Thread: Graverobbing

  1. #1
    Malum in se abachler's Avatar
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    Graverobbing

    As to the issue of dredging up really old posts, there is a setting under the admin console to automatically lock threads after a specific period of inactivity. This does not prevent admins and mods from posting to threads such as the faq that usually have very long periods of inactivity (and are locked ot teh public anyway).

  2. #2
    Kernel hacker
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    We discussed this a bit before. It has two drawbacks:
    1. Someone must do something to make this happen(even if it's just setting a configuration option or installing a package to the vBulletin system), and it's not generally that much of a problem.
    2. There are valid, publicly accessible threads, that are long-lived and meaningfull.

    I think both of these are argument enough to not change the current system.

    Waking old threads doesn't happen so often that it REALLY causes a problem.

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    This was brought up just recently. Old threads being resurrected is such a small problem that it isn't worth the small hassle that comes from locking them presumptively.

    Not that I actually have a preference, either way would be fine with me as long as the period of inactivity was at least a month if not six.

  4. #4
    & the hat of GPL slaying Thantos's Avatar
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    IMO it doesn't happen enough to need it and there are a few possible cases where we wouldn't want to limit it. And it is pretty easy for mods to just close the thread.

  5. #5
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    I'm in agreement that the problem is not widespread enough to warrant any changes in how we currently handle it. If someone posts and the last post before it was 20 to 30 days ago then I usually close the thread.

  6. #6
    Registered User guesst's Avatar
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    Besides, sometimes those resurrections are legitimate.
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  7. #7
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    Besides, sometimes those resurrections are legitimate.
    No matter how legit they may be if they go beyond a specified time frame I will close them.

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    ... or split the bump into a separate thread.

  9. #9
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    Yes you could do that but that also might get a bit annoying.

  10. #10
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    Why?

  11. #11
    Reverse Engineer maxorator's Avatar
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    You always tell people to search for posts with similar problems... people assume if they are told to search for them, they can also reply to them.
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  12. #12
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    It would be nice if the board would auto-close very old threads. That way they could still be searched and viewed but could not be posted to.

  13. #13
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
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    I don't see that it's wrong to post in an old thread if it's a legit reply.
    That suggests that you would close the C/C++ Recommended Books thread because it was X years old and someone happened to be interested in a book and posted there.
    As long as it is a legit reply, I don't see it wrong to bump an old thread at all.
    There shouldn't be a rule that says close after X time.
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  14. #14
    Lurking whiteflags's Avatar
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    It can be a disturbance if you bump a thread so old that the people who posted there are now gone.

    The books thread is just a good list, and lists can be appended over time. That's the only reason the thread doesn't get closed. It's not a rationale for a complete rule change.

  15. #15
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
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    As long as it is a legit reply, I don't see it wrong to bump an old thread at all.
    It's not just my decision.

    5. Don't bump threads. (Bumping: posting messages on threads to move them up the list or to post on a thread that has been inactive for two weeks or longer).
    My 20 to 30 days is more than what our forum guidelines call for. According to the guidelines I'm operating within the normal procedures for the board.

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