Should a thread have an expiration date?

[deepNdirt]

Many times we mistakenly open an old thread someone has revived, I'll then read several replies before realizing I've read it before and find the thread is 3,4,5,+ years old, Though the information in these thread are good reading and very valued, should we have the ability to revise them some years later possibly causing confusion to that thread,

(example only): a topic about safety, Things that may have been permitted 5 years ago have changed due to regulations and are no longer currently permitted,etc,etc, Or... a 4 page thread where someone has post about having starting trouble with their tractor, on the 4th page he replies problem has been solved and gives thanks to everyone who has helped..... now 3 years later someone mistakenly revives the thread giving advice on a 3 year old issue, etc,etc, ...... before we know it another 6-7 more reply taking this thread into another 2 pages on a 3 year old issue,
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I've mistakenly participated in this same kind of scenario, and it's a little embarrassing after the fact,
What are others thoughts?
Should a old thread have an expiration date? and be removed? ( annually ) or perhaps put into a category of old topics only to be viewed for future reference, not having the ability to be revived? or IS (Topics and Thread Counts) an essential part of TBN's website establishment?

 

[Ken]

deepNdirt
Ever watch a t.v. rerun and see things never seen the first time. ?
ken

 

[cqaigy2]

I don't mind, seems pretty rare and search works well in most cases

 

[TripleR]

I just make it a habit of looking to see the dates, I have actually saved some old ones to which I refer occasionally as the contain good information. I understand some things may be outdated, but a LOT of what was true years ago remains true today.

 

[deepNdirt]

deepNdirt
Ever watch a t.v. rerun and see things never seen the first time. ?
ken

Yeah I know what your saying, I agree! seems always something got missed first time around, but what I'm suggesting is having replied to a old thread starting it up again, when usually 90% of the time a newer topic or similar threads are currently being discussed over,
I enjoy reading the old topics/threads and certainly find them helpful and informative, I guess i shouldn't have mentioned removing them or imply to kill the thread, But maybe put them in a place that cannot reply to them, Perhaps? .....( Previous years On TBN forum).........
I mean I do still post links to old topics to those who might need incite on a subject, I really wouldn't want to have them taken away

 

[k0ua]

Well it is a little embarrassing when you reply to a 10 year old thread, with "hey buddy why don't you try this?" and then you realize the guy probably doesn't even have the tractor any more, and his problem is long ago solved or he is long gone.. BUT. after you do that a couple of times and suffer slings and arrows of your fellow tractor enthusiasts, you get in the habit of looking over at the date.. Good habit to get in to. Like others have said, just because some of the threads have whiskers, doesn't mean they don't have value. Some are extremely valuable and may be the only discussion of a build or technique on the whole forum.. I would be in favor of just leaving it the way it is. My 2 coppers...er.. zinc or what ever they are made out of now

James K0UA

 

[CBW1999]

Been in this situation.......... or "guilty" depending on your view (LOL)

maybe instead of an expiration, the original post date could be changed to a different color and/or if you are trying to post to it- then an "advisory" pops up that this thread has been "inactive" for..... example....6 months. That way, whoever is posting knows it is an old thread in case they overlook it to begin with.

 

[Baby Grand]

An expiration date? No. There's to much old gold on here.
Maybe a post-it with "Check Date" slapped on the monitor ...

 

[Ken]

Yeah I know what your saying, I agree! seems always something got missed first time around, but what I'm suggesting is having replied to a old thread starting it up again, when usually 90% of the time a newer topic or similar threads are currently being discussed over,
I enjoy reading the old topics/threads and certainly find them helpful and informative, I guess i shouldn't have mentioned removing them or imply to kill the thread, But maybe put them in a place that cannot reply to them, Perhaps? .....( Previous years On TBN forum).........
I mean I do still post links to old topics to those who might need incite on a subject, I really wouldn't want to have them taken away

deepNdirt
maybe to quick on the answer. There are sites where when you click to reply it flags that no responce in the past # of months and do you want to continue to post on the thread.
This would lower the number that do so.
A few months ago a reply on thread that had been dead couple of years and it took off as if there had been no delay.
ken

 

[RickB]

An expiration date? No. There's to much old gold on here.
Maybe a post-it with "Check Date" slapped on the monitor ...

