Locking Old Threads

[MrJimi]

I may get some static over this but I am for NOT for locking old threads, they contain lots of good information that is still great info today. The mail box thread for an instance. I read that thread from beginning to end and I enjoyed all of it very much and I know that allot of you did also.
Please do NOT lock an old thread with such great info
Thanks
Jim

 

[jeffinsgf]

While I am on your side on this Jimi, just to be clear, locking a thread means that the thread is still accessible, but cannot have posts added to it.

 

[SnowRidge]

I may get some static over this but I am for NOT for locking old threads, they contain lots of good information that is still great info today. The mail box thread for an instance. I read that thread from beginning to end and I enjoyed all of it very much and I know that allot of you did also.
Please do NOT lock an old thread with such great info
Thanks
Jim

A locked thread is not the same as a deleted thread. Locked threads can still be searched through and read. Locking them only prevents new posts from being added.

 

[MrJimi]

While I am on your side on this Jimi, just to be clear, locking a thread means that the thread is still accessible, but cannot have posts added to it.

Your 100 % right Jeff, I believe that old info is like money in the bank and you can get it anytime you want and add to it anytime you want just making it more valuable all the time. And you can take this to a bank from a super mod and admin on other forums. It is valuable info to all of us here. Thanks for bringing it up
Locking a thread is just what you said, LOCKED, it can be read but no more info can be added to it..
Jim

 

[SnowRidge]

Also, several folks in the power trac forum occasionally "bump" up posts to revive an old discussion when it seems relevant again.

I see no harm in leaving old threads open to come back another day.

I'm glad you brought this up, Moss, since it raises another issue with Necroposting.

Power Trac doesn't change any model designators when they make major changes to their products. The switch from Kohler to Robin engines in the PT-425 being a good example. Here, you have a situation where an ancient thread that contains Kohler specific information, perhaps under the generic term engine, may be revived by someone, then read by a new TBN member who has a Robin engined machine, who does not realise that Power Trac ever made anything but Robin powered PT-425s..

Without realizing it, the new member make take Kohler specific advice and apply it in error to his Robin, perhaps with deleterious effects. Locking old threads would prevent, or at least minimize this sort of thing from happening. At the very least, ancient knowledge and practice could not masquerade as current knowledge and practice.

 

[Inspector507]

but in this case, I don't see anything wrong with someone reviving that old thread.

The biggest problems I see with reviving old threads is no added value to the thread, maybe unlike the one referred to here. We get to see a 5 year old thread revived with the added post "Yeah me too" and we have no idea what they are even responding to. Or you'll see "Did you ever figure it out?" and the original poster has not logged in or posted in the last 5 years.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm glad you brought this up, Moss, since it raises another issue with Necroposting.

Power Trac doesn't change any model designators when they make major changes to their products. The switch from Kohler to Robin engines in the PT-425 being a good example. Here, you have a situation where an ancient thread that contains Kohler specific information, perhaps under the generic term engine, may be revived by someone, then read by a new TBN member who has a Robin engined machine, who does not realise that Power Trac ever made anything but Robin powered PT-425s..

Without realizing it, the new member make take Kohler specific advice and apply it in error to his Robin, perhaps with deleterious effects. Locking old threads would prevent, or at least minimize this sort of thing from happening. At the very least, ancient knowledge and practice could not masquerade as current knowledge and practice.

That's why I almost always put in my dig for the Kohler when talking about my engine.

 

[txdon]

Maybe the title of the old threads could turn gray so we would be aware that the person we are responding to may not be with us anymore.

 

[DieselPower]

I'm against locking old threads. The mail box thread is a good example. It has been picked up where left off and it lives on. Why start a new duplicate thread when there is already one there.

 

[EastTnFarmboy]

I just wanted to respond so that this thread doesn't get locked. It has been 2 days since anyone posted.