Thread Auto-Lock Timer?

[Manatus]

Is it possible to add a feature that will automatically lock a thread X months after the last post? There are so many cases where a thread that is many months or years old gets bumped, usually by a new user and often with information that isn't really relevant to discussion in the thread. The end result is that people waste their time reading through it before realising how old it is - or even worse, not realising how old it is and going away believing the outdated information. If in the odd case there is a reason for it not to be locked, a mod can always unlock it on request (or change a setting so that thread overrides the auto-lock). It would save on clutter in the forums and prevent situations where an outdated thread gets bumped and then a new conversation starts in it, which gets even more people reading all the useless information, and so on. I know for one I've been annoyed when a Hot Deals thread from years ago gets bumped, and after a bit of reading I suddenly realise that the Hot Deal has long since expired. It would also help to prevent cases where someone has an agenda and comes to the forum basically to spread their agenda wherever possible, e.g. someone making an account just to post that they hate a certain company in every thread where that company is mentioned.

[vaportrails]

In OT, we could use this function to auto-lock threads 5 minutes after they're posted. This will save much time for the mods, who apparently have to manually lock every thread ever created in that forum.

[Manatus]

In OT, we could use this function to auto-lock threads 5 minutes after they're posted. This will save much time for the mods, who apparently have to manually lock every thread ever created in that forum.

Dude, please don't get my thread auto-lock thread auto-locked. :razz:

It's a serious suggestion anyway. For example, this one just popped up:

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/hanstone-quartz-countertop-foggy-looking-area-within-2-weeks-1062652/

Someone can and should make a new thread to ask about the price of a product. Instead a "help me" thread from a year ago got dug up, with no resolution... so the likelihood is some people are going to read it, not notice the original date, and waste time trying to help the OP who has long since gone (and probably doesn't need the help anymore anyway).

It could be done like this:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g274960-i1133-k3117136-Avoid_the_New_Town-Latvia.html

[mrperfect]

Actually your idea is not bad, but I think there is a few logistical challenges in this, I mean there are so many variables involved that it might end up affecting all kinds of threads. :eek:

[akira1971]

Then again, we've also had many RFDer's criticizing newbies for not using the SEARCH function before starting a new thread...

[D-Roc]

In OT, we could use this function to auto-lock threads 5 minutes after they're posted. This will save much time for the mods, who apparently have to manually lock every thread ever created in that forum.

Talk about a slight exaggeration. Every thread does not get locked.

[Manatus]

Then again, we've also had many RFDer's criticizing newbies for not using the SEARCH function before starting a new thread...

I agree, but there should be some middle ground, right? The "please search" thing is if an issue is so common that there are topics everywhere and the same answer is given every couple weeks. I don't think it's reasonable to expect someone to go back a year and find a thread buried deep in the forums that nobody remembers. If there's a thread that shouldn't be locked, I'm sure it's possible to add a mod-flag so that it won't get auto-locked, for those rare instances. I mean really, when is there a legitimate and useful reason to post to a thread where the last post was a year ago or more?

[oranr]

Is it possible to add a feature that will automatically lock a thread X months after the last post? There are so many cases where a thread that is many months or years old gets bumped, usually by a new user and often with information that isn't really relevant to discussion in the thread. The end result is that people waste their time reading through it before realising how old it is - or even worse, not realising how old it is and going away believing the outdated information. If in the odd case there is a reason for it not to be locked, a mod can always unlock it on request (or change a setting so that thread overrides the auto-lock). It would save on clutter in the forums and prevent situations where an outdated thread gets bumped and then a new conversation starts in it, which gets even more people reading all the useless information, and so on. I know for one I've been annoyed when a Hot Deals thread from years ago gets bumped, and after a bit of reading I suddenly realise that the Hot Deal has long since expired. It would also help to prevent cases where someone has an agenda and comes to the forum basically to spread their agenda wherever possible, e.g. someone making an account just to post that they hate a certain company in every thread where that company is mentioned.

Not a bad idea (in bold) or we could have a pop up saying that the thread is really old, would you like to post a new thread about the topic or if there are current threads being discussed, it would list these threads, so you can contribute to the discussion.

[Manatus]

Not a bad idea (in bold) or we could have a pop up saying that the thread is really old, would you like to post a new thread about the topic or if there are current threads being discussed, it would list these threads, so you can contribute to the discussion.

That would work as well. Maybe a little blurb with a check-box (since many people probably block pop ups) like what was done for the rules agreement - "This thread has been inactive for 8 months. Please consider starting a new topic for your post. If there is a reason why you need to add to this existing thread, please check the box before posting." That way if the poster really wants to continue the thread, e.g. if the OP originally posted about receiving a traffic ticket, and 8 months later he wants to update the thread with the results of going to court, he can, but unrelated posters will be discouraged from doing so. I think a lot of the time people just use the search function and don't notice the date (or they get brought in from google), so maybe if there was just something like that to point out that the thread is really old, that would be enough.

Thanks for reading.