Old threads?

1. 83

   sallybeaposted 7 years ago

   HubPages staff, please will you consider removing outdated threads from the forum pages?   Most of the content is out of date but is continually regurgitated by people who fail to notice this.  It is often poorly written, wastes a lot of precious time and helps brings down the overall appearance and reputation of the site.

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   1. 36

      ChristinSposted 7 years agoin reply to this

       
      
      I completely agree and have brought this up on a few occassions and it fell on deaf ears.  It's particularly unhelpful when posts on earnings and search issues etc. are dredged up from years ago.  People read it thinking it's current and it causes conflict and confusion.  I've accidentally responded to some old posts that were dredged up myself - very annoying.  I try to be better about diligently checking now.
      
      I could see the benefit in keeping them around in an archive perhaps, but disable the ability to comment on them after they are a year or two old.  That would be a good compromise I think. Anything older than that, it's outdated information so why not?

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   2. 84

      NateB11posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      What I'm curious about is whether those old posts actually bring traffic to the site. I've stumbled on HP forum posts while Googling before.

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      1. 83

         sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Not sure, I was always told that new content was like gold dust to google.

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2. 89

   Will Apseposted 7 years ago

   I dare say you would get rid of the Queen, too.

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   1. 83

      sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      No, surprisingly I would not!   I think she has done an amazing service to the country and contributes an enormous amount financially when one considers how many visitors have tripped down to her front gate to see her.  She may have taken out a lot too but heaven knows I would not like to be her accountant or have to wear her shoes either.

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      1. 89

         Will Apseposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Apparently, she is technically a binge drinker, given her love of cocktails and routine glasses of wine. That makes me fee a little more respectable.

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         1. 83

            sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            She is also a chocoholic loves kale and quinoa, not sure in what order.

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      2. 95

         eugbugposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Don't mind Will, He's in wind up mode today (or maybe he's totally serious??) LOL!
         
         On the subject (no pun intended) of old, yes, I think it would bea great idea to get rid of them. Theere's nothing worse than reading one of them and suddenly realising it's maybe 6 years old.

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         1. 83

            sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            Funny thing. I received an email a little while ago which says a Hubber who you are following, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,  just created the new forum thread Petition to HP to delete old threads...: When I clicked on it said 'Sorry, that discussion has been removed or does not exist'

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            1. 95

               eugbugposted 7 years agoin reply to this

               I was actually able to view that thread before it ceased to exist, mysterious and mysteriouser?

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               1. 89

                  theraggededgeposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                  I moved it to where HP staff would see it. No point in Freeform Discussion.
                  
                  http://hubpages.com/community/forum/142 … ld-threads

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                  1. 83

                     sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                     Mystery solved.  Thanks, I did not know one could do that.

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3. 90

   Jodahposted 7 years ago

   I totally agree, Sally. I hate seeing questions and forum threads continually popping up that are three and four, even six years old...a total waste of everyone's time. I agree it is very unprofessional and can't help the site's reputation.

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4. 86

   Jesse Drzalposted 7 years ago

   The ultimate irony will be when this gets dug up again in 6 years.

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      Will Apseposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Lol. It will happen well before then.

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      1. 83

         sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         I hope not!

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   2. 83

      sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Ha, that is funny!  I never thought of that:)

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5. 67

   awareposted 7 years ago

   Same old problems same old questions same old opinions like vintage clothing .

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   1. 83

      sallybeaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Yup, except unlike vintage these ones don't get better with age.

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6. 83

   sallybeaposted 7 years ago

   Sounds good to me.  If there were a good reason to keep on rehashing the outdated stuff,  I would love to hear it:)

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7. 89

   Will Apseposted 7 years ago

   Ironic that people complaining about old threads popping up in an annoying way are filling the forums with multiple threads on the same issue, lol.
   
   Personally, I don't mind those old threads looming up out of the past. But then I am interested in where things come from as much as where things are going.

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   1. 84

      NateB11posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Totally agree. I'm okay with the old threads, I'm still unclear about what the advantage of getting rid of them is. There are old forum threads from all kinds of sites across the Web and they show up in search results. Some of them have real answers to queries too.
      
      I also like seeing what people said here like 7 years ago, it's fascinating to me. Shows how things have changed.I also think it's funny when you see people from those old threads and their account has been banned or they have no Hubs. It's like using that way back machine/internet archive and you can see what the site looked like at the beginning.

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      1. 89

         Will Apseposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         It's a little piece of history for those who care about it.
         
         Also, if you post in an old thread by mistake and it annoys you, it is a reminder to always check the provenance of whatever you read.

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      2. 36

         ChristinSposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         No one is saying to delete them, but to disable new comments and archive them.  I don't see the problem with that because a lot of times newer hubbers, not to mention spammers, are the one's reviving these old threads that are not relevant.
         
         An archive allows people to search and read and enjoy all the old posts. Everyone wins - so what's the problem?
         
         Archiving makes the site more user friendly and less cluttered.  If one really wanted to discuss the past dealings here, you could reference that old thread in a new post if necessary right?
         
         I'm trying and failing to understand why some are not keen to the idea.  Oh well.

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         1. 89

            Will Apseposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            I like the randomness of the resurfacing. I am not going to wade through old threads voluntarily. There are too many demands on my time.
            
            But every so often, a spammer or ingenue throws up something that I rather enjoy reading.
            
            Bottom line: all control-freakery is evil.
            
            Except my own, which is perfectly reasonable.

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         2. 84

            NateB11posted 7 years agoin reply to this

            I'm not quite as passionate about all this as you, Cristin. It's good to have a purpose in life.

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8. 86

   Jesse Drzalposted 7 years ago

   Some of the old ones are relevant, some need to be dragged outside and shot. I would think it won't change much, is Hp going to put effort into how we use and deal with old threads? Doubt it. Once newbies or whoever get's accosted not to do it they don't anymore for the most part.

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