I've noticed that if you post something that has already been talked about someone will link the old thread (no matter how old it is!) to let you know that it's already been discussed. Are we not suppose to discuss topics more than once? And if we DO search for something and find an old thread, are we not suppose to bring it back up top? Because I noticed someone mentioning that an old thread was pulled up.

I'm just trying to figure out what the rules are about this stuff.

Thanks

.....I noticed someone mentioning that an old thread was pulled up.

Oh yeah, you get that...... "this thread is a year old". Like no-one can work it out for themselves. :rolleyes: I guess they have nothing better to do than point out the obvious.

This wouldn't be a good time to mention that there is already another thread on this topic, would it?

Take 10 seconds to notice the date of the last post on a thread. Issued solved.

Searching for an old thread on a topic can be time consuming, so it's something people will not want to do. It's easier just to create a new thread on the topic. I'm usually grateful if somebody posts a link to an existing thread if the topic is an important one, like dietary issues. There's a lot of good information already posted in the older thread, and there's no need for a new thread on the subject. However, if the new thread has a sillier topic and there's an older one bouncing around VB somewhere, then these link posters should lighten up a little and go with the flow. Nothing wrong with creating a new thread if the other one is two or three years old.

If something has been discussed within the last month or two I'll close the new one and link to the old one. If it's older I'll usually let the new one go. Different mods may have different criteria.

If the same topics come up over and over again then people either won't participate or they'll have to type the same response over and over again. And if people stop responding then it's sometimes best for the new poster to see the old thread so that they can at least get some feedback on their topic.

As for the thread title, I don't really feel it's appropriate and I for one don't appreciate it.

Sometimes there's some good jokes in the previous old thread, that the new person should definitley read. The Meatmares is one that comes to mind.

Also, there may be some info that was in the old thread that could be of use to said new thread and poster. But yes, one should use the Search feature first.

Sometimes people will pull up old threads and respond to a request for advice (or something similar) that's over a year old. Then it certainly seems appropriate to point out how old the thread is, so people won't waste time trying to help solve a problem that's probably taken care of already.

Yes, like Amy SF has stated (btw Amy, I'm a cancer moonchild too :) ) searching through old threads can be overwhelming especially one with a million pages of responses. A while back I wanted to start one about fasting, but I searched the archive ones first. It took me a loooonngg time, but I was satisfied with what I found and didn't bother to start another. I like Micheal's criteria of letting a topic emerge again after a similar one is older than 2 months that way newbies can partake in the topic discussion and perhaps older members will see a fresh perspective too.

What's up with the recent proliferation of the word nazi to offensively describe behavior one doesn't like?

What's up with the recent proliferation of the word nazi to offensively describe behavior one doesn't like?


i blame seinfeld.

i blame seinfeld.
For the soup nazi, AND for "What's with" comedy routines, both...

Like I said, the main issue I see with this (other than simply trying to keep some sense of order) is this...

Every 3 months we have a thread on what hidden ingredients a new vegetarian should look for. Every 3 months someone has to respond with a well thought out post that they've already posted at least once already. Eventually the person gets to the point where they won't even respond anymore. I'm sure that happens more than we'll know.

Like I said, the main issue I see with this (other than simply trying to keep some sense of order) is this...

Every 3 months we have a thread on what hidden ingredients a new vegetarian should look for. Every 3 months someone has to respond with a well thought out post that they've already posted at least once already. Eventually the person gets to the point where they won't even respond anymore. I'm sure that happens more than we'll know.
Maybe you should have a section where newbies can go to which has this kind of info is always available; not a thread, but just have a list posted to refer to. That way no one has to keep repeating themselves.

an FAQ with links to old threads about that kind of stuff is a great idea. unless people want to volunteer writing an actual FAQ.

We have a FAQ, but I don't think newbies read that. If they did we wouldn't have threads asking what Veg*n stood for, and other questions answered in the FAQ.

I admit that bumping up threads more than 4 months old is a pet peeve of mine, although I don't mind it if they at least mention that they are bumping up an old thread. Especially when the person originally asking the question has been gone for years. It's very common for people to assume that a thread is new if it's been bumped up, so the person bumping the thread ends up wasting a lot of people's time when they realize that they're replying to a post that's several years old.

As for asking questions that have already been answered.... There's no need to start a new thread or bump an old thread if the question has already been answered. If it hasn't been answered to your satisfaction, then I think it's appropriate to say "I'm bumping up this thread to see if anyone has any more information on this".

Hmm... the only sure-fire way I see to avoid the problem is to have all prospective threads be approved by mods before they're out there. I don't care for that idea.

the faq might work better if it were more visible. is it or can it be linked to a page somewhere in the registration process? that way new members could read it before they even get to the point of posting. but yeah linking some threads in there might be a good thing. maybe we can put together a list of topics and questions that tend to resurface a lot and dig up threads that have already addressed them and link them in the faq.


but yeah sometimes a thread has just barely died down before it gets posted again and it's better for the thread starter to just see the full thread rather than wait for replies they may not get because people are tired of talking about the topic. and sometimes digging out a really old thread isn't worth the work involved if it's one that didn't get that many replies or is a year old or is something people would still be interested in talking about.

i think if someone posts a link or points out that a thread is old, they should be thanked for making the effort and trying to be helpful instead of publicly called vicious names. they are after all just trying to help. if you don't find it helpful ignore it.

the faq might work better if it were more visible. is it or can it be linked to a page somewhere in the registration process?

New members get a pm with a link to the FAQ.

Hmm... the only sure-fire way I see to avoid the problem is to have all prospective threads be approved by mods before they're out there. I don't care for that idea.

Yeah because then all those emergency dinner threads would be for naught! :p

:)

:nigel: Cheers!

well there ya go then :)

I've often wondering if we could have a date of the first post in the thread under the name of the thread. When I do search for new posts I often think something is new bc the last page is all new, but then I realize it originated 18 months ago and I've already stated my opinion in the first page.

Sometimes it is kind of fun for me to see a thread that was so old come up. Usually I skip ahead and reply and then find out I posted a year or two ago. Its interesting to see how different my responses are now to what they were then.

As for the thread title, I don't really feel it's appropriate and I for one don't appreciate it.

I'm a mod on some other boards and we use that term a lot. I didn't think anyone would take offense to it, I'm sorry! :sealed: :(

Sometimes it is kind of fun for me to see a thread that was so old come up. Usually I skip ahead and reply and then find out I posted a year or two ago. Its interesting to see how different my responses are now to what they were then.

And there's that aspect, too! Sometimes it's humorous, and sometimes I shake my head and wonder what I was thinking when I posted that.

I don't know what you're talking about. :angel:

I do that, but I try not to link threads that are more than a year old. I will if I think the thread has some good information, though.

ETA: The bumped old threads don't bother me (once I realize when it was started), unless it's a troll.