Threads locked after 30 days?

[longboy]

I'm just curious as to what the reasoning behind this? I can see the PITA factor (al24) being a reason, but there certainly are some threads worth bringing back to life after a period of time just to report back some results on a modification, etc. Oh well-

[Eric]

If a thread hasn't seen any activity in over a month, it usually serves only as a reference in search results. It's more efficient and accurate to create a new topic rather than resurrect one filled with potentially outdated information. One month seems reasonable to me to declare a thread "dead", but we can extend it a little farther if need be. Is there a particular "journal" thread that you're referring to that has been affected by this?

[longboy]

No particular thread in mind, but I was going to tag onto another 'hardwood floors' thread to get some opinions. No biggie, just curious really. Thanks-

[Steve]

Austin (and others), if there's a compelling reason to open an old thread, any of the mods can unlock it if you shoot them a PM.

[al24]

(al24)

:flipoff2: No sense a humor. :flipoff2:

[Xtremjeepn-Cole Ford]

DOH! Finally got some free time today to update the thread on my trail clean up truck project and it was locked:mad: :mad: Guess I am not making progress fast enough:shrug:

Now I have to ask you guys to please unlock it before I can post. Hope I find time in the next 30 days to post to it again.:D

Could I get this thread unlocked please?

http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=79648&highlight=trail+clean+truck+pics

[Steve]

It's unlocked Cole. :)

[Xtremjeepn-Cole Ford]

Thanks Steve!

[Xtremjeepn-Cole Ford]

Here is an example of a post that spaned from 2002 to 2007 with only 16 posts. Yet still nice to see the progress of an upgrade.

http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=8942&highlight=borla+header

[Mark]

I'd just like to add that I too think this is a headache. I was going to tack on to a Google Earth thread, but alas, they're all locked.

Quite frankly, I don't think it's worth the time to ask a mod to unlock one of them, wait for it to happen, and then punch in my response.

:shrug: My $0.02

[longboy]

I was just about to add some pics of the Greensburg, KS tornado to a thread, but it is also locked. Same thing as Mark, not sure it's worth the time and hassle.

[Eric]

Create a new thread (same number of clicks as replying) and post a link to the old thread for reference :shrug:

[Elk]

Create a new thread (same number of clicks as replying) and post a link to the old thread for reference :shrug:

Hmmm. Seems like the simplest solution.

Can't wait for 30 days to pass so this one gets locked too!! :flipoff2:

[longboy]

Quit replying to this one, so it can die a peaceful death :)

[Xtremjeepn-Cole Ford]

Create a new thread (same number of clicks as replying) and post a link to the old thread for reference :shrug:


My only problem with that is that it does not notify those that have subscribed to a thread. I subscribe because I want to be notified on topics I am interested in. I don't want to have to dig everyday to see if someone has new information on an old topic. :shrug:

For example, the only reason I came back to this thread was because of the email notification and subscription. If the topic came up again 30 days later I am not sure I would have caught it.

[Instigator]

just a thought?? is there a way to link notification to related threads?? That would be nice!!!

[Clint]

once people really figure this out, arent they going to start bumping threads with stupid posts to keep them open?

[89minitruck]

yep

[Dave McDonald]

Somtimes it takes me over a month to come up with a witty reply. By then the thread is locked. You people have no idea how funny some of the replies you missed out on were.


:)

[newracer]

once people really figure this out, arent they going to start bumping threads with stupid posts to keep them open?I used to post an a very basic BB a long time ago that only had one page and a limited number of threads. If a thread went off the page it was gone. All the time people would post in stupid threads just to keep them alive.

[Jeffro600]

Austin (and others), if there's a compelling reason to open an old thread, any of the mods can unlock it if you shoot them a PM.

You guys(you in particular :flipoff2: :P ) always bitch that you have your hands full with modding this place...seems like your only creating more work for yourselves?? :shrug:

Never seen a forum run like that. I dunno, seems extremely unorthodox, but who am i to judge i guess...

[Tom N]

Man I can't believe that the thread about being dumped on by 4x4 shops is locked.;) :rolleyes:

[74BuckinBronc]

I motion to either extend the period to maybe 60 days, or remove the feature all-together. There are points to both sides, but does it really hurt anything to leave them open? I know of two in recent past, that I wanted to update, but couldn't and it wasn't worth the effort to ask a mod to open it back up. I don't want to hound you guys. And starting a new thread would likely loose the original subscribers.

J.D.

[Matt]

I vote to unlock ALL of the threads in "readers rigs". No one can reply to them anyway, and it doesn't make sense to lock them after 30 days. Very annoying as really no one works on their stuff enough to keep updating it every 30 days (for years on end).

