Lock down old threads?

[TheShinje]

[size=1][color=crimson] I was browsing through the OtakuBoards today and saw a couple of resurrected threads that, again, had to be closed due to the fact they had been inactive for quite some time, and I had a thought.

What if you could make it so that a thread, once it's past a certain expiry length, locks? I'm not sure how that could be implemented but it woudl sure save all these dead threads popping up from time to time. Either that or put something into the membership that disables the ability to post in old threads?

I know that whatever could be done would have to be exempt for something like Anime Lounge, or Play It, due to the structure of the threads there, but I though of it more for Otaku Lounge and the Music Tv forum where dead/old threads returning are frowned upon.

What do you think? [/size][/color]

[Lord Rannos]

[COLOR=DarkRed]It sounds like a good idea; it would certainly prevent the problem of people resurrecting old threads. They just become clutter once locked. So it would be nice to have them not accessible.

I have no idea if this is even possible, though, let alone how to do it. I just assume technology works mostly by magic. Or faries. Or 3 billion hamsters on wheels...

The only real downside I can think of is that now we won't be able to tell who's read the FAQ. This way, we know anyone who brings up a dead thread hasn't read the rules. [/COLOR]

[Guest kuroinuyoukai]

I think shinji has a very good idea.

I look at new posts when I sign on and I have to check the dates on them now. For some reason some new members decide to post on a 3 or 4 year old thread. I have accidentally posted on one of these resurrected threads without realizing how old it was. It was a larger thread and had many pages. I think if a thread is a certain age or has been inactive for a certain amount of time it should be closed. That is just my opinion. :animesigh

[Solo Tremaine]

[strike][color=#503f86]It depends. The Anime Lounge has a Threads Directory for specific series that's supposed to be used instead of everyone creating new ones, and some of the ones there haven't been active for months. If threads locked after a set amount of time, all of those links would need to be updated on a regular basis depending if a new thread was created or not.[/strike] Ah, you said that ^_^;

I really don't think it's that big a problem, to be honest. It happens every now and then and will probably keep happening, but it's not unmanageable. People just need to read the rules.[/color]

[Shy]

[size=1]Good idea. As long as this isn't the case in the Arena I don't see a problem with it. Having a feature like this would have killed most of my favorite RPGs ages ago...

-Shy[/size]

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]I've never really seen the problem with bringing back old threads, provided that both the thread in general and the new post are both still relevant. And if they aren't, I usually just delete the post and send the thread back to where it was in the list. It has the same effect as closing it but without cluttering up the first page.[/color]

[Baron Samedi]

[quote name='Lord Rannos][COLOR=DarkRed']The only real downside I can think of is that now we won't be able to tell who's read the FAQ. This way, we know anyone who brings up a dead thread hasn't read the rules. [/COLOR][/quote][size=1]
I always kind of saw it as people stumbling on a thread through Google or something, because unless you manually browse the archives, you can't access every thread in OB's history. So, it is most likely a) Google or b) the Similar Threads box at the bottom of some of our threads, which lead them to these old threads.[/size]

[TheShinje]

[size=1][color=crimson]

I think Baron has singled out the probable cause there.

I think it's more a case of the similar threads box, as opposed to Google since even going through google you would need to register an account and then you would only be able to post in newer threads unless you tinkered with the display settings.

Maybe if you could disable the similar threads box, there might no have to be anything done to the posts at all, that would save all the tinkering needed to make sure it didn't affect Anime/Play It/Arena.

I don't see tha particluar feature serving much of a purpose anyway, to be honest. [/size][/color]

[Raiyuu]

[color=DarkSlateBlue][font=Trebuchet MS]I don't know, I find the Similar Threads box often leads to interesting old RPGs to read when I'm bored. But it's true that it probably is the main reason for thread gravedigging.
[quote name='Desbreko][/font][/color][color=#4b0082]I usually just delete the post and send the thread back to where it was in the list.[/color][color=DarkSlateBlue'][font=Trebuchet MS][/quote] I didn't realise deleting the post would do that! But I still think closing the thread with an advisory post helps to stop the same member making the same mistake again, especially as this is another one of those grey areas (like Intro Posting) that isn't actually mentioned in the Rules.

