topic Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around? in Community Chat

Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

Anonymous032819 — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 21:37:40 GMT

Serious question.

I, like many here, have accidentally responded to a thread that was brought back from the dead, not realizing that the thread is years old.

I don't want to get my hand slapped for having done that, when my response was a pure accident.

I went to the very last page, and the last thread on it is from 2010.

My question is why keep these ancient threads around?

Wouldn't a year or more of no response on them qualify them for removal, or at the very least, locking?

Wouldn't removing them create more space, and possibly, the website to run better?

All of my questions are sincere.

I was just wondering.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

AuntG — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 21:42:47 GMT

I have no answer. Perhaps it would take a lot of manpower to remove or close them from additional commenting. I know what sometimes seemed like a simple request at work, became a nightmare for the I.T. staff.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

proudlyfromNJ — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 21:43:23 GMT

When these new boards came about some people were asked questions. I think one was leave older threads or remove them. Keep them won. I kind of like to read some when somehow one pops up.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

donniesmom — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 21:43:51 GMT

I totally agree. Just last week I responded to something that was over a year old. I don't know why they are not removed.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

Krimpette — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 21:47:55 GMT

I'm in favor of removing them. I find it somewhat anoying when I go to respond to a thread, only to find that it's at least a year old. Threads should have an expiration date!

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

haddon9 — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 21:50:23 GMT

I think they should be kept for reading. Occasionally I'll search for some medical situations that others have been through and I like to read how they have dealt with it.

However after a certain time period I think they should be locked....but not removed.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

Pqfan — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 21:52:20 GMT

@haddon9 wrote:
I think they should be kept for reading. Occasionally I'll search for some medical situations that others have been through and I like to read how they have dealt with it.

However after a certain time period I think they should be locked....but not removed.

I like this idea. We could still use the information we just won’t be able to post on it.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

x Hedge — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 21:56:49 GMT

@Anonymous032819

Although most threads are "throwaways", some old threads are frequently referred to and mined for information.

I keep threads 'floated' to the top of the forum in several forums for quick reference, just added another one today.

For example, Bebe777 and several other posters, here and gone, build an incredibly valuable WEN reference library. I read/search those threads all the time.

I'd imagine threads are frequently searched out in recipies, kitchen, beauty, sports, travel, garden, movie & tv reviews wellness, pets ....

nearly all forums.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

Annabellethecat66 — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 22:23:53 GMT

It doesn't bother me one way or another (keep/eliminate).

My only problem is sometimes I have trouble deciphering the newest thread on a subject. Before someone says 'it's the first one', that's not always the case. Also, it's just easy to post on someone else's thread they started.

I remember someone complaining that the subject matter didn't often tell enough about the thread itself. With that in mind, I sometimes find that another person's thread (they started) is much better at describing what I want to post about.

As I've said many times here, there are some very intelligent, thoughtful people on these boards. I admire and respect many of them. Some are just a lot better at starting a thread to which I'm interested than I am or would be.

That's where the use of an 'old thread' really comes in handy for me.

It also gives me an idea of how interested people are or were, in a subject at one time. It helps to see how people's thinking has changed as more information on a subject comes out.

One thing it does prove (in my opinion) is that the more different humans are ...... the more we are alike. Often the same questions, ideas and problems we have are very similar to others.

My family, my family-life, etc. was very difficult and screwed up when I was growing up. People who know me and my family often ask, "Why are you "relatively" normal and why haven't you had to go to psychiatrists like most of your family?"

I usually (honestly) reply I believe it's because I talk to people (i.e. friends, strangers, anyone and everyone) about many subjects. I'm open and honest and because of that people also share their ideas, problems and .....well..life in general with me.

This helps me realize ....ummm...what I just said above...

So, getting back to the old(er) threads. It's easy to type in a subject and when several old(er) threads pop up, to go back and read some of the helpful comments, etc. other's here have posted.