Frozen but available for viewing or searching after X months of inactivity?? Maybe 6 months for arguement's sake.

 

[MIKE R]

No.

Some forums allow the thread starter to close the thread if they find it gets off topic. I think the forum works perfectly the way it is. No more changes.

 

[DFB]

Timely question...just read thru a thread pulled back up from 2009

 

[RickB]

Timely question...just read thru a thread pulled back up from 2009

OK it's timely. How about some input on the question?

 

[newbury]

I was just today digging up threads about Kubota M4700, some dated back to 2003.

It seems mostly newbies reply to ancient threads without realizing it. I think they come on, search for something and reply.

I often revive ancient threads because sometimes the older ones are more pertinent.

For instance I was trying to find out about a generator, so I posted in an old thread on the exact model:

I REALIZE THIS THREAD IS GOING ON 7 YEARS OLD!!!

Has anyone ever heard of one of these? My neighbor has one in pretty good shape, and I tried to call the number on the decal affixed to it, no luck. Just rang and rang. Did a google search for Olathe Chipper, also no luck.

It is a beast and I want to buy it, but I am worried that I will never get parts or service.

Rick

But this is also my situation.

Does anyone run one?

Have you repaired it?

How easy is it to work on?

Do you have pics?

The CL ad I'm working with doesn't even have pics.

That thread had some good links in it.

A pop up to say this thread is old enough to vote might be good.

 

[DFB]

OK it's timely. How about some input on the question?

Ok since you asked

Well to tell the truth I had thought about adding a response to the thread I was reading before I realized it was an old discussion. After all the dates are there on the posts. So after reading thru it I felt that I kind of just wasted my time, not because it was a bad thread but that it was for the most part too old to add something that probably wouldn't be of any use to the original poster. So yea I would be of the opinion that after a major period of inactivity or an annual date mark has passed threads could be more clearly marked somehow. Different color bar or something. But if someone wants to reopen for whatever their reason thats ok with me too. I usually always view under today's posts/last 24hours mode so it just caught me off guard with the majority of the thread not being current.

 

[TomSeller]

I like the simple "warning you are about to post to a thread that is over 6 months old, are you sure?" idea. Maybe that feature could be added.

 

[/pine]

I've never understood the criticism nubes get by responding to an old thread...I realize many do not bother looking at a date when searching for useful information...believe it or not there are a lot of folks that are not familiar with message boards etc...

FWIW... Google and other global search engines are a much better tool than the "search" feature of most "message board" software... mostly because of security reasons M.B. search apps are very poor and often a Google etc. search will provide links back to useful material even if it is not a current subject on the referred site/message board...

VB and other message board software should offer a separate search tools IMO...

 

[CBW1999]

Did anyone see that this thread started in 2002? :laughing:

...Just couldn't resist.

Some good ideas here- I've seen some resurrections based on a simple "hey, did you make any more progress on that project/build?". Perhaps a PM to the OP would be more helpful in those cases. Hard however, to figure out what would be a good generic time frame to even have the "pop up" of "it's been 6 months...do you want to continue with post".

Of course, it's always fun to watch reruns years after the initial broadcast....

 

[Ken]

Did anyone see that this thread started in 2002? :laughing:

...Just couldn't resist.

Some good ideas here- I've seen some resurrections based on a simple "hey, did you make any more progress on that project/build?". Perhaps a PM to the OP would be more helpful in those cases. Hard however, to figure out what would be a good generic time frame to even have the "pop up" of "it's been 6 months...do you want to continue with post".

Of course, it's always fun to watch reruns years after the initial broadcast....

I frequently use JJ's posts on Hydraulic problems and some times go back couple years remembering he had covered it then. no need to rehash the same questions.

Now the posts of (pulling the trigger on a new tractor) Never found a trigger on mine anywhere I've looked.
ken

 

[3v0]

I like the simple "warning you are about to post to a thread that is over 6 months old, are you sure?" idea. Maybe that feature could be added.

That is exactly what we did on another forum I frequent. Works well. About the only abusers we get are people who have not figured out how to start a new thread.