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Auto-Locking Threads

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Brian Pfleuger

Moderator Emeritus
I wonder if it would be possible, and if so beneficial, for threads to auto-lock after a period with no posts? A fairly long period, 2 years, maybe 1 year, maybe 3?

I figure it might keep long dead, no longer useful threads from being resurrected. If someone has something current they can start a new thread wherein they may get some participation. If they don't have anything worth creating a new thread, well, it's probably not worth resurrecting a 2 or 3 or 8 year old thread either.
 
IMO only, It would be a negative... when I joined I noticed folks getting chided for starting a thread as repetitious and told "had you done a search...." so a person searches, then finds an 8 year old thread but still has a touch of question, why not post it there?
I figure let them zombie threads live. But not the zombies scenario threads...
Brent
 
IMO, an autolocking feature would be an excellent one. If it existed, I would personally already have it turned on. tyme added a "are you really, really sure you want to post in this very old thread" question to old threads that a member has to check off in order to reanimate them. That helped a lot, but a handful of old threads pop up every week.

While hogdogs brings up a very valid point, I feel there is an obvious and very easy solution.

Doing a search for info is always a good practice, and chastising those who don't is often valid if done in a polite manner. However, there is no need to resurrect a very old thread just to add your own flavor of the question. Either your quest for info was completely satisfied by the info in the old thread, or it wasn't. If the latter, then a new thread should be started with a specific question. The old thread can and should be linked as a reference. But, bringing back the old thread with a question at the tail end is both confusing to the general membership and doesn't help the person trying to find new info. Invariably members will start out answering or commenting on the first few posts that are now several years old (and the OP is often not even visiting our site any longer).
 
I actually like the necrophilia threads. It's funny to read when someone inadvertantly posts an answer to a thread that's really, really old and then everyone else starts jumping on the bandwagon as if it's a new topic.
 
I just did a little search of my own, there is actually a mod for vBUlletin that allows auto-locking.

(I know how you guys don't do the "unofficial" mods, but it is out there.):)
 
we need an auto lock for all posts by peet unless he buys me a bottle of hooch once a month... MY CHOICE;)
Brent
 
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