It's just good for the heart and brain to read other's posts. For that, I thank all of you. Annabellethecat

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

Pearlee — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 22:28:19 GMT

The mods also have a lot to do. Maybe they wouldn't have time to start going back and deleting old posts, until one is problematic and then they do. The mods do a lot of different tasks here and I would think they are always busy. I would also think deleting old threads would be a very low priority for them.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

GenXmuse — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 22:38:01 GMT

It doesn’t really matter to me though I have used older threads for reference to a subject I was looking for.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

Marp — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 22:50:44 GMT

I wouldn't like to see the old threads removed but would strongly support having them locked after a reasonable period of time with no new responses. Perhaps six months would be a good time frame.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

dooBdoo — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 23:28:09 GMT

This is a recurring topic. QVC opted for what appears to be the cheapest pre-packaged forum platform offered by the Lithium web hosting service. They seem to offer no customization, so what we have is what we have.

The migration to the new software, in June 2015, appeared to completely delete all threads started before 2010... and stripped the oldest remaining threads of all replies and left the "stem" of the original post... and allowed other old threads (using some arbitrary date) to remain intact with responses (but subject to deletion if we violate standards and bump them).

(By the way, it's standard practice for any forum or chat site to prohibit bumping old threads, and just about all moderated forums include this in their terms of use -- regardless of personal opinions, thread bumping is pretty much universally deemed to be inconsiderate.)

It would take unreasonable time and effort for someone to manually locate and delete the old ones and to keep up with doing so as time passes and as other threads become "too old."

However, a simple, basic "programming 101" code could easily loop through threads and automatically and quickly lock the ones with no activity (the last post date) after a predetermined date.

I've spent my life working in IT and I've written this kind of simple code -- it's elementary and if QVC wanted to add this it could be done in a nanosecond.

After initially running it, this could be scheduled as a maintenance program to run periodically, probably once a week, with no human intervention needed to continue to loop thrrough and lock threads once their most recent post became older than he specified age. It's a standard, established practice most well-managed sites tend to employ.

Not only would it help avoid the confusion with people bumping ancient threads, it would even save the moderators time since thread bumping would be resolved automatically in the background. Keeping the older threads available isn't the cause of the constant website problems... those are caused by poor design and maintenance, lack of interest in fixing issues such as database degradation, and the evidence of using duct tape and superglue to try and bandage the site as it limps along.

This isn't rocket science. But it's been suggested time and time again and nothing has been done before, so I have no expectation that anything will be done now.

I think older threads should be allowed to remain but should be closed to comments after a certain time limit. That would permit us to use them as references but avoid violating the standards which prohibit bumping old threads.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

RedTop — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 23:32:09 GMT

I think the system should drop old threads automatically after a certain time.

What I’ve noticed is that new posters apparently start reading the posts, find one they feel comfortable responding to, not realizing they are bumping up an old post.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

stevieb — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 23:35:13 GMT

I guess for the same reason they keep some of the same products around for a decade and never really offer them at a meaningful sale price...

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

Sweetbay magnolia — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 23:53:47 GMT

To shame old posters who re-emerge with a different name

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

dooBdoo — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 05:07:00 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
I think the system should drop old threads automatically after a certain time.

What I’ve noticed is that new posters apparently start reading the posts, find one they feel comfortable responding to, not realizing they are bumping up an old post.

@RedTop, I agree that some of the old threads are pulled up by new posters who might not understand the policies (or might not have read them), but lately I've seen more thread bumping by established posters. Sometimes it's a mistake, but other times I've seen them note that the discussion is old but they wanted to add to it.

Even though the intent might be good (other than knowingly violating the guidelines), when we bump a thread it usually will cause the old discussion to be completely deleted by the moderators. As a result, nothing useful was accomplished.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

GAQShopr53 — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 00:01:31 GMT

I would be in favor of locking the threads so posters won't unknowingly violate the community rules by posting/responding. You can Google a topic and a QVC post on that subject may appear in the query. If someone didn't know the post was old they may click on the post to answer...I don't think it would be fair to ban/block for responding to a dead post when they are still allowed to comment on it.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

GCR18 — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 00:06:47 GMT

It's a passionate topic. When the vote was taken, majority voted to keep. It doesn't bother me one way or the other. It seems though the really old threads should be locked and stored in a read only section.

Re: Why Are Old Threads Kept Around?

Desertdi — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 05:00:46 GMT

For reference