Forums » Suggestions

Don't forbid thread necromancy on the forum

May 28, 2013 zak.wilson link
I recently tried to reply to an older thread that I think still has relevance - the same relevance - to the game today. I found there was no reply link, and worse, an error message when I corrected a valid reply URL.

It is better to bring back old threads than to start new ones for the same topics/issues. It makes finding most/all of the discussion on a given topic easier. It discourages noisy new threads on old topics. It helps newcomers better understand long-standing issues. I really don't see much downside.
May 28, 2013 Pizzasgood link
And it's also really annoying when it comes to plugin or project threads in Community Projects, where significant time might pass between updates. Probably also for infrequently updated story threads in RP.

You should at least allow the OP to revive his own threads.
May 29, 2013 draugath link
It's generally accepted that if something is relevant in an older thread that you start a new one, paraphrase or summarize what was in the original thread (perhaps with a link to it) and then provide your new information. The problem with thread necromancy is there is often a lot that went on in previous threads that may not be relevant to the game anymore due to changes since the thread was last discussed.

The only forum that should probably not having necro-protection on it is the Community Projects forum, where project threads can lie dormant for a while, but are none-the-less still important for communication, since they are linked to from various locations.
May 29, 2013 zak.wilson link
I disagree with draugath.

If a reasonable and thoughtful person is reviving an old thread and something important from the previous discussion has changed, said necromancer will make note of the changes. If an unreasonable or thoughtless person is posting, preventing necromancy won't help.

Posting a summary or link instead of reviving a thread will lose relevant information more than it will keep out irrelevant or stale information.
May 29, 2013 TheRedSpy link
I'm with zak. Thread necromancy can be annoying, but the correct response is just for a mod to lock the thread if it has become irrelevant and gets pushed to the top.
May 29, 2013 zak.wilson link
See, I would have posted this in the sticky forum suggestions, but that thread is necrotic.