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Are we supposed to be responding to the very old threads on the board, or not? Like is there a rule about it, or is it just a matter of etiquette? Why I'm asking is because lately I have seen a couple of users answering several threads that are 2 years old or more.
There is no official site policy concerning old threads.
Basically if its posted here then it should be answered.
The way I see it is this;
If you have something new and original to add to a question, then do so, but please be aware of the post date.
Some of the older questions are from members that have not used the site since posting their question, so it's really up to you if you want to answer.
As a matter of etiquette, please check the original date and see if the member has been around since posting the question.
On a personal note, I find it rather irksome when old threads are resurected with an answer that has already been given. Especially when the added information just results in a series of off thread comments and general nonsense.
Okay thanks Curlyben. I was mostly wondering because I had been told by some members not to answer threads that have been inactive for 3 months or longer, and like I said lately I have seen many old threads resurrected.
Yeah I see your point too Stormy. Although like CurlyBen said, if nothing useful is being added to the thread, and the original asker is long gone, then it's just taking away from newer questions.
I also mentioned it before. Old threads popping up from months before. Showing up as new because somebody new to the board decides to answer these which reactivates it and there should be some way where the moderator can check through old threads and get rid of them after a certain amount of time. It does get annoying at times, and why answer them if they already have been filled with answers and like you said Chava the original asker is long gone. I do believe it is a work in process.
Hi,
This question could be settled by the Administration, by adding a pop-up, as discussed previously.
CurlyBen, you said "please be aware of the post date".
then, "it's really up to you if you want to answer",
then, "when a post comes up with an answer already been given".
So, seems like, as it still stands, there is no rule against answering 3 years old posts. So, if "newbies" or "oldies" want to, then do it.
I stilll send "nice" type private messages to "newbies", just pointing out the original date of the posted question, and always get a nice reply. But, I really think it's a waste of time, since so many still do it, both old and new members.
It would really be great if something could be put in place, stopping the answers to those older than, as rickj suggested at one time, maybe 6 mo.
Thank you for listening, and have a great week.
I also suggested having the original date put with the subject line, like when one clicks on "New Posts", the subject line would also show the date it was originally posted.
Hope someone in Administration can eventually change it somewhat. Would make it easier on all of us.
Thanks Joe and Fred. Yeah I seem to recall we had a discussion similar to this a while back. But I take it nothing has changed since then. Not that it needs to change necessarily, but you both make valid points. Overall I find the site to be awesome. I guess I wouldn't be here if I didn't!
Since i'm rather new here, i think i might add a different perspective to this question.
It might happen that someone reads an old thread and has something to add, or might wish to elaborate on some point which has been brought up during the discussion.
i take good care to read what hes been already said, even if it's a new post, so as not to repeat what has been said.
as for the person who posted the question: if you get a notice in your mail that has been a new addition to the debate you joined, everyone might benefit from a new addition - IF there's something new in it.
more than that, many might get answers to their problems by reading questions posted by others, and if there's a new addition,even if the original person who posted the question doesn't follow it's evolvement, others might find it useful.
and i must agree, AGAIN, with Orange: i LOVE this board!!!
millie
I am rather new, and, I am a guilty party here. I am sorry that I have answered old posts, but I remember the OLD board when it was just askme.com back in before 2000. Although I answered with my experience, I did not realize that some of these posts were old. Since then I have learned to check the "new posts" instead. Sorry for any inconveniences.
I have been adamant in the past about closing older threads, but recently I've seen some things that have caused me to modify my position.
There are two types of threads here, generally referred to as technical and discussion. Technical threads are more on the order of, My PC isn't working, its doing ... How can I fix it? Discussion threads are more like, I just read the DaVinci Code, what do you think about it? With technical threads, it doesn't make a lot of sense to revive old threads especially if the problem had been resolved. With Discussions it make more sense to allow revisiting discussions.
I think the best solutioin is the one that has been proposed to add a popup warning that the thread has been dormant for x months, but give the responder the choice of adding to it.
Linear Mode
