Archiving or Disabling Comments on Old Forum Posts

1. 41

   ChristinSposted 8 years ago

   I think forums are confusing for many new hubbers.  Heck, I've been here 3 years and sometimes struggle with them, but it would seem to me that forum posts beyond a certain age should either be archived completely, or at least made to where comments are no longer being accepted. 
   
   I am seeing a lot of very old posts on here get restarted.  Chances are the information in the original post is no longer valid seeing how the landscape around here changes so often.  Is there not a way to make this happen that isn't overly complicated?
   
   I can't be the only one who sees this as problematic right?

   replyreport
   1. 73

      Matthew Meyerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      There is a notice that shows on forums when someone tries to post to an old one, and we say in the site policies to not open such old threads as well, but obviously there are people who ignore the notice and the rules.
      
      As it stands, if you think a thread has been opened that should be closed, you can use the "report" function to flag it and it will be reviewed by a moderator and in some cases closed if it is too old or out of date.
      
      We do not currently close threads automatically, but this has been requested in the past.
      
      We will keep this in mind as a feature to consider going forward, but here are some details to consider.
      
      When should a forum thread be closed? 2 months? 6 months? a year or longer?

      replyreport
      1. 41

         ChristinSposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         My personal opinion and I hope others will chime in also, is that anything over a year is probably outdated or could stand a new thread.  I can see the value in maybe reading old posts, but honestly, keeping things fresh, interesting and relevant would probably be a better idea.  I think after a year things grow stale.

         replyreport
      2. 83

         Venkatachari Mposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         I also support that after one year, a forum thread should be closed for new comments on it. It may be kept in archives, if somebody wants to simply view it, but should not be allowed to comment. This will probably ease things for people browsing on forums.

         replyreport
      3. 92

         Phyllis Doyleposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         One year is long enough to keep a forum thread open, especially if there have been no comments for quite awhile. Any new information on the subject can be reason for a new thread.

         replyreport
2. 84

   Marcy Goodfleischposted 8 years ago

   The threads that pop up at the bottom (related discussions or something) are hugely outdated. This has created problems, when someone doesn't notice the date on the old thread and it includes information that's not accurate today. Is there some way to filter the 'related discussion' links so the old ones (like, years old) won't appear?

   replyreport
3. 61

   fpherj48posted 8 years ago

   You're definitely not alone, Christin!!  I know that 2 yr. old forum thread we hopped on yesterday was surely outdated!   I have said this about Q&A that are 5,6 & 7 yrs old!!  But sorting through thousands would probably be this side of impossible.  We have bigger fish to fry!!  LOL

   replyreport