[/font][/color]

[Gavin]

[QUOTE=Shy][size=1]Good idea. As long as this isn't the case in the Arena I don't see a problem with it. Having a feature like this would have killed most of my favorite RPGs ages ago...

-Shy[/size][/QUOTE]

[SIZE=1]I must admit when I first read the thread title I was in favour of having like an Archives for older RPGs like we have in the Play It forum. I've had more than a few of my older RPGs resurrected years after the finished, the most recent one being earlier this week and I'd prefer not to have to see them closed for no reason other than someone couldn't have been bothered to check the creation date.

However when Des pointed out that Moderators can simply delete the offending post and the thread will return from whence it came I think the need for Archives kind of disappears. Of course that is entirely reliant on the fact that the Moderators will delete the most recent post, and not as Raiyuu would do simply just add an advisory post for the benefit of the new member before closing the thread.

Personally I think it would be better to delete the post and then send an advisory PM instead, that way you can be at last someway sure the person will indeed get the message. [/SIZE]

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]Well, my policy is to delete the post the first time. Then if the member does the same thing again, or if they've done it with multiple threads in the first place, I'll delete the post and then PM them about it. Rarely does it get to that point, though, considering I don't see anything wrong with bringing back an old thread if the new post contributes to the discussion and isn't just spam.

I know in the Play It forum, old threads (that weren't game-specific ones) have been brought back after months of inactivity to receive a bunch of posts that rekindled the discussion. Closing such threads when the posts that brought them back weren't spammy would've just stifled the discussion.[/color]

[SunfallE]

[QUOTE=Desbreko][color=#4B0082]Well, my policy is to delete the post the first time. Then if the member does the same thing again, or if they've done it with multiple threads in the first place, I'll delete the post and then PM them about it. Rarely does it get to that point, though, considering I don't see anything wrong with bringing back an old thread if the new post contributes to the discussion and isn't just spam.

I know in the Play It forum, old threads (that weren't game-specific ones) have been brought back after months of inactivity to receive a bunch of posts that rekindled the discussion. Closing such threads when the posts that brought them back weren't spammy would've just stifled the discussion.[/color][/QUOTE][COLOR=DarkOliveGreen]Personally I think Desbreko's idea works quite well. Auto locking may seem like a good idea, but there are threads where an auto locking feature would cause problems, like RPG's and game specific threads. And then there are threads like The DailyOtaku. If that was auto locked, those of us who are fans of the thread would be demanding it was unlocked! ^_~[/COLOR]

[DeadSeraphim]

[color=indigo][size=1][font=arial]Desbreko's just an old-hand at this whole modding thing. If this was a prison, he'd be the guard who always swung his baton in circles as he patrolled, but the moment you stepped out of line the baton would whack you in the face with supernatural accuracy. Then he'd walk off like nothing happened.

Unless of course you really pissed him off - those in the know are aware of the anger of Des' boot.[/font][/size][/color]

[Gavin]

[quote name='DeadSeraphim][color=indigo][size=1][font=arial]Unless of course you really pissed him off - those in the know are aware of the anger of Des' boot.[/font][/size'][/color][/quote]

[SIZE=1]As our dear friend Mike is so well aware.

But to get back on topic, I reckon post people would see Des' idea as being the natural choice in most situations, as it appeases those who's threads have been resurfaced and would prefer to see them returned from whence they came. The only problem one might foresee is that people could claim they never got the PM and continue to reopen old threads.[/SIZE]

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]If someone keeps bringing back old threads with spammy posts and they ignore the PM, there's a simple solution: A ban. Just like if they were spamming in current threads, they'll get a warning for it. If they ignore that warning, they get banned.[/color]