from my perspective, and for me it is not annoying one bit!

[Ye Olde Republic]

This poll is flawed. It is not about Lord of the Rings, nor is it about elves.

Necroposting can be quite annoying depending on who is doing it and for what reason they are bringing it back up. I have to say that Mors is bringing back some topics that I personally find interesting (at least most of them) and he is actually adding something to it. Most often it's some n00b doing it just to say "wow, I didn't know that." or some other idiotic non-post.

[Bluesecrets]

Just my two cents. Maybe for a moderator it is annoying (apparently), but I'm talking from my perspective, and for me it is not annoying one bit!

And apparently your perspective is more important than the TOS or what the staff around here tells you, and THAT is a problem.

[Count Blacktron]

Resurrection should be performed sparingly, and only if there is some new detail or question from the post bringing it back. It should not be done simply to "continue the discussion". You can't pick up conversation 4-5 years after the last response. That's just like me having a little talk with James Dean about the finer points of acting. BTW, the poll is flawed.

[Mörs]

The poll is flawed because I doubt all of you really find this activity the MOST annoying. How about people spamming links to porno sites with viruses? Is that less annoying?

Just my two cents. Maybe for a moderator it is annoying (apparently), but I'm talking from my perspective, and for me it is not annoying one bit!

And apparently your perspective is more important than the TOS or what the staff around here tells you, and THAT is a problem.

Not for me, it isn't!

I am leaving for a day; need to busy myself with something before the great judgement day comes...

[RichardAM]

But Nelson, resurrecting dead threadz totally givs me the chance to bump my post count! Illl be the admin rank in no time! mwahaha ah ha!1!

[Aliencat]

It depends on the thread really. If you're just going to dig up a 5 year old discussion that has since been resolved, just to post your opinion, that's very annoying.
If you have something interesting to add to a running thread that has become unused for a few years, then I think it's perfectly okay. Common sense applies here and I know that's very difficult for people on the internet.

[dyntar]

Sometimes resurrecting the dead works as a bonus.. Bringing out the skeletons worked for Lego castle.

I've been guilty of reviving old topics, especially ones that were started during my dark ages.
Sometimes old topics are revived just because i don't think anyone on here has enough time to re-read every single topic.[sorry for those who have read every topic]

Some topics deserve to die.. some die before their time and other should be brought back by new blood.

[on a side note.. classic castle was named for the castle sets made during the 70/80's now we are in the 2010 does that mean sets made in the 90's are now classics?]

[nanuck95]

Generally speaking, I would say yes. As others have mentioned, there are occurances where digging up an old thread brings to light new information, or a new perspective. However, I think these are rare occurances and I think more often than not, old threads are brought up because:

A) I'm trying to increase my post count/forum rank.
B) Because this is a forum, I feel that I absolutely HAVE to post something every time I come on here. It is impossible for me to just read and appreciate old threads without adding something, whether it is a 3 word comment or a well written thought.
C) I'm deliberately doing it to try and be rebellious

Whether or not it is really obnoxious or not can be argued about from now until the end of time. If our admins here, who put in a lot of time to set up and run the forum, have stated that they do not want people digging up old threads (or at least have it only be done sparingly), then it's probably in our best interest to honor that.

[Bruce N H]

If our admins here, who put in a lot of time to set up and run the forum, have stated that they do not want people digging up old threads (or at least have it only be done sparingly), then it's probably in our best interest to honor that.

It should be done sparingly. See the FAQ.

Bruce

[Athos]

It seems to be a problem inherent to a site that has new members joining. While the old-timers may have discussed an issue to death and have no desire to rehash the matter, new people have opinions and want to join in. If they start a new thread about the issue some of the wanna-be-mods will be all over them about how they're duplicating threads. But if they go back to that old thread people are all over them about resurrecting dead threads.

And, I don't know how we can complain too much, when we have admin-approved thread resurrecting every week in the form of weekly set re-reviews...

I don't know what the solution is, but I don't know that its a pressing problem that needs a solution either. It isn't like clicking on an old thread ties you up for more than a second or two (maybe a bit more if you're on dial-up). If you don't like them don't read them, which should work quite well unless someone is holding you down, prying your eyes open and forcing you to read every single new post. But, if we have to create a solution the only one I see is: close the boards to any new members or forbid them from having opinions on issues that we arbitrarily decide we're tired of hearing about.

Steve

[Merlin of Lego]

It seems to be a problem inherent to a site that has new members joining. While the old-timers may have discussed an issue to death and have no desire to rehash the matter, new people have opinions and want to join in. If they start a new thread about the issue some of the wanna-be-mods will be all over them about how they're duplicating threads. But if they go back to that old thread people are all over them about resurrecting dead threads.

And, I don't know how we can complain too much, when we have admin-approved thread resurrecting every week in the form of weekly set re-reviews...

I don't know what the solution is, but I don't know that its a pressing problem that needs a solution either. It isn't like clicking on an old thread ties you up for more than a second or two (maybe a bit more if you're on dial-up). If you don't like them don't read them, which should work quite well unless someone is holding you down, prying your eyes open and forcing you to read every single new post. But, if we have to create a solution the only one I see is: close the boards to any new members or forbid them from having opinions on issues that we arbitrarily decide we're tired of hearing about.

Steve

I thought that this was a funny topic because so often when there is a new thread on an old topic someone links to an old thread and makes a statement like " Here it is a year ago and you should have done a search first" but when an old thread is brought back up it is considered a crime and the person is still wrong.

If this is realy a problem lock most treads after they are dead for six months.