Replies to very old threads

But why should the thread be closed?

What happens if there is new information that suddenly answers the question, or something else suddenly makes the thread relevant again?

Threads don't get dug up often enough for it to really be an issue. When they are, it is usually by either a spammer or a post whore trying to reach some magical number.

I think as long as it is relevant a thread resurrection is perfectly acceptable.

And don't forget the people who constantly post "Search first please!" or "Use Mroogle next time blah, blah, blah". If old posts closed then people would be forced to start new threads and that would likely upset people.

I try to remember that even though a lot of us are long time mac users Apple is aggressively marketing toward converts and we are getting people new to macs every day. They have questions and their internet searches lead them to MacRumors. So, often what seems like an old issue to us is often a new issue to a switcher.

So there is a thread in the photography forum from a user who just got their new lens.... on August 3rd 2006... and that lens has since been replaced by an upgraded lens... yet someone somehow decided to post a reply to it about 10 days ago... no value added to anyone other than having a really really old thread show up again.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/221549/

Even if the really old question is answered, and answered correctly, when you are answering a 3 year old question there is a good chance that:
1) the user is no longer active
2) no longer using (product)
3) no longer needs the answer
4) doesn't really care anymore

Expiring/closing threads after a year of inactivity at the least would be good. 6-9 months might be better. 3 months is too soon.

You can always reference the old thread in the new one or send a pm to the person who posted the question if need be.

No reason to lock threads, old threads are helpful.

OP, this is an issue that will lead to just despair and a waste of your time. The macrumors aristocrats have historically never given any sign of a pro-close old thread movement over the years. Over time, this has just been an issue that we - daily users of macrumors - negate to the unspoken corner of macrumors unsaid rules and we go on with our days.

I'm gonna so necro this thread in 2017.

Well crap, you could have at least opened this thread to gripe about this.

The main problem is newbies get hassled for not searching, but if they open an old thread they get hassled for that too. Lose-lose for them. It's better that they at least searched and provided some information to a thread than the former. Of course, opening an old thread to type "+1," is just ridiculous.


There should also be a rule about too many Texans in one thread.

thegoldenmackid said:

No reason to lock threads, old threads are helpful.

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i agree

no changes necessary

thegoldenmackid said:

No reason to lock threads, old threads are helpful.

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You can lock a thread and it will still be helpful and searchable. There is every reason to lock a thread that is super old. I say > 12 months - auto lock.

dmr727 said:

I'm gonna so necro this thread in 2017.

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Not if I beat you to it in 2016.

iphone.aggie said:

There should also be a rule about too many Texans in one thread.

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MR is big enough for this many Texans.

I mostly find them annoying because I get 10 minutes into reading them before I realize it’s an old thread.

If you stopped “newbies” from replying to threads that are more than six months old, it would take care of 99 percent of the problem.

Old threads, FTW


https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/224178/

We keep complaining about people not using search and creating duplicate threads… now folks are not happy others are reviving old ones.

Old threads can be very useful, sometimes very confusing when you don't notice the date...
maybe a "this is an old thread" notice at the top of the page - or by the reply button/on the reply page!

I like old threads. I look for them all the time with Mroogle !!

And sometimes there is no point to create a new one, if you have something relevant to say about the same subject.

I could go for a warning before you post in an old thread. I think they should remain open though because even if the original poster doesn't care anymore, someone else might encounter the same problem and find the thread through Google.

yetanotherdave said:

Old threads can be very useful, sometimes very confusing when you don't notice the date...
maybe a "this is an old thread" notice at the top of the page - or by the reply button/on the reply page!

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rowsdower said:

I could go for a warning before you post in an old thread. I think they should remain open though because even if the original poster doesn't care anymore, someone else might encounter the same problem and find the thread through Google.

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I agree with the above sentiment. I'm within 6 months of the last post in this thread, which I found via searching

dmr727 said:

I'm gonna so necro this thread in 2017.

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Just thought I would remind you about this

This seems worse since the platform switch, but clearly bothered folks even before.

I have no issue with reviving old threads if the topic is still viable.

Huntn said:

I have no issue with reviving old threads if the topic is still viable.

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Though I sometimes disagree on that “viability.” Oh well, not my circus, not my monkeys.