Matt

Oh, and can you unlock this thread please:
http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=78236

[Eric]

I vote to unlock ALL of the threads in "readers rigs". No one can reply to them anyway, and it doesn't make sense to lock them after 30 days. Very annoying as really no one works on their stuff enough to keep updating it every 30 days (for years on end).

Thank you! I had forgotten about the Readers Rigs section. All of those are open again and exempt from the auto-close tool, along with each of the product review forums. :beer: :beer:

[Eric]

I motion to either extend the period to maybe 60 days

OK, done.

[Colorado 5.9]

I vote to remove the locks all together. Tonight I searched for the GoogleEarth street view thread to post on the cameras they are using & found it was locked.:shrug:

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page2152.html?theme=light

[Xtremjeepn-Cole Ford]

I am totally missing the logic in locking old posts. Can someone explain this to me?

Is it just to make the site "seem" more active becasue we are forced to start new threads?

[Camp]

I am totally missing the logic in locking old posts. Can someone explain this to me?

Is it just to make the site "seem" more active becasue we are forced to start new threads?


No, it was put in place because there are a few members of the board who like to bring up worthless threads from history, that spark heated debate or are just plane useless because the information is so old that is may lead someone down the wrong path, and this is was a way to stop that from happening. There are a few other limited reasons but, needless to say, a handful of users have forced us to try to fix a problem.

[Big Dave]

So then why not ban said users for an escalating amount of time each time they bring back an old thread that doesn't need to be brought back?

[Eric]

It's to stop jackasses from bringing dead posts back to the top. Then people don't realize it's an ancient thread filled with outdated info and they start replying to it like it's an "active" post. If it hasn't been replied to in (insert your time frame here) days, it's pretty much dead and serves only as reference info for searches.

It isn't about forcing people to start new threads, it's about stopping the regurgitation of outdated (and occasionally inaccurate) info.

The response to this has been a bit surprising. Up until this point it was uncommon for someone to resurrect a dead thread and 99% of the time it was of no value (disruptive and annoying). Now that you can't resurrect dead threads all of a sudden it's a PITA. I expected this to be essentially transparent to everyone except the clowns that were bent on resurrecting dead threads.

[Eric]

So then why not ban said users for an escalating amount of time each time they bring back an old thread that doesn't need to be brought back?


You guys(you in particular :flipoff2: :P ) always bitch that you have your hands full with modding this place...seems like your only creating more work for yourselves?? :shrug:


I don't know that we "bitch" about it, but I do try to minimize the amount of hand-holding required. If a tedious task can be automated I'm all for it. The mods are volunteers, so naturally I try to make the most effective use of their valuable time. In this case it's significantly easier to remove the opportunity for abuse than it is to have the moderators spend time/effort dealing with each and every abusive user.

[74BuckinBronc]

I am happy with the 60 day period as it stands now. I think that gives guys time to update valid information, but not enough to worry about digging threads up started when 35's were HUGE!

As a side note, I know there is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into this site and I appreciate it's use and access. The layout of this site is clear and easy to navigate. I have been to some where it takes a few months to learn the ropes. My point is, I don't have the expertise to help with website stuff, so my contribution has only been in helping others, so I can't take any ownership of this site. The folks that do volunteer thier time on here, it is your site and you have the right to change it as you see fit. Anyway Mods and all the folks who spend time improving this site - Thanks!

J.D.

[Eric]

I vote to remove the locks all together. Tonight I searched for the GoogleEarth street view thread to post on the cameras they are using & found it was locked.:shrug:

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page2152.html?theme=light

Yup, you just missed it by a day or so. The last post was June 7th so 60 days had passed. I unlocked the thread for you, and I reset the "declaration of dead" limit at 75 days.

[Xtremjeepn-Cole Ford]

No, it was put in place because there are a few members of the board who like to bring up worthless threads from history, that spark heated debate or are just plane useless because the information is so old that is may lead someone down the wrong path, and this is was a way to stop that from happening. There are a few other limited reasons but, needless to say, a handful of users have forced us to try to fix a problem.



Thanks Camp. :D Just to play Devil's Advocate for a second. If others join in the thread and enjoy the debate then isn't that the basic purpose of a forum?

[Camp]

Thanks Camp. :D Just to play Devil's Advocate for a second. If others join in the thread and enjoy the debate then isn't that the basic purpose of a forum?

If it is useful, sure but, that is not what we were having problems with. :D

[Rex Ashton]

I'll have to try to speed up the pace on watching movies, so the One Liners thread doesn't die forever.

Oh, and BTT for this one :flipoff2: