So lately I've been seeing old threads being brought back to life by the posting of a new response. There are a lot of internet forums that discourage this practice by automatically locking old threads after a given amount of time. Is that something that can be done here?

I guess I'm weird but some of the old threads are very interesting, and I love seeing them come back up. Most of them were before my time, so it's all new info for me. Threads here can be locked by the original poster if they wish to have it end permanently.

Many enjoy the old threads as Karen said.

I was very thankful that I could pull up an old thread. My computer crashed ?? years ago but I was able to pull up an old thread about my dog that made my heart sing...I treasure that old thread.

Locking a thread doesn't prevent anyone from revisiting it, it just stops them from answering a question that was posed three years ago.

Wow! If you have an issue with an old thread don't read or respond. Please let others decide for themselves.

I was delighted an old thread I had on my watch list was reactivated. It was very interesting to see how time has changed not only my perspective but others.

I am guilty of reactivating old threads too in the Adenium forum. The previous really knowledgeable Adenium members are no longer here but new in growing adeniums like me find the old threads really useful and answers a lot of questions of new members too and not just me.

Sometimes the advantage of reactivating an old thread is it provides continuity of all the research or information that were posted or shared by prior members, which also help answer the questions of new members.

It seems to me that long, long ago - like when ATP became NGA, or maybe when ATP first evolved from Cubits? - that it was considered desirable to reactivate an old thread rather than making a new thread for the same topic. Or maybe I dreamed this? @Calif_Sue, do you remember anything like that?

Good memory, @Weedwhacker.

We always considered it a good idea to keep a single thread to a single topic whenever possible.

I know some forums on the internet frown on bumping ancient threads but I never understood why it was objectionable. The information about gardening from 5 years ago is still relevant today, and new things and ideas and questions can always be added.

I am part of the Guilty party...

Since retiring, I now have time to do gardening. I have been researching and absorbing knowledge from said older threads. Truth be told, there is quite a bit of knowledge and wisdom provided by previous members (@Sharon is one such gardener) that is intriguing to me. I admire the way a select few gardeners came together to form this website and provide forums that I can research through. History can be a wonderful resource to learn from.

I'll try to ease up on the postings.
Ron

It can seem a little strange when someone replies to a post from several years back (probably because they didn't notice the date - I know I've done that a few times) -- but on the other hand, it may be just the answer that someone else is currently searching for.

@SuperHappyCamper - all of Sharon's posts will be old as she passed away in 2016 but yes, do read all her articles. She had so much knowledge and thankfully shared it.

No need to ease up, in my opinion.

Weedwhacker said:It can seem a little strange when someone replies to a post from several years back (probably because they didn't notice the date - I know I've done that a few times) -- but on the other hand, it may be just the answer that someone else is currently searching for.

Ain't nothing like carefully crafting out an eloquent response, painstakingly detailed, to answer a time sensitive question posed by an eager gardener...only to realize afterwards that the question is four years old. Not that I'd ever do something crazy like that...

But yes, the ability to update an older thread with new info/data seems good to me. The threads that aggravate me (a teeny bit) are old threads that suddenly end without a solution/answer/whatever. It's like a novel that was never finished...what was the outcome?.....did the hero tomato plant save the cute cucumber from the clutches of the aggressive pole beans? Did the peppy pepper plant catch the attention of the handsome bumble bee? What happened with the situation of the dump-truck load of chicken manure that was mistakenly dumped on the neighbor's Better-Homes-and-Garden manicured lawn? Did the collard plants in the front flower bed fool the HOA??? Those unanswered questions bug me lots more than an old thread getting replied to.

People are gonna search. They're (hopefully) going to find. Then sometimes they're going to reply...timely or belatedly. But, whichever, it all adds to the trove of treasure/data here on NGA.

Even if I did spend way too much time replying to that old thread....

that is what I mean with no continuity on some of these ask for help trend.

And don't worry about answering an old thread's question, someone might have the same question and you answered it for them without having to pose the question. And sometimes the member gets notified and would actually respond to a 3 year old thread - sometimes privately. (hmmm I am not telling how I knew)

I think if members took the time to research and respond to the question or problem, it may be polite to give an update if the plant made it it or not.. I understand though sometimes some (aka me) feels like just sharing the success since there is that guilt feeling when your attempt to revive a plant didn't end up the way you had hoped. (My daughter when she was little would actually cry and want a proper burial for a dead plant . So I had to be careful giving her an annual plant.)

My challenge is, I could not remember which chat I posted my question. So when someone asks for update, I actually welcome it!

I also understand how devastating it is to lose a favorite plant. I think sometimes that is the reason why there is no response or update. Or can't find how to go back to the old thread?

Sometimes I search for something and start reading replies and find a really nutty one, bordering on really being a bit " 'tetched in the head". Then I look at the author and realize I posted it.

🤣🤣🤣 think we've all been there at one time or another...know I have 😏

I recently posted a plant question on Google. The top result was a link to a 2013 thread in our own "Ask a Question" forum here. I clicked on the link and found the old thread. Do I have to tell you who asked the question?

I have no memory of creating that thread or even of growing that plant eight years ago.

Lol...surprise!!!