Another dumb question - necro'd thread

[Checkerboard Strangler]

The act of "necro-ing" a thread? Is that when someone reactivates a long since dead thread with a post linking back to a comment made months or years ago?
Or...what is it exactly, and is it against the rules or something?

Help an ignorant newbie out.

 

[Brochacholomigo]

It's when you respond in a really old thread. This bumps the thread back to page one, where it hasn't belonged for months, or rven years in rare cases.

 

[Hawkeye10]

It's when you respond in a really old thread. This bumps the thread back to page one, where it hasn't belonged for months, or rven years in rare cases.

IDK, at my last home the invention of interesting ways to bring old threads back to life, to make use of them, was part of the fun.

This place is different.

 

[Brochacholomigo]

IDK, at my last home the invention of interesting ways to bring old threads back to life, the make use of them, was part of the fun.

This place is different.

There are rare cases where necroing a thread has been acceptable. As an example, updating the subject of a Tavern thread about an injury or illness a few months after first discussing it would be perfectly acceptable. If I'm not mistaken, that is. I swear I remember something like that.

 

[Hawkeye10]

There are rare cases where necroing a thread has been acceptable. As an example, updating the subject of a Tavern thread about an injury or illness a few months after first discussing it would be perfectly acceptable. If I'm not mistaken, that is. I swear I remember something like that.

I have been updating threads when new information comes out.....like when we spend 20 pages speculating and then the truth becomes known....so far no one has complained.

 

[Slingshot Bob]

If necroing threads is against the rules, why not just lock them at a certain point or make clear some parameters where it is/is not allowed?

 

[Brochacholomigo]

I have been updating threads when new information comes out.....like when we spend 20 pages speculating and then the truth becomes known....so far no one has complained.

An update to the information in the OP is what I was trying to convey as an acceptable necro. I was using an example that I recalled from previous years, although that may not even have been on this forum. I can't say I remember it clearly at all.

 

[Brochacholomigo]

If necroing threads is against the rules, why not just lock them at a certain point or make clear some parameters where it is/is not allowed?

It depends on WHY the thread was necro'd. Usually, someone's starting a tangent of arguing off of some random post in the thread. A friend of mine that isn't allowed on here anymore once asked me to respond in an old thread so he could start some **** without getting in trouble, since the mods had already told him to stop doing that. An update on a news story due to additional information coming to light is different.

I'm not sure whether he was the exception or the rule for necros. Truth be told, I don't know jack about rules I haven't broken yet, and I haven't been infracted for a necro before.

 

[Slingshot Bob]

It depends on WHY the thread was necro'd. Usually, someone's starting a tangent of arguing off of some random post in the thread. A friend of mine that isn't allowed on here anymore once asked me to respond in an old thread so he could start some **** without getting in trouble, since the mods had already told him to stop that. An update on a news story due to additional information coming to light is different.

Makes sense.

 

[Brochacholomigo]

Makes sense.

I edited in a note about my experience with this subject.

 

[Kal'Stang]

Necro'd threads are threads that have been inactive for a few months or more. Most of the time necro'ing a thread is not advised as it can conjure up old arguments (read: feuds) that are better left alone. Depending on the circumstances we'll allow a necro'd thread to stay open. Just depends on context. IE: Update vs renewing an argument vs whether the subject matter is still being discussed in other areas of the forum etc etc. (this is by no means an exhaustive list of what determines why a necro'd thread is left open or closed.)

Needless to say, we generally prefer that posters start new threads. So if you want to really discuss whatever it is you wish to discuss it'd be best if you just start a new thread instead of necro'ing an old thread.