Necroposting (Reviving long dormant threads)

[Otakutron]

While not happening constantly, seems like every couple of weeks, a discussion that has been dormant (if not resolved) for weeks, months, even years, will suddenly start getting new posts.  In most (but not all) forums I frequent, this is referred to as "necroposting" and is prohibited.  I went to check the forum rules, and that doesn't seem to be the case here... which explains why it happens quite a bit.

 

So I am asking... is necroposting acceptable, or is its absence in the rules an oversight? Or is it there and I just misread the rules? ^^'

 

Edit: Asked and answered; it is there, but worded in a manner that it wasn't super-duper-obvious.  My bad!

Edited July 2, 2019 by Otakutron
Answered

[harshu]

Search, Then Post: Use the search tool before creating a new thread. There could already be an ongoing discussion about the same topic. If there isn't, or if the last post in the topic is more than a couple of weeks old, perhaps it's time to start a new thread!   

 

Be Constructive: New threads should have a clear title. The original post should make the purpose of the thread easily understandable. Replies should add new insight or information to the conversation. Spamming, flaming, trolling, and bumping add nothing positive to the conversation and will not be tolerated. Though petitions and polls are constructive at the outset, they frequently degrade into unconstructive arguments and are therefore not permitted.

 

This is taken from the Online Rules, and although it doesn't directly say that reviving old threads is not allowed. It does mention, that if a thread is inactive for more than 2 weeks, the Mods suggest you to create a new one rather than bumping the old one.

 

Also, a sole message for bumping an old thread is against the rules..

 

So my interpretation of this is that reviving old threads that are older than 2 weeks are mostly not appropriate unless there is a reason or some benefit of doing so, like retaining old data and using it to continue a discussion.

 

[SandaledOtter]

It IS actually against the rules, but the rule is worded so softly that it escapes notice.

 

This is the rule cited:

Quote

Search, Then Post: Use the search tool before creating a new thread. There could already be an ongoing discussion about the same topic. If there isn't, or if the last post in the topic is more than a couple of weeks old, perhaps it's time to start a new thread!

 

They want that to mean that you should never post to a thread which has been dormant for two weeks. It reads like a gentle suggestion.

 

Personally, I think there should be some mechanism in place to automatically lock any two-week-dormant thread, if that's what they actually want.

[Otakutron]

Thanks, guys.

 

I took the time to re-read the rules but managed to completely miss it. XP

[RobRatt]

And don't forget....

 

"Too many mini-Mods spoil the discussion."

 

I have one of my own threads -- XXX Theme Decks in the Game (currently 107) -- that I revive every 3 months, or whenever necessary to update the complete list.  There's no "hard and fast" RULE because it can be needed or beneficial to continue an open conversation.  Solid rules can be really dumb if pushed too far, so I can see why the RULE (quoted above) is worded just about perfectly.  It can be used as a reminder that a 3-month-old trade offer is pointless, while still preventing dozens of the same topic from being created every 2 weeks.  We've got 4 or 5 semi-regular Moderators, and they seem to do a very good job of keeping things in order.

 

Edited July 2, 2019 by RobRatt

[WingsofFire1014]

Posting on old threads does seem to be a problem though....

 

Maybe they can lock threads that haven't been posted on for over a month. Or a different time frame.

 

It is against the rules and people do it sigh...... Everybody should just take some free time to read the rules and respect them. If we do this, we have a happy forum and we won't have to start threads like this. 

[Mod_Jynthu]

Hello Trainers,

 

Thank you for sharing your feedback on this. There are some threads where it may make sense to post on a thread that has been inactive for a while, such as the example given by RobRatt. However, with things like trade offers, outdated deck recommendations or technical issues/bug reports, it is certainly best to consider if it makes more sense to post a new thread.

 

Please remember that if you come across an old thread that has been revived but probably should not have been, you can report that post for the moderation team to review. 

[Otakutron]

@Mod_Jynthu Thank you for further clarification.