Similar Topics, 1 year old

[Caladan 19]

When you read a topic, there are Similar Topics, generated by a search based on the title of the thread, which appear at the bottom of the page. This is a moderately useful feature, basically performing a mini-search for you, and sometimes you find someone with nearly the same question (sometimes just someone who used the same number of question marks, but there you go.)

Sometimes, however, the topic generated by the search is quite old. Someone doesn't notice the date, reads the topic, and responds to it as if it were new. Other people see the date of the last post and respond. This would not be an overwhelming problem except that I've noticed that sometimes, particularly with IMBRA, the information provided in the topic bumped is horribly out-of-date.

Suggested solutions:

1) Keep the Similar Topics the same, but lock threads automatically after a month of inactivity.

2) Keep threads open, but restrict the search on Similar Topics to threads within the last month.

3) Some combination of the two.

[trueimage 0]

I think solution #1 is a good idea. Old threads are useful sources of information, but you are correct that they should be locked and not revived.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

i'd agree with this but i think the locking of old threads should be longer, say 3-6 months, rather than a month.

[LaL 418]

I would also think restricting the similar thread return for maybe even the last 6 months even. The mini-search can be so useful, especially on a fairly obscure topic.

I do kinda see it as dayumed if u do dayumed if you don't... as in start a new thread, people suggestion you "look here" at another thread of the same topic, or if you do resurrect an aging discussion, people are quick to point it out .

[Caladan 19]

I don't think most people would decide not to start a thread because of the mini-search, especially since it only pops up once you have a thread started, so I'm not particularly worried that this would lead to more repetitive threads.

[BelwinMills 0]

I don't think most people would decide not to start a thread because of the mini-search, especially since it only pops up once you have a thread started, so I'm not particularly worried that this would lead to more repetitive threads.

good point

[LaL 418]

I just meant that if the minisearch was restricted to a month possible threads with similiar discussions would be eliminated. I was suggesting this was a great idea - but return 6 months vs 1 month or all as it currently seems to work.

[Caladan 19]

Oh, gotcha. That's a good point.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

So did anyone think that limiting the search time was the solution for sure? I can also put the dates in bigger font or something to emphasize when the threads were last active.

[Yodrak 7]

Caladan,

I like option #3.

With regard to #1, I agree with charlesandnessa that 1 month is too soon to lock an inactive thread. While people reviving old threads can be misleading and generate useless traffic, it is nice when someone who had a problem comes back to report developments by adding to the original thread - makes it easy to get the context and minimizes rehashing of the old issue in order to understand the new information. Maybe lock inactive threads at somewhere in the range of 6 months to a year, and OPs can always ask Captain Ewok to re-open a locked thread so as to add the new information.

With regard to #2 I like the idea of restricting the search period. One month back is more than adequate for FAQs, maybe a bit more - say 3 months - for rarer topics. Perhaps best would be a combination of limited search period and limited number of posts to be reported for the search. This way we could go back far enough to find something for infrequent issues but not be overwhelmed with hits on frequent issues.

Yodrak

When you read a topic, there are Similar Topics, generated by a search based on the title of the thread, which appear at the bottom of the page. This is a moderately useful feature, basically performing a mini-search for you, and sometimes you find someone with nearly the same question (sometimes just someone who used the same number of question marks, but there you go.)

Sometimes, however, the topic generated by the search is quite old. Someone doesn't notice the date, reads the topic, and responds to it as if it were new. Other people see the date of the last post and respond. This would not be an overwhelming problem except that I've noticed that sometimes, particularly with IMBRA, the information provided in the topic bumped is horribly out-of-date.

Suggested solutions:

1) Keep the Similar Topics the same, but lock threads automatically after a month of inactivity.

2) Keep threads open, but restrict the search on Similar Topics to threads within the last month.

3) Some combination of the two.

[Ta Ta 1]

So did anyone think that limiting the search time was the solution for sure? I can also put the dates in bigger font or something to emphasize when the threads were last active.

I like that suggestion with the bigger font.

[Yodrak 7]

Old threads are also a potentially dangerous source of outdated information. Many things can and have changed quickly over the past few months and years, and one needs to be very careful to determine whether information that was provided as little as a few weeks ago is still valid. Newbies in particular are susceptible to confusion at best, serious mis-steps at worst, from acting on the basis of outdated information.

Yodrak

I think solution #1 is a good idea. Old threads are useful sources of information, but you are correct that they should be locked and not revived.

[rebeccajo 14]

Is there any way posts can be dumped after a certain length of time into some sort of categorized archival bin?

I realize this is probably what 'search' is for, but I'm just wondering.

Edited June 27, 2007 by rebeccajo

[no name 1]

So did anyone think that limiting the search time was the solution for sure? I can also put the dates in bigger font or something to emphasize when the threads were last active.

I like that suggestion with the bigger font.

It doesn't work with 'Please read the guides before posting', or 'Read the guides', so it would make no difference here.

I say lock the ones older than 4-6 months.

[Fandango 1,439]

So did anyone think that limiting the search time was the solution for sure? I can also put the dates in bigger font or something to emphasize when the threads were last active.

I think it'd be great if you used red for the dates if they are older than 3 months old.