I really hate it when [Moderators add dates in front of titles]

[Miss Marty]

Moderators add dates in front of titles...

It makes the thread look outdated and I feel
that the updated posts are often overlooked.

 

[DebBrown]

But isn't that because the thread IS outdated? I know that means that someone has added a new post but that the original question or issue may no longer be relevant.

I think it is a good thing.

Deb

 

[DeniseM]

When an old thread gets pulled out of mothballs with a new post, many readers do not realize that it is an old thread, and instead of looking at the most recent post, they will respond to the original question, which may be 2-3-4-5 years old.

Sometimes it's better to start a new thread, than to post in one that's out of date. Sometimes there is pertinent info. in the old thread, that is worth reviewing 5 years later.

*I am guessing that you are talking about the 2008 thread that you posted in recently. Was there something in the old posts that you thought was important to review 5 years later? If so, then it makes sense to post in the same thread.

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81514

 

[SueDonJ]

I do it so folks are aware right from the start that they may be reading posts and replies with outdated information, or, from people who may no longer be participating on TUG. If the topic is still relevant then the date in the title shouldn't (and really isn't meant to) prevent further discussion.

For example, tonight on the Marriott board a TUGger resurrected a 2012 thread about an airline miles bonus program, to ask if a similar program has been implemented this year. I put a [2012] date in the title to encourage others to read past the older posts to the current one.

 

[easyrider]

I thought it was funny when the mods added the words "allegedly, 800 years ago" to one of my posts.

http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193274&highlight=nuclear+bomb+india

I also noticed the 2008 added to the "water = gas " post which really shows how far technology has come with hho fuels.

Hey Denise, I was reading your escalator thread and thought its to bad this wasn't a tug escalator.

Bill

 

[Talent312]

I find it interesting that dusty, old threads allow new posts to reopen them.
Some boards will lock old threads that have gone stale to avoid confusion.
The last thread reads something like: "This topic is closed due to inactivity."
.

 

[Patri]

I find it interesting that dusty, old threads allow new posts to reopen them.
Some boards will lock old threads that have gone stale to avoid confusion.
The last thread reads something like: "This topic is closed due to inactivity."
.

I think that is a good idea. They will still appear if people are researching a topic, but then they can start a new one to resume the discussion.

 

[csxjohn]

Mods adding dates does not deter me from reading the new posts and reviewing the old if the subject is something I think I may be interested in.

I am one who doesn't always look at the dates myself so I welcome the heads up.

Anyone who skips over a new post because it's in an old thread may be missing some good info.

Also, I've only been active here for a year and a half so I'm glad many of the old threads pop up.

 

[Passepartout]

I like the opening year added to resurrected threads. While it's true that new updates can be added, a lot of salient ideas exist in old ones. They would be lost if threads were 'closed due to inactivity'. That is like the Patent Office being closed because everything had been invented.

Mods: Keep up the good work!

Jim

 

[csxjohn]

I like the opening year added to resurrected threads. While it's true that new updates can be added, a lot of salient ideas exist in old ones. They would be lost if threads were 'closed due to inactivity'. That is like the Patent Office being closed because everything had been invented.Mods: Keep up the good work!

Jim

I'm glad you posted this. Years ago I was led to believe this really happened. Now with the internet I was able to find this.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Holland_Duell

 

[rhonda]

I like the opening year added to resurrected threads. While it's true that new updates can be added, a lot of salient ideas exist in old ones. They would be lost if threads were 'closed due to inactivity'. That is like the Patent Office being closed because everything had been invented.

Mods: Keep up the good work!

Jim

Agree entirely!

 

[Miss Marty]

The name of the OP and date is already there


Example

I really hate it when

Miss Marty - November 19, 2013

 

[DeniseM]

Example

I really hate it when

Miss Marty - November 19, 2013

Yes - but the date is tiny, and people don't read it. Then they respond to an old question - happens every day on TUG...

 

[geekette]

Yes - but the date is tiny, and people don't read it. Then they respond to an old question - happens every day on TUG...

Certainly if it is the same month we're in, my eyes think it is current.

I appreciate the date in the title. Not sure why it would be upsetting? It IS old info, so, label it thusly. Saves me time in skipping old news. I have no personal attachment to any thread and am puzzled as to why there would be angst over this?

 

[Blues]

I really hate it when people resurrect years-old threads to add a single comment. (And no, I haven't read the one in question). But really, is it so hard to post a new thread with a link to the old one, if you think there's relevant information in it? I agree with the idea of auto-locking old threads after a few months of inactivity.

-Bob

 

[stmartinfan]

Add me as another who appreciates it when the moderators add the info to alert me it's an old post.

 

[Ridewithme38]

Does the info really ever expire? I should start writing big "published on" dates on the cover of my old books. I wouldn't want to read any outdated info.

 

[SueDonJ]

There really aren't any hard-and-fast rules about all this. I think most of us mods just try to do our best when old threads are resurrected to either keep relevant posts together with a warning that the thread is older, or separate new topics to new threads when they're posted incorrectly to older threads.

If you want to make a case for something other than how a particular post/thread has been moderated, simply click on the little triangle icon in the posts and tell us what you want instead. We're happy to listen to good reasoning.

 

[DeniseM]

Yes, and no: Many old posts are interesting for comparison purposes, but rules and programs definitely do change, so the info. may become inaccurate.

 

[Makai Guy]

Well, what really annoys ME is posters who enter cutesy incomplete thread titles to try to entice people into reading their message just to find out what the heck the poster is talking about.

(Message preview popup when placing cursor on the link is a nice help here, but why should we need to do this?)

 

[DeniseM]

Well, what really annoys ME is posters who enter cutesy incomplete thread titles to try to entice people into reading their message just to find out what the heck the poster is talking about.

+1 - I like to help them out by adding the rest of the topic.

 

[dioxide45]

I find the year inserted in the thread title to be very helpful. I find it annoying when I open an old resurrected thread and people are responding to year old posts like they were posted yesterday. In many cases the person they are responding two may not even be around any more. I also don't want to be responding to those year old posts either. I find the heads up to be helpful.

 

[rhonda]

+1 - I like to help them out by adding the rest of the topic.

Thank you for that thread assistance!

 

[Passepartout]

+1 - I like to help them out by adding the rest of the topic.

You might try it on this thread. Must'a been an oversight by the OP.

 

[Passepartout]

Wasn't an oversight by OP, that is their MO, along with telling us how much gas their car took on a fill-up down to the thousandth of a gallon !

You didn't notice my tongue placed firmly in my cheek.