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When is a thread dead?

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Rumpel

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When is a thread dead?
After how many years or decades?
My opinion is: As soon as somebody writes in it, the thread is no longer dead.

Sometimes the interest in a thread may get weaker.
But when it is re-vived, a good discusion may follow.

So it is.
 
When is a thread dead?
After how many years or decades?
My opinion is: As soon as somebody writes in it, the thread is no longer dead.

Sometimes the interest in a thread may get weaker.
But when it is re-vived, a good discusion may follow.

So it is.

I'll leave it up to the mods to decide.
 
When is a thread dead?
After how many years or decades?
My opinion is: As soon as somebody writes in it, the thread is no longer dead.

Sometimes the interest in a thread may get weaker.
But when it is re-vived, a good discusion may follow.

So it is.

We have moderators for a reason, they have a thankless job and they still do very well with it, so... what precisely is your suggestion?
 
When is a thread dead?
After how many years or decades?
My opinion is: As soon as somebody writes in it, the thread is no longer dead.

Sometimes the interest in a thread may get weaker.
But when it is re-vived, a good discusion may follow.

So it is.

If you find an old thread, and you think the topic is still relevant today, then all you have to do is start a new thread on the topic.

That way you will "re-activate" the issue, and see if it still garners sufficient interest.

People tend to drop out of threads for any number of reasons, not the least being when it is a never-ending back and forth between two members rehashing the same argument/counter-argument until one simply stops responding.

Another problem with some old threads is they are just too long to go through to see if you have a new argument. Most people don't want to read through dozens of pages to see if their point is new, they just post it. Then wonder why other people who have already been in the thread and believe they've already answered that point don't feel the need to repeat themselves.

I could go on, but the point remains. If you don't see an active thread on the topic, and the old one has been "closed" solely due to inactivity (not moderator action), then just start a new thread and see where it goes.
 
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Three little threads all sittin' in a bed,
One rolls out and bumps his head,
Took him to the doctor, doctor said:
Your little thread be stone cold dead.

Two little threads both waitin' to be fed,
One chokes on his raisin bread,
Took him to the doctor, doctor said:
One more thread be stone cold dead.

One little thread left ridin' on a sled,
He slides down and hits a shed,
Took him to the doctor, doctor said:
All your threads be stone cold dead.

Zero little threads left, they's all dead,
Rumpel misses those threads he read,
Started up a new one, new one said:
How we gonna tell when dead threads dead?


The idea behind thread expiry dates is to avoid confusing people. There's a general expectation that current events threads cover current events, and when an old thread is resurrected out of the blue it often misleads people into believing the events and discussion are recent, which can cause a lot of confusion. For most current events threads, two weeks with no activity is a reasonable expiry date. For slower sub-forums like International Politics, three months is more appropriate. Generally speaking, the higher volume the thread and the more commonly similar material appears on DP, the shorter the reasonable expiry date. Any thread about Pres. Trump, gun control, or election polling should be considered dead after 4-5 days of inactivity.
 
There's a general expectation that current events threads cover current events, and when an old thread is resurrected out of the blue it often misleads people into believing the events and discussion are recent, which can cause a lot of confusion.


I do not have such topics in mind.
But even then, an intelligent reader will find out about it.

I think of topics that are timeless.
And there are lots of them.
 
Well, since you had to ask, this thread is dead.
 
Like in a monarchy? ;)
Where the poor stupid subjects have no say in the matter? :cool:

You can have your say if you want to. I had mine.
 
I do not have such topics in mind.
But even then, an intelligent reader will find out about it.

I think of topics that are timeless.
And there are lots of them.
Truly timeless topics needn't have thread expiry dates at all.

These are usually called "serial threads" and it's generally understood that they can go dead for months or even years before being revived. They would include threads like "funny jokes", "pictures of space", "photos of cats", "bible verse of the day", "great curry recipes", "quotable quotes", etc.

You won't tend too find many such threads on a forum about current affairs and politics, but you'll certainly find some.
 
I thought this part of the forum was meant to ask questions.

But it seems that some writers here regard it a kind of Lèse-majesté to question anything.
Probably it will be wiser not to ask any questions anymore.
 
Rather than necro (revive) a dormant thread, create a new one to post any additional information/thoughts ... and link back to the older one if necessary.

Oftentimes it is best not to revive contentious flame/bait threads and/or threads that deserved a burial because they sucked.
 
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