Regarding the Life of Threads

[Umbran]

I agree with Morrus - if the another discussion thread is really very recent, we might merge the two. But in general, do what you want.

I will note that not all recognition of duplication or necromancy are chastisements. If you come in and say, "I am interested in Giant Chickens!" pointing you to a recent thread on Giant Chickens is giving you information. It may get you at much of what you're looking for far more quickly than having the discussion over again. It may be trying to help you to not re-invent the wheel.

And for thread necromancy, I have seen several threads go by where it is not obvious, but there has been some major shift since the old thread died. Like, a person is trying to discuss 5e, and revives a 3e thread on the same general topic - the previous discussion may not apply, and that is good to know before you continue.

 

[Ancalagon]

Thread necromancy is always thread necromancy.

But unlike "real" necromancy, it's not always bad! In some case it's actually quite justifiable to raise a thread from the dead and keep it going. It's going to be a case by case basis.

 

[MarkB]

The problem with thread necromancy is that people don't always realise you've revived an old thread - so they're reading through and responding to some comment made years ago by someone who isn't even on the boards anymore, and then wondering why there's no reply.

If you find an old thread on the subject, it may be better to start a new one, but include a link to the old one in your first post, along with a summary of the point you wish to address.

 

[Gadget]

I think it is nice if there is some acknowledgement on the initiating post, whether it is necromancy or a new post. Something like: "I know this topic has been discussed a lot but I want to discuss this aspect of this topic..." or "Sorry for the thread necromancy, but I have something new to add to this discussion, such as...".

Many people, especially the thread necromancy ones, seem to be random drive by posts on a subject that was discussed a year or more ago and the poster has no idea they're even necro-ing a thread. Likewise if you are posting about a topic that is still very recent (front page or so).

That being said, I think some topics are better off with a fresh, from scratch, take. I would be hesitant to necro a thread from more the five or six month ago, for instance. But that is just me.

 

[jgsugden]

While I agree with the idea that commenting that a thread necro is taking place, remember that many people will just click on the thread when they see the topic and will start reading from the start... without noting that it is 2 years old... and may feel like replying to the post noting the lack of a Charm Monster spell (which was posted in 2016) by saying that Charm Monster is in Mordy's. They'll never see your 'This is a thread necro' post at the end of the thread.

It might be interesting if there were a shading system for posts that allowed us to identify older posts by the shade of the post.

 

[Blue]

One additional thought:

I despise when people open up a thread for a long time ago where rules have been errata'd or clarified since and call the original poster all sorts of unpleasant named because "that's not how it works".

Sorry, even in a contemporary thread calling someone names is ungood and just to make yourself feel superior. When it's also because you are ignorant of what the situation was back at that time, it really comes across that you were just looking for an argument to feed your own ego.

 

[AntiStateQuixote]

Arise, Dark Thread!

I call on you to grant me your great powers over impermanent death and terrify my enemies with dark and potent words from the distant past.

 

[MarkB]

To be fair, 2018 feels like it was another epoch at this point.

 

[Seramus]

Arise, Dark Thread!

I call on you to grant me your great powers over impermanent death and terrify my enemies with dark and potent words from the distant past.

Being able to easily find things in Google is a huge advantage, so I think thread necromancy is good most of the time. The obvious exceptions are when notable things have changed, like errata or major patches in a video game.

The downsides of thread necromancy are negligible and sometimes even humorous!

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

What I find remarkable about the necro'd threads is how stable the commentariat on this forum is.

Yes, the names change. But not as much as I'd expect!