• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

On reviving Zombie Threads.

#61
AltGrendel said:
I really don't understand the reason for all the fuss when someone revives a zombie thread. TB is a great community and there's a ton of information there. People are regularly told to search for a topic, which is understandable. But when they respond to a thread that is considered "old", they get derided. I think the folks that do that are forgetting that this site is also an archive of information too. And I don't just mean technical info for the bass community. I also mean experiences like "I played a dive bar and this fight happened" stories. Someone, maybe years later, posts a "me too" response and they get busted on. But to me it shows that we're all in this together.
I think these old threads are good for historical reasons. They can show how much things have changed or stayed the same. The bar stories can show that the only things that may change are the faces of those involved. If someone had an issue with a '67 Jazz back in '02 and someone has the same issue, even years later, I really don't blame them for posting a "how did you solve it" query no matter how old it is. Even if the OP isn't here anymore, someone else may be able to come back with a "this is how you solve it" response.

One of the main things that I like about TB is the respect for fellow members that we all show. Let's all keep that going, even if someone revives a zombie thread.
Click to expand...

It is the Internet, and there are millions of weenies there.

All forums have "Wanna-Be" moderators and admins and "Post Count Bullies" who just can't wait to let you know you screwed up by not searching or duplicating, in some minute way, something someone else in human history may have said, or written.

I swear, I'd like to electronically slap the next tool who says "search is your friend."

Good rule of thumb, unless the person who makes the needless comment is an official of the site, just ignore it, because their non-input and lack of help with your question or issue is even worse than you neglecting to search, reviving an old thread, or heaven forbid, making a DUPE!
 
  • Like
Reactions: the harp unstrung, Herrick, JRA and 3 others
#62
Salicete said:
It is the Internet, and there are millions of weenies there.

All forums have "Wanna-Be" moderators and admins and "Post Count Bullies" who just can't wait to let you know you screwed up by not searching or duplicating, in some minute way, something someone else in human history may have said, or written.

I swear, I'd like to electronically slap the next tool who says "search is your friend."

Good rule of thumb, unless the person who makes the needless comment is an official of the site, just ignore it, because their non-input and lack of help with your question or issue is even worse than you neglecting to search, reviving an old thread, or heaven forbid, making a DUPE!
Click to expand...

Yep, one of the things I try to do is make sure my post will move any thread forward in a positive manner. My humor may be questionable, but I consider it to be positive.

Otherwise I don't post.
 
  • Like
Reactions: the harp unstrung and JRA
#68
southpaw723 said:
I love it when people get mad and say to use the search bar, but we all know that the search bar doesn't work well on this site. Plus, how does reviving a thread affect you in any way? Do you need to be offended or bothered by something that bad?
Click to expand...
To be fair, I think the people who "get mad and say to use the search bar" are people who remember seeing the same question answered in numerous previous threads -- especially if they participated in those previous threads. They're peeved because they expended the time and energy to answer the question -- perhaps multiple times, in multiple threads -- and they are peeved that the person starting the new thread hasn't bothered to read the answers they previously provided. And I don't blame them for feeling that way.

The search function on the site works fine if you use it intelligently. Alternatively, you can use "regular" Google, and it's likely that threads on TB will show up among the hits. (You can also add "talkbass.com" as your last search term to find these first.) There really is no excuse for not checking to see if your question has already been answered before starting a new thread about it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JRA, GregC and hrodbert696
#69
Zombie threads? AFAIC, it depends on the thread:
- "Is this a real Fender P-Bass?" from 2 years ago? Uhh... no. Unless you just have to flaunt your Fender expertise, you're pretty much pissing into the wind. Same with old "Should I buy..." and "What pickguard...", and all the other "right now" threads. You're a day late and a dollar short; best to just let these thread rest in peace, IMO. My favorite is still "What kind of houseplant is this? And how do I take care of it?" - from 10 years ago. And yes, I'll admit it; I posted a reply about a year ago; that poor plant has probably been dead a long time. I'm much better at reading the OP's original posted date, now, though...
- If it's a "timeless" general subject/knowledge thread; "something vs. something" with no time constraint, or "What would you like.." kind of thread? Yeah, personally I have no problem reviving something like that - if the last post wasn't too old. If it's been a couple of years,though, I'll usually read it, but give reviving it a pass, like everybody else...
And, "Use the Search function"? I've never told anybody to use it; much less be snarky about it. I have suggested that it might be to their benefit to try it - after I've told them what little I might know. But, I don't work for free - I'm not doing anybody's research for them. And I have no problem using it myself...:)
 
