ZOMBIE THREADS - apology

[GeoDiablo]

I'm Guilty. I've posted to several lately. Is this frowned upon?


I've seen users ask questions, that have been asked here before, and they're told to use the search function. If that member uses the search and then posts a follow-up question… then it's a "zombie thread". What to do?


The good stuff here is sometimes buried deeply.

I've decided to refrain from posting to older threads. In a couple of cases I was able to gain further useful information, but in one case all I succeeded in doing was having a thread closed and some very entertaining existing posts from Modre deleted.

Is something burning?


I apologize for the part I played in this.

[mecscc]

George: I appreciate the apology, but I am going to assume that you did not raise those threads with any ulterior motives. And, if not, no apology is needed. I'm going to reply to this and then move it to Shawn's Site Happenings forum for any additional comments anyone may want to make.

From my point of view, there is nothing wrong with posting to an old open thread if the purpose of that posting is to secure additional information, ask further questions about, or add information to a thread that adds to the overall understanding of, say, a technical issue.

However, when a so-called "zombie thread" is resurrected, and it contains old non-technical debates which have been settled, re-opens wars that have been fought, questions decisions which have been made by moderators, then the thread does not contribute to the forum but becomes a new vehicle for fighting old battles. And it really doesn't matter what any of us think about any individual's contribution to the old battles.

It may not the the intention of the person who raised up the old thread to reopen old battles. I fully understand that. That is not the issue. But you can pretty much guarantee that if certain threads are raised that can have that effect, they will be locked.

[sweatmachine]

I've labeled some "zombie threads" and I agree with Monte, but my spin on it (not that I'm any kind of anything other than an addicted poster) is that if you ask a technical question in a technical thread it's legit, but if a conversation is continued from 2 years ago with posters that haven't visited the site in 2 years, it will get the dreaded ZOMBIE THREAD tag. It's good that people use the search feature, especially for beating dead horses like rejetting, seats, tires, oil, pipes, etc.

[GeoDiablo]

Primarily I was attempting to get answers to "technical issues". Thanks for moving this to the proper forum. Appreciate the site, ever useful.

Geo as in geography

[mecscc]

"Geo as in geography"

I didn't know that! Mea culpa! Will try to remember in the future.

Take care,

[uzidzit]

How ya liken the new rubber?

[GeoDiablo]

I love it. Can't wait for a little warm-up so I can log some more miles. As long as Perilli is making the Sport Demons I have no need to look elsewhere.

[mistermellow001]

I've opined in the past (in relation to searching for information before posting) that there are often new angles on old subjects. Otherwise, there would be nothing to talk about. Also, let's face it, there are new members and new bikes, and they all have problems/questions that are new to them, even though not to some of us. The "old-timers" (not talking about age here) always think they own the joint, but eventually a new crowd is going to walk in the door and you either have to step aside or join in the fun.

I have a very high tolerance level for such things. That said, I also admire curiosity and a willingness to learn. That means a willingness to do research, so reading before posting would still be my primary suggestion to any new member.

On Zombie threads, I like Monte's opinion on appropriate reasons to kick a sleeping thread. But I have a suggested alternative to continuing an old thread: Kill it. Automatically close threads that have gone without a reply for some period of time (month? year?). A new thread can spin off from it by quoting it, linking to it, or simply mentioning it, but because it's closed, no one can add to it.

[Can a closed thread be quoted or linked to? I haven't tried this?]

[Shawn]

Monte has mentioned the issue to me before. I've considered closing the older threads, so that they can still be viewed, but haven't taken action yet.

We might try it with the oldest threads, say from the first year, and see what happens ...