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Locking old threads

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simonjary
Resolved

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Posted October 3, 2011 at 12:02PM

In a further bid to make these forums less prone to spam bot attack we're going to look at locking older threads.

Currently a spam bot can reactivate an old thread, which pushes it to the top of that forum list, where it becomes live again despite its age and resolved status.

Also, old threads in forums such as Consumerwatch sometimes get hijacked, rather than new threads being opened for new problems.

Locking older threads should stop that.

Regards,

Simon Publisher, PC Advisor

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Quickbeam

Likes # 0

Posted October 3, 2011 at 9:03PM

morddwyd

You're the well almost part!

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Lazarus The 2nd

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Posted October 3, 2011 at 10:23PM

I really should change my name....

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Quickbeam

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Posted October 3, 2011 at 10:24PM

Lazarus the 3rd...?

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Covergirl

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Posted October 4, 2011 at 5:19AM

I'll stick in again with 4 weeks after the last posting - if a thread is genuinely interesting and stimulating, there will be no problem keeping it alive/running with new contributions - just look at some of the more popular threads which run and run - I'm thinking of the threads with over 50 posts.

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Chegs ®™

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Posted October 4, 2011 at 7:27AM

I agree with 4 weeks for thread duration as long as the thread hasnt received a response within the 4 weeks.Then if the thread needs to continue longer,then someone only has to post to it.

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bugle

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Posted October 4, 2011 at 7:33AM

I am often out of the country for 2-3 months. I would say try 3 months. If i needed to I could start a new thread. This would work if we could clear the old thread/s which could clear up clutter your end.

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Covergirl

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Posted October 4, 2011 at 7:48AM

Anybody else out of the country for 2-3 months?

I can't get to a computer on a Thursday so perhaps avoid closing any threads on a Thursday.

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carver

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Posted October 4, 2011 at 8:52AM

4 weeks is not a long time, far better to start locking postings after 3-4 months.

Ive seen postings carry on for longer than 4 weeks and if it is locked after that time you will just get duplicate postings with links to this or that posting and you will get people posting to the wrong link.

One such link here http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/forums/2/consumerwatch/4074313/any-regular-film-buffs-around/ from Topcat.

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Covergirl

Likes # 1

Posted October 4, 2011 at 12:29PM

Hmmmm . . . Carver - that thread lasted just over three and a half weeks and diverges from the original subject of cheap cinema tickets through charity shop VHS tapes and audio books ending up at Sky TV.

Anyway, the thread would only be locked after a certain time (whatever is decided) after no posts have been added, so if it were set at 4 weeks, that one would be locked around 22nd October (28 days) if nobody else posts to it.

If it is posted to again, the locking date would be extended to four weeks after the last posting.

Any posts referencing the original thread would be OK as the original is locked and couldn't be posted against.

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spuds

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Posted October 6, 2011 at 10:34AM

I notice again today that a thread from 2005 as been activated. What I cannot understand is that some of the older forum members, who should perps know better, are answering some the posts, possibly before they bother to check the date of the original posting.

Regarding locking, then 4/6 months sounds a realistic time, unless it becomes very apparent that the original poster as shown no interest in their 'urgent' request?.

I recall the days when the original Forum Editor Guy Dixon and the then new FE (China) sent out reminder emails, regarding thread closures etc!.

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