Locking old threads? Does it even matter?

[DaveKile]

I have long been in favor of locking threads older than a year.

In the past, it was often bots that refreshed old threads. This has improved but I still think that refreshing old threads does more harm than good.

Dave we really don't have bots anymore on the new site that post. So far, we are about 99% affective in keeping bots and spammers off the site.

Dave, Tom and @afishinado were talking and just waiting for you to share your dislike of old threads being dug up. 🙂

 

[Bamboozle]

I don't care about old threads although I'd like to see a Homer Simpson D'oh smiley available for insertion when I jump in 4 years later contradicting my 3 year old replies because I'm too stupid to realize it's an old thread...

However...

I wouldn't mind locking old topics that appear over, and over, and over again each year that are beaten to death like an old horse with no enlightenment realized by the resurrector...

I have a few topic suggestions if the idea is a go but "Stocked vs Wild" is a off-limits... 😉

 

[wildtrout2]

I have a few topic suggestions if the idea is a go but "Stocked vs Wild" is a off-limits... 😉

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Stocked vs Wild threads don't bother me at all, I actually enjoy reading them. I always seem to learn something from them. I also enjoy looking at the trout in question. They don't occur often enough that I see them as an issue.

 

[turkey]

...when I jump in 4 years later contradicting my 3 year old replies because I'm too stupid to realize it's an old thread...

😆 I can't read my old threads. It's like hearing myself sing. Makes me shudder.

 

[mt_flyfisher]

Dear 5footfenwick,

I agree with you as well. Sometimes looking back brings new information or insights. Plus, for me at least, it's fun to see responses to posts from former members, if only to recall people who I knew from the board years ago who have since moved on, or sadly, departed.

I visit messages boards for many of my hobbies. In many cases at other sites an old post is resurrected, and I learn what was formerly common knowledge about something that is a new to me thing. I'm a film camera hobbyist and what I have learned from old posts that I wouldn't have even thought to search for has given me knowledge about cameras and accessories that I wouldn't have even thought to ask about. And I don't look like a dufus for being the one to resurrect that thread, which is fine by me! 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

I just looked on another fly fishing forum that is slowly dying, but its old threads can still be resurrected.

Why, I just saw a post made there nearly 10 years ago where a member said “Yes Mr (Tim) Murphy is quite kewl.” And that was the last post made on that thread.

I‘m not in favor of locking old threads as you can never tell when someone might provide new information on an old topic…such as on that comment mentioned above. 😃

 

[redietz]

Curious what there is to be gained by locking old posts? Seems like if we force members to start a new one, it is much more likely that they will repeat the same things that are already answered. Since they can’t scroll up and see what has already been discussed. Also seems a shame to bury so much great information.

Nothing to be gained. However, locking a thread to new posts doesn't mean removing from being read.

Personally, I'm against locking threads.

 

[afishinado]

Nothing to be gained. However, locking a thread to new posts doesn't mean removing from being read.

Personally, I'm against locking threads.

Agreed ^

While someone posting on an older thread may be an annoyance to some, I've learned to check the dates of the thread to avoid this. Many times there is some really valuable info on the subject in the older thread that will be missed if the thread was locked and the member is forced to start a new thread from square one on that subject.

 

[DaveKile]

I'm gonna lock this thread next week. 🙂