#71
i've revived one: "show your black basses"

didn't really care as i assume folks who like black basses are born every few seconds. and folks who have a black bass might like to show it off and participate on TB. and maybe there are folks who don't care for black basses, but they were born a few seconds ago, and for some reason: they want to participate on TB in their own way!

anyway: the thread revived immediately. it's gotten slower again, but posting a pic of your wonderful/cool black bass is a treat for you and a treat for others if they like that stuff. how could any of that be a big deal?

Salicete said:
Good rule of thumb, unless the person who makes the needless comment is an official of the site, just ignore it, because their non-input and lack of help with your question or issue is even worse than you neglecting to search, reviving an old thread, or heaven forbid, making a DUPE!
Click to expand...

Salicete said:
It is the Internet, and there are millions of weenies there.
Click to expand...

Jools4001 said:
and some sourpuss who obviously got out of the wrong side of the bed in the morning, stepped in some cat poop on the way to the bathroom, and then found they had nothing in the fridge for breakfast but some unripe lemons says "this has been done to death, do a search". As somebody else pointed out Talkbass has been around for years, with tens of thousands of contributors and millions, if not billions of posts.
Click to expand...

little snarks will always be little snarks: i'm learning to look past the snarkies and move on. (it always surprises me when i see/hear bass players who respond more like guitar players --- it's a joke!)

Lobster11 said:
What if threads that have been inactive for at least [X period of time] were somehow flagged to call attention to the fact? For example, suppose that when you clicked on "Reply" in a post, or "Post Reply" at the bottom of the page, a warning message popped up saying something along the lines of, "Note: This thread has been inactive for [X amount of time]. Are you sure you wish to continue?"
Click to expand...

sissy kathy said:
And maybe change the color of the thread title if the post is made.
Click to expand...

the idea of TB giving a notice that the thread is 'X' old is a great one, IMO.
 
#73
Let me get this straight:
-as it often happens, poster A brings an old thread back from the dead and, judging from the fact that he answers a question posed by the OP ten years ago, the reason is that he didn't pay attention to the dates;
-posters B, C, D, E, F and G reply to the OP;
-poster H points out, sometimes in very curt form, that it's a zombie thread;
-posters B to G whine about having fallen for it.
Yet here on this discussion about zombie threads no one notices what's also wrong in the above picture. If the resurrector is supposed to check the dates, why aren't the whiners held to the same standard? And what's more, someone is suggesting the nanny-forum changes so that the gullible zombie victims don't get fooled again - instead of telling them too to read the goshdarn dates!?! :rolleyes:
 
#75
southpaw723 said:
I love it when people get mad and say to use the search bar, but we all know that the search bar doesn't work well on this site. Plus, how does reviving a thread affect you in any way? Do you need to be offended or bothered by something that bad?
Click to expand...

I don't understand why these people can't just skip over Zombie & Clone Threads. If the thread title is too vague, then just put the cursor over the title and you'll get a preview of the OP. That should be enough to keep these people from wasting their "precious time" clicking on the thread.
 
  • Like
Reactions: the harp unstrung
#76
Herrick said:
I don't understand why these people can't just skip over Zombie & Clone Threads. If the thread title is too vague, then just put the cursor over the title and you'll get a preview of the OP. That should be enough to keep these people from wasting their "precious time" clicking on the thread.
Click to expand...
If their time is so precious they wouldn't be here to begin with, except for Paul and the Mods, we are all wasting time here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: the harp unstrung
#77
Herrick said:
I don't understand why these people can't just skip over Zombie & Clone Threads. If the thread title is too vague, then just put the cursor over the title and you'll get a preview of the OP. That should be enough to keep these people from wasting their "precious time" clicking on the thread.
Click to expand...
As someone who sometimes points out zombies when I see them, I can say that when I do so my intent is not to ridicule or criticize anyone, but rather to "warn" prospective future posters who might otherwise not notice (and who wouldn't post if they knew).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stevorebob and sissy kathy
#80
Salicete said:
I swear, I'd like to electronically slap the next tool who says "search is your friend."
Click to expand...
Search is your friend.

2erfg23.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: GregC and Lobster